The change to a new permanent site in Lee Street, Bluff  will be a highlight of this year’s Bluff Oyster and Food Festival on Saturday, 23 May. This year about 30,000 oysters will be available – cooked, raw, grilled, in pies, in soups, in croquettes and in shots.

While the Bluff Oyster is the reason that thousands of people flock to the festival each year, there will also be plenty of other tasty treats on hand. Seafood Chowder, muttonbirds, kina, blue cod, seafood gumbo, scallops, crayfish, prawns, whitebait and salmon are just some of the mouthwatering offerings while if you are not partial to seafood there are plenty of other food delights.

On stage both The Eastern from Lyttelton and Wellington-based celtic duo The Filthy Two return this year while local bands, Rhythmonyx and Vixen will also be part of an entertainment programme that complements a day of great food, fine beverage sand fun!

Oyster opening and oyster eating competitions will again feature and the winners of the previous evening’s Kayes Bakery Creativity Awards at the Bluff Town Hall will also appear on stage.

Gates open at 10.30am on Saturday, 23 May and tickets are available from www.ticketdirect.co.nz, the Invercargill City Council offices in Esk Street, Invercargill (phone 03 2111 692) and at the Bluff Service Centre or Barnes Wild Bluff Oysters, Spey Street, Invercargill.