A Great Day Awaits At Oyster & Food Festival

MEDIA RELEASE
19 MAY 2010

A Great Day Awaits - 2010 Bluff Oyster & Food Festival

20,000 delectable, mouthwatering Bluff Oysters are the star attraction at Saturday's Bluff Oyster & Food Festival in Bluff.

In fact they will be almost singlehandedly responsible for the massive influx of people that will descend from all over the country, not to mention from overseas, to enjoy superb food and beverage, the highly unique oyster events and great entertainment at the Stewart Island Experience Building in Bluff.

When the gates open at 11am on Saturday patrons will be able to feast on Bluff Oysters, other succulent southern seafood, non seafood treats including desserts while enjoying plenty of fine beverages.

Proceedings kick off with the traditional Piping In Of The Oyster followed by the Opening Ceremony on the Outdoor Stage. Once the formalities are over the spotlight moves to the Bluff Community School Kapa Haka Group who never fail to deliver a stunning performance. At 11.45am it is time for something new, but very special. That is the time that the initiative of several Bluff women including Jean Jablonski and Lorraine Bowen, the "Bluff Fishermen Bare It All" 2011 calendar, is launched on the stage. The calendar is a project designed to raise funds for the Bluff Pool and features twelve Bluff fishermen baring it all for the sake of the town's pool. The calendar is based on the 'Calendar Girls' concept using instead the 'Million Dollar Catch' theme with sponsorship from Bluff businesses to cover the cost of printing. Photographer Karen Johnson has also donated her talents to the project. The calendars will be available to purchase for a cost of $20 after they are launched with many of the "models" present to autograph their respective months for a gold coin donation which will of course also go towards the pool.

A full afternoon of musical entertainment begins at 12 noon as Contraband, The Nukes, Room To Move, Lipstick and Rhythmonyx entertain for the remainder of the day on the outdoor stage.

Meanwhile indoors at 11.30am the Kayes Bakery Creativity Awards, consisting of the Oyster Sack Fashion Parade and the Inspirations Of The Sea competitions, open the programme culminating in the prizegiving for the respective sections and the overall Supreme Creativity Awards winner.

The Bluff Drama Club follow the awards, entertaining from 1.15pm with excerpts from their successful "Thank You For The Music" Show. Then from 2pm until 4pm the infamous Oyster Events begin. The Opening races highlight the skills of the professionals and the crowds marvel at their speed and dexterity as they whip through 100 Bluff Oysters in around the 2 minute 30 second mark. There are races for Men, Women, Veterans and even Blindfold races while celebrity races, for those brave enough to try, are held although they are only expected to open ten oysters.

Oyster Eating races are another popular activity. These races allow members of the crowds to become involved as they race in heats to down ten oysters armed with just a toothpick. When their plate is empty competitors must whistle to prove they have actually devoured their oysters. The Celebrity Race has attracted a talented field although we will not know if eating oysters is one of their talents until Saturday. Good Morning presenter Brendon Pongia loves Bluff Oysters and he will line up against Shortland Street actors Robbie Magasiva (Maxwell Avia) and Kiel McNaughton (James 'Scotty' Scott) and MasterChef judge Ray McVinnie plus possibly Nicky Watson who is heading south for the event. Local honour will be upheld by Mayor Tim Shadbolt, members of the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel, stars from the Zero Fees Southern Sharks and multiple champion Tom Sawyer - a winner so often he now qualifies as a celebrity.

Ticket sales are on a par with the last two years which saw capacity crowds at the venue. Tickets cost $16 each while tickets for children 12 & under will sell at $5 each. Festival organisers are urging people to pre-book to ensure they gain admission on the day.

Tickets are available from the Invercargill City Council Booking Office in Esk Street, Invercargill, the Bluff Service Centre, Gore Street, Bluff and www.ticketdirect.co.nz Bookings can also be made by phone at 03 211 1692 or 0800 484 2538 or online at service@icc.govt.nz in addition to www.ticketdirect.co.nz

EFTPOS facilities will be available at the venue as well as at the Bluff Service Centre, 100 metres from the site on Gore Street. Car parking is also available on Foreshore Road within easy walking distance of the Festival site. Bus services will operate from Invercargill on the at a cost of $12 return at 10am, 11am and 12 noon before returning at 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm.

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