Festival offers day of food, wine, music and dancing

 

The 20th Mangawhai Food and Wine Festival on Saturday March 30 is ready to roll. Grab your friends and break out your favourite dance moves with the fabulous Mermaids Dance Band.

An idea thrown around in the early days of the Mangawhai Walking Weekend has turned into an outstanding afternoon of music, food, wine and dancing. From small beginnings in the Library Hall, the festival has grown to be a very popular event on the Walking Weekend calendar.

Great entertainment has always been a drawcard, with bands wanting to return the following year. The dynamic always-popular Mermaids Dance Band returns for the third time, performing pop dance music from the 70's to now. Their own glitzy, polished style features very detailed vocal harmonies, never failing to deliver high energy fun performances making it impossible for the audience to resist dancing. 

New Zealand’s only ABBA band, they are including one set of ABBA’s biggest hits at the Mangawhai festival alongside a huge variety of other festival-worthy tunes. 

The Mermaids will be appearing as a five piece at Mangawhai, with additional guitarist Dixon Nacey, whose experience with local and international acts is extensive, most recently with Marlon Williams. He is also the musical director of Coca Cola Christmas in the Park. 
For a fabulous fun afternoon of delicious food, superb local wine and beer, music and dancing and great company, all in the shade of the beautiful Olive Grove, this is an event not to be missed. Last year’s event sold out and ticket numbers are limited. Gate sales will only be available if not sold out prior, so organisers advise purchasing your tickets in advance. 

Keep safe with the Leabourn shuttle service. Shuttles from Heads carpark to venue from 2.30pm and returning 7pm, $5 per person each way. No booking required. Gates open 2.45pm.

Lots of options for tickets: $25 from Bammas or Mangawhai Books and Gifts; if available at gate $30; book online mangawhaiwalking.co.nz; or call Dorothy (09) 431 5950.

 Mangawhai Food and Wine Festival, Saturday March 30, 3-7pm, The Olive Grove, 35 Insley Street in the Village, opposite the school.