Scallop Festival Is A Sell-Out

The organisers of the first ever Whitianga Scallop Festival are blown away by the response they have had to the event.

Tickets to the festival sold out a week prior to the event and since then queries have been coming thick and fast about 2006.

The focus of the festival is a wine and food festival held on the shores of Whitianga's harbour, next to the Whitianga Marina this Saturday 20 August. Over 30 food and wine stalls, arts and crafts and five live bands will keep the sell out crowd entertained through Saturday. Whitianga's restaurants will also be serving up good food and entertainment over the weekend, with many of these fringe events also selling out.

What will be served up on Saturday? Here's a taste for you - Macadamia crumbed scallops, Scallops seared and served with midori & cream, scallop and chardonnay shots, scallop and crayfish gourmet sausages, a range of seafood chowders.

There's also plenty of fun and frivolity with comedy and the Ode to the Scallop and Battle of the Barbeques - with the finalists already chosen.

For those who have missed out on getting tickets for the festival grounds, there will be plenty going on in Whitianga the rest of the weekend, with most cafe's serving up special scallop dishes, a special Scallop related art exhibition at the Upstairs Gallery, live entertainment in the evenings, special diving trips over the weekend as well as the chance to explore one of New Zealand's best kept secrets. .............................................................

To those who have been keeping an eye on the festival over the last few months we leave you with the following Ode to the Scallop from Dave Fowell at the Eggsentric Cafe - to us it sums up the passion and enthusiasm the Whitianga community are putting into the innuagrual event:

WHY ME

Why me she asked Puffing some sand Why not the orca Who’s festival dressed In his black and white suit

Why me she wailed Adjusting her skirt Why not the Finn Brothers Who know how to handle The sensational press

Why me she sobbed Arching her shell Why not the crayfish Who changes his colour When boiled on stage

Why me she cried Wiping her eyes Why not Sting Ray Singing ‘Fields of Gold’ And ‘Georgia on my mind’ oo wa wa

Why me she begged Sinking deeper in bed Why not the marlin Who is the darlin’ Of the festival set

Why me she screamed As he plucked her And shucked her In garlic and butter And Cooks Chardonnay

To those travelling to the festival - have a safe journey - take it easy and see you there!

.

© Scoop Media