Getting better and better every year, the Katikati Avocado Food & Wine Festival 2012 is now in its eighth year of bringing food, entertainment and fun for all the family.
Mouth-watering delicacies such as scallops, whitebait, roast meat, salads, burgers, hot dogs, cheeses, samosas, sushi and ice cream will be for sale, there will be cooking demonstrations every hour and several competitions.
With the major competition, sponsored by Accumulus Ltd, Katikati, being for an avocado dish, look out for it in the big tent.
Although the entries are to be made at home, the creations, along with the relevant recipe, will be in the Accumulus tent no later than 12.30pm for judging, with the results announced at 4pm.
An exciting part of the competition is that all entries will be available for the public to taste following the judging.
In the Add-an-Avocado marquee, the main activities to be held are sponsored by NZ Avocado Growers' Association Inc.
Celebrity chef Peter Blakeway will put on three 30-minute avocado cooking demonstrations at 11.45am, 2pm and 3pm. Once again there will be tastings and his recipes will be available.
As there are limited spaces in the marquee, early entries by email in the guacamole making competition should already have been sent to mmunro@avocado.co.nz.
Of course avocados and all culinary equipment is being supplied, but competitors can take their own "secret ingredients". The competition starts at 12.45pm.
Children can also join in the fun and get their creative juices flowing in the Make a Mr Avocado Head competition.
And if the kids are not into the creative side of things, there is plenty to keep them occupied in the form of Mini Jeeps, swing boats, a merry-go-round, bouncy castle and the ever favourite face painting, all at reasonable charges.
Also in the marquee will be free tastings of guacamole and avocado smoothies for as long as the supply lasts, so get in quick if you don't want to miss out.
Representatives from Volcanic Hills Wine, Askerne Estate, Makaraka Estate, Liquor King, Hihi Wines, Vilagrad Winery , Hilltop Wines, Morton Estate and Finer Wines will display their wares throughout the domain for tasting and purchase.
Then you can sit back and relax as you listen or get up and dance to an afternoon of entertainers starting with the always popular Woody Woodhouse Band from noon-2pm, followed by Rhythm Express playing a combination of jazz, dance, and easy listening music until 4pm.
Wrapping up the show is Five O'Clock Shadow with their smooth harmonies, dynamic drumming and expert guitar and bass playing.
At 4pm the winner of the Seeka Fresh Avocado Cafe Competition will be announced in the main stage area.
"A number of the cafes have been really busy with people coming to try their dishes - and I have heard from a number of people who have tried the dishes that they are impressed with the standard this year," Jacqui Knight, promotions manager of Katch Katikati, says.
Cafes taking part are Flat White Cafe (Waihi Beach), Hot Pipi (Waihi Beach), Talisman/The Landing Hotel (Katikati), Katikati Bird Gardens, Waihi Beach Hotel, The Carvery Cafe (Katikati), Fantail Lodge (Katikati), Robert Harris (Katikati), Twickenham (Katikati) and Ambria Restaurant & Bar (Katikati).
The Avocado Food & Wine Festival is being managed by the Pakeke Lions for the Katikati Funfest Charitable Trust and is a fundraiser for local community groups.
Katikati Avocado Food & Wine Festival 2012, Uretara Domain, Saturday, January 14, 11.30am-6pm, wet or fine. Admission $15, early bird tickets $12 available up until 5pm Friday, January 13, from the Information Centre, Westpac Bank and Finer Wines. For more information, Bruce Robinson 549 2064 or www.avofest.co.nz.