Seafood, music and community shine at Havelock Festival

AMY RUSS

Sun, seafood and strong community spirit combined for another successful Havelock Mussel and Seafood Festival, with about 4500 people soaking up the atmosphere.

Event contractor Kara Fielding says the wide mix of ages enjoying the day was a highlight.

“There was a real span in age groups this year which was fantastic – loads of kids and teens right through to people in their eighties.”

Live music kept energy levels high, with bands quickly drawing people onto the dance floor. Shapeshifter frontman PDigsss says performing at the festival was an unforgettable experience.

“It was epic all round,” he says. “We were super stoked. We had mussel fritters, mussels, whitebait fritters and the Marlborough oysters – oh wow, they were incredible.”

PDigsss says the band received amazing feedback and would happily return next year.

Seafood vendors were busy throughout the day. Marlborough Oysters sold about 360 dozen oysters, roughly three times more than last year, while Mills Bay Mussels went through about 500 kilograms of mussels.

Crowds embraced the fun, arriving in colourful costumes that added to the festive buzz. Numbers were also up in the VIP tent.

“It was great to see so many people enthusiastic about supporting Marlborough’s seafood industry,” Kara says.

Ahead of the festival, local schools took part in a Friday Mussel Sandwich Fritter Competition, teaming up with celebrity chefs Ganesh Raj and Michael Van de Elzen to create their own mussel dishes.

Students from Waitaria Bay School threw themselves into preparations, learning how to shuck mussels, testing recipes and experimenting with flavours. Their efforts were rewarded with the overall win.

Principal Tineke Giddy says the experience meant a lot to the students. “It was a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity, which the kids thoroughly enjoyed. The event, and its lead-up, offered a rich learning experience, and they had a great time.”

Havelock School students also relished the challenge. “Our kids were absolutely thrilled with the experience,” principal Tracey Wearing says.

Beyond the cooking and entertainment, the festival’s impact continues long after the gates close. Proceeds from the event fund community grants across Rai Valley, Canvastown, Havelock, Okaramio, Linkwater, Kenepuru and Pelorus Sound. Since 2004, more than $315,000 has been donated to local organisations.

“This is what the festival is all about,” Kara says. “It’s not all about the music and seafood – it’s about giving back to the community that live and breathe the local industry.”