The news Bluff oyster lovers have been waiting for has been confirmed — Bluff oysters will be on the menu at this year’s Bluff Oyster & Food Festival on May 23.
Festival chairman John Edminstin confirmed the news last week.
“We are up and running and all go.”
The news means remaining tickets, available from Trade Me, Barnes Oysters in Invercargill and at the First National Real Estate Cafe in Bluff, will be in hot demand.
Earlier the committee had committed to staging the event with or without Bluff oysters as supply was uncertain, but the news means the star of the show will indeed be present in numbers.
The southern icon will be available at many of the event’s food stalls in various forms alongside plenty of other southern seafood treats such as blue cod, mutton birds, pāua and more, as well as other non-seafood offerings plus great beverages, music and entertainment.
The availability of Bluff oysters confirms another very popular facet of the festival, the oyster opening races featuring professional oyster openers and the oyster eating heats, in which members of the crowd can participate, will now go ahead as per usual.
The day is complemented by a wonderful entertainment programme that features international performer Helen Henderson, Sweet Marie, The Eastern and Band Of Bluffies while the Bluff School Kapa Haka Group and the Mapu-Kuki-Airani Rarotongan drummers also entertain on the main stage. The gates will open at 10.30am on Saturday, May 23.
Lindsay Beer
