Auckland Anniversary Weekend & Seafood Festival
New Dates, New Location and New Look for the Culinary Extravaganza
Oct 27, 2008
This year's event will be bigger and better in many ways, and run over three days instead of two, with plenty of entertainment, education and culture to complement the array of delicious seafood on offer at this celebration of the fruits of the sea.
Seafood Favorites and Other Delicacies
New Zealanders spend around NZ$250 million a year on seafood, and this exciting event enables visitors to sample, learn about and touch some of the 100 edible species found in Kiwi waters.
The Auckland Seafood Festival provides a great opportunity to enjoy a variety of succulent local and international seafood sensations including freshly shucked oysters, barbecued prawn kebabs, steamed crayfish, paua fritters, steamed snapper, seafood wraps, smoked fish pies, seafood paellam wok fried diamond shell and surf clams, smoked fish, salt and pepper squid, bouillabaisse, seafood pizza, macadamia encrusted scallops, whitebait fritters, and kiwi-style fish & chips.
Alongside these seafood favorites, at the Festival there will also be a chance to taste some not-so-familiar seafood delicacies including kina (sea urchin), sea snails and sea cucumber. Other menu highlights will be Northland oysters and scallops, brought in especially for the Festival.
Auckland Anniversary Weekend Celebrations
The Auckland Seafood Festival is on the move. Held for the past 2 years over the last weekend in September around the Auckland Fish Market, the 2009 Auckland Seafood Festival will take place at the Halsey Street Wharf Extension in January instead. The shift was designed to ensure the best weather for this popular outdoor event and to complement the range of activities on offer over Auckland’s Anniversary Weekend (24, 25 and 26 January 2009).
"Auckland City Council is thrilled to be able to provide Aucklanders with an exciting array of Anniversary Weekend celebrations in January 2009” says Councillor Greg Moyle, Chair - Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee. “The Auckland Seafood Festival will be a core part of this fun and colourful weekend, offering a uniquely Auckland experience and one that reflects our maritime heritage and celebrates our city's anniversary."
Increased sponsorship from Auckland City Council and Heart of the City means admission to the 2009 Auckland Seafood Festival will cost just NZ$10 if purchased in advance, while gate sales at the event will be NZ$15 (against last year's NZ$20 for pre-purchase and $25 on the gate). All proceeds are donated to Rotary charities.
Blessing of the Fishing Fleet Ceremony and Other Festival Events
The Blessing of the Fleet is a unique event showcasing the Auckland waterfront and fishing industry. At 2pm on Saturday 24 January 2009, Aucklanders and visitors to Auckland are invited to the water's edge in the Western Viaduct between Wynyard wharf and Halsey Street wharf to get up-close with the vessels as they circle the harbour. The boats are blessed by a number of religious denominations - including Anglican, Catholic and Methodist representatives - to wish safety and prosperity to those who bring in the catches of fresh seafood, and to pay tribute to fishermen lost at sea.
Fun events featured in the festival program include the greasy pole contest, fish filleting and oyster shucking competitions.
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