The Noosa Eat and Drink Festival makes its triumphant return to the Sunshine Coast this winter, offering an irresistible minibreak for food and drink fanatics, with more than 75 events spread across four delectable days from 30 May to 2 June.
It’s biggest and best program yet, the Festival celebrates its 21st edition with a revamped Festival Village, a tantalising restaurant showcase, daily Beach Events, and the return of signature event The Long Lunch.
At the centre of the action is the Festival Village; Noosa Eat and Drink’s weekend-long hub of food, drink and entertainment.
Including prosecco on arrival, Festival Village tickets give visitors the chance to explore pop-ups from Noosa’s top restaurants, stock up on artisan delights from across the region at the Producers Pavilion, and sip on refreshing tipples from the finest craft brewers, distillers and local wineries, alongside a selection of international brands.
Festival director John Guise said the Festival Village offers something for everyone.
“The Festival Village is an absolute must for those visiting Noosa Eat and Drink this year, with a line- up of over 80 local, Australian and international brands, and exciting demonstrations and masterclasses from our celebrity chefs.
“The Village becomes a hub of culinary excellence and perfectly showcases our region’s food scene – from fine dining to local artisans and everything in between,” Mr Guise said.
Special guests Gary Mehigan and Hayden Quinn will host a culinary utopia daily from 11am at the Festival Village Main Stage, where a stellar line-up of visiting industry powerhouses including George Calombaris, Anna Polyviou, Adriano Zumbo, Warren Mendes, Sarah Todd, Khanh Ong, Matt Golinski and Sergio Perera will cook up a storm during live demonstrations.
For those seeking a more personal experience, masterclasses with Polyviou, Zumbo, Mendes, Todd, plus George Georgovski (The Lunchbox Dad), Seabourne Gin and Sunshine and Sons Gin will pepper the program, while a sizzling daily showdown at the Celebrity Cooking Competition, will see special guests Olympian Michael Klim and Olympian-turned-restaurateur Eamon Sullivan put everything on the table to prove their gastronomic genius.
The Chandon VIP Lounge ups the ante for lovers of fine food and wine, where ticketholders will enjoy front-row seats to celebrity chef cooking demos, a Chandon cocktail on arrival, plus catering by hot new local, Lanai Noosa.
At dusk, get ready to groove with an epic roster of performers, including DJs and bands who will keep the energy soaring into the evening.
Hurry to secure your tickets for Noosa Eat and Drink’s beloved Beach Events, with the daily Sundowner Cocktail Party almost sold out and exclusive sessions at the new Beach Club and Sunday Brunch by the sea hosted by George Calombaris and Masterchef Australia alumni Sarah Todd also preparing to be a sell-out success.
In a showcase of local restaurants, Festival visitors can embark on a food adventure from the country to the coast. Savour signature dishes while rubbing elbows with local chefs who will dish out secrets on how they’re working wonders with regional produce at one-of-a-kind restaurants events, chef pairings and pop-ups.
Local celebrity chef Matt Golinski has been involved in the festival since its inception in 2003, and this year will work with local suppliers to source the very best produce and supplies for guests and chefs.
“The festival brings so much excitement to Noosa! Our local restaurants are at the forefront of a culinary movement, working closely with producers from the region to bring the freshest seasonal produce to the table,” Mr Golinski said.
“This collaboration not only sparks new concepts and ideas using the vibrant flavours Noosa has to offer but also champions sustainability with the reduction in food miles.”
The Festival’s signature event The Long Lunch continues in 2024 and will be hosted on the popular Arcadia Street in Noosa Junction and catered by local restaurants.
The Gala dinner on Sunday night, hosted by the legendary team at Locale, will see a collaboration with Ben Williamson from Agnes in Brisbane and Jason Saxby from Raes on Wategos in Byron Bay delivering a sumptuous finale to the festival.
Tourism Noosa communications manager Susan Ewington says that Noosa Eat and Drink is a highlight on Noosa’s event calendar.
“One of the unique aspects of Noosa Eat and Drink Festival is the national connection between some of Australia’s best chefs and the collaborative experiences they bring to the restaurant events and with our local chefs,” Ms Ewington said.
“The chefs love attending the festival, often bringing their families to enjoy a long weekend in Noosa.
“Showcasing some of Australia’s premier food experiences, top-quality produce and highlighting the diversity of our coastal dining experiences, the event solidifies Noosa and the Sunshine Coast as a must-visit destination.”
Noosa Eat and Drink regularly attracts 10,000 visitors to the region with more than 1,500 interstate and international visitors predicted to follow their tastebuds to the Festival in 2024 and serve up more than $3 million for the local visitor economy.
Tickets for Noosa Eat and Drink’s Festival Village and restaurant events are on sale from 12pm AEST, Thursday 14 March.
With signature events selling fast, be sure to lock in your tickets and sign up to stay in the loop with program updates at noosaeatdrink.com.au.
