Rotorua Summer Seafood Festival kicks off

Lines were starting to form at stalls as punters tried out some of the kaimoana on offer. PHOTO/ DAISY HUDSON

Music and the sizzling of cooking kaimoana filled the air as the Rotorua Summer Seafood Festival kicked off.

Thousands of people have already gathered at the Village Green and many more were still flooding through the gates by early afternoon for the third annual festival.

There are two stages; a kai stage and the main stage.

The main stage will be headlined by Stan Walker and Herbs while the kai stage will be headlined by chef Robert Oliver.

Bailea Twomey entertains the crowd. PHOTO/ DAISY HUDSON

The wet weather didn't appear to have deterred punters from heading along to the event, which runs until 6pm.

Getting ready to start his cooking demonstration shortly after the festival kicked off was 2010 New Zealand Masterchef winner Brett McGregor.

"It's awesome to be here, I'm glad the weather's holding out," he said.

"There's lots of smiles, people are very happy."

Serving up some tasty kai to the punters at the Te Arawa Fresh stall was first time festivalgoer Paraakiri Higgins.

There was "a bit of everything" at the festival, and lines were starting to form early on, she said.

The music coming from performers on stage was good for motivation, she said.

Singer Bailea Twomey was keeping the crowd entertained early on as she belted out some well known pop hits.

The entertainment is set to keep on coming throughout the afternoon, with headliner Stan Walker expected to perform later this evening.