Counting down to the Whitianga Oceans Festival

Celebrating seafood to recognise the Scallop

This year organisers have evolved the Whitianga Scallop Festival into the Whitianga Oceans Festival – From Dock to Dish. This year’s festival is championing the cause of the scallop and highlighting and celebrating the huge range of New Zealand caught seafood on offer. Read more about the sustainability of scallops and why the festival has changed what it has on offer in our recent article.(See related link below)

New Venue on the Whitianga Harbour

The Scallop Festival site used in previous years is being currently being developed by the marina and is not available for the Whitianga Oceans Festival in 2021. Organisers have moved the festival grounds to Lyon Park in Albert Street and frontage of the harbour in Dundas Street. This new site has created new opportunities for more entertainment for festival goers.

Entertainment on offer at the Oceans Festival

The popular cooking stage will return with New Zealand Chefs sharing secrets of their favourite seafood dishes. Top chefs in the lineup this year, sees the return of Ray McVinnie, joined by Nici Wickes and Michael van de Elzen. Not to be missed are their 40 min slots on stage.

World class New Zealand musicians AutoMatic 80s will be taking the stage alongside local artist Vegas Brown at this year’s festival. As the name suggests, hits from the 1980’s are on the playlist, ready to take you back to those times of shoulder pads and bold colours.

Vegas Brown and his high energy band are local favourites and will perform in the afternoon at the festival. Along with eight other bands, on two stages, there is sure to music to cater to everybody’s taste.

Other musicians joining the entertainment line up at the Oceans Festival include:

• POW WOW – a dynamic duo performing hits from the 70s through to today
• TJ – also known as the Looper King or the Human Jukebox! Enjoy acoustic numbers from TJ with his looper at work
• Sean O’Hooligan – Folk / rock with a Celtic flavour.

Food, Wine and Beer on offer at the Ocean’s Festival

As always New Zealand wines and beers will be available for purchase at the festival along with non-alcoholic options.

Eight wineries will be showcasing their wines for you to match to the food options on offer.

• Te Kano Estate from Central Otago
• OTU Estate Wild Coast Wines from Awatere Valley Marlborough
• Volcanic Hills Wine Estate from Rotorua.

Breweries providing a selection of lagers, pilsners and ales to quench your thirst at the festival include:
- Macs from Nelson
- Blue Fridge Brewery, local brewers from Kuaotunu
- Corona.

Essential Festival information

• Gates open at 10am and close at 5pm
• No pass outs will be given
• Paying for things – there will be no cash out facility, so bring eftpos and some cash with you.
• Parking will be limited
• Please don’t bring your pets
• Please don’t bring your own food, drink, cooler bags or dangerous items into the festival
• You are welcome to bring folding chairs, umbrellas, handbags, backpacks etc.

Events are subject to change. For a full list of terms and conditions and FAQs please see the festival website in the link via our events page (related link below)