Harvest Festival is on again this weekend in Marton with a series of activities to attract people to the Rangitikei town.
Celebrity chef Michael Van de Elzen, of TVNZ's The Food Truck, will be a big drawcard with the annual brewing, baking and growing competitions.
Project Marton co-ordinator Cath Ash said over the years the event, inspired by the town's brewing history and its malting plant, had continued to grow.
The annual festival is based at Marton Park and will include 120 stalls and all-day entertainment.
"The quality is so good. I'm really, really pleased," Ms Ash said.
Turakina's Aaron Akkerman, who won last year's pumpkin-growing competition with a 490kg whopper, will be returning for another crack this year.
Last year he set his sights on breaking the New Zealand record, which stands at 721kg. Ms Ash said that was always a popular event. "If someone said to me a few years ago I'd get excited about giant pumpkins, I would've laughed." People can also pay to dunk locals in a dunk tank with the money going to fund civic projects around Marton - part of its town centre plan. Rangitikei Mayor Andy Watson has put himself on the line for the cause.
The popular geese herding returns to with organisers promising something new to look forward to. Ms Ash said after several years running the event she had given up looking at the weather forecast. "It always turns out lovely."
Harvest Festival will run from 10am to 4pm.