Just three weeks to the renowned A Taste of Matarangi Festival

A staple on the Coromandel Peninsula calendar, the A Taste of Matarangi food, wine and music festival will return to Matarangi on the 6th April, the weekend following Easter. It’s a favourite event for many, catering for friends and family, young and old as there’s something for everyone. 

Our home-grown local festival gives you the opportunity to sample a selection of fine wines, locally brewed beer and tasty cuisine from more than 40 vendors. The all day line up of musicians is your sound track for a relaxing day with family, catching up with friends and making new ones! And, by buying your tickets and attending you won’t just be helping yourself, you’ll be helping our community by supporting this year’s chosen charities Kuaotunu Search & Rescue and Te Rerenga School. 

– Bronwyn Ririnui, Event Coordinator, Taste of Matarangi Committee

Music artists bring a family-friendly fun party atmosphere

A group of four talented musical acts will get you grooving as you savour the delicious food and beverage stalls on offer. The live music performances feature local singer songwriter Francie Lidgard kicking off the line up. Followed by some epic tunes from duo Cosha and band Black and Gold. The headline act this year is the dynamic and versatile 4-piece band Sugafix who’ll be on stage from 3pm. Read more about performers and the bios of this year’s acts in our earlier article linked below.

Great tasting food and beverages on offer

Festival goers don’t only attend the festival for the entertainment, the array of food and drinks is also a drawcard. The culinary lineup this year includes everything from hot chips, nuggets & hot dogs to prawn salads, Spanish paella, Pad Thai, dumplings, fried rice, kebabs to creamy paua fries, bacon & egg rolls, whitebait fritters, vegan pies, mussel fritters and of course cold drinks, coffee and ice cream!

For the adults liquor vendors Hop Federation, BOP Brewing, Volcanic Hills wines, ANON, Marlborough Wines and Puku and Kerre’s will offer a selection of craft beers, ciders, wines, beer and non-alcohol beer.

A Taste of Matarangi Festival Programme

The festival opens at 10am and offers a full day out for festival goers closing at 4.30pm. Scheduled throughout the day are the live bands along with charity auctions and raffles. For the younger members of your group there is the ‘Kids Zone’, the dedicated children's area adjacent to the playground for fun activities including face painting, rides and games.

The 2024 programme:

• 10:00 - Festival opens
• 10.20 - Te Rerenga Kapa Haka group  
• 10:45 - Francie Lidgard - Local singer-songwriter, Francie is a voice of her generation performing her own musical collection reflecting on her own tastes and experiences.
• 12:00 - Cosha - consisting of two passionate artists dedicated to creating an unforgettable musical experience. Cosha offers a versatile range of music, from timeless classics to contemporary hits, all delivered with their unique acoustic touch.  
• 1:00 - Charity auction – supporting Kuaotunu Search & Rescue and the Te Rerenga School
• 1:30 - Black and Gold - A dynamic ensemble that defies genre boundaries and invites you to experience the fusion of sound at its finest. Whether you enjoy a sing a long, dancing or someone who simply appreciates the magic of live music, Black and Gold’s ability to seamlessly transition between genres ensures that there’s something for everyone while having you up on the dance floor.
• 2:30 - Raffle draw - Raffles are on sale from 10am until 2pm at the raffle tent  
• 3:00 - Sugafix - With their infectious grooves, powerhouse vocals, and ability to cater to diverse musical tastes, Sugafix create a sound that’s pure musical joy as it is timeless. This dynamic and versatile band fronted by a dynamic duo will be headlining and delivering an unforgettable closing set that will have you on your feet and craving for more!
• 4:00 - Alcohol sales close
• 4:30 - Festival closes.

How to buy your A Taste of Matarangi Tickets

For more event information and a link to buy tickets online please see the All About Whitianga Events pages. A limited number of door tickets may be available on the day.