Seafood festival attracts thousands

A "lovely mix" of people turned up to a sunny and successful Port Chalmers Seafood Festival on Saturday, organisers say.

While final numbers are not in yet, it is understood between 4500 and 5000 people attended the two-yearly food festival this year, including a good turnout of families.

About 1000 people came via three free train trips from Mosgiel.

Purakaunui School principal Tim Cook said by mid-afternoon he had sold 350 bowls of "hot and tasty" seafood chowder, with the help of community member Nickee Chambers, of The Port Larder, who supplied kasundi, and seafood company Talleys, which donated mussels.

The school had 14 pupils, and the event was its largest fundraiser.

"Last time we made about $3000. We hope to make something similar," he said.

About 3000 tickets to the event had been sold in advance, festival committee member Michelle Simpson said.

"The place is just humming; there is a lovely mix of people here."

First-time stallholders the Stewart Island Community Centre crossed Foveaux Strait for the event- and their bacon-wrapped mussels also proved popular with the crowds.

This year a popular competition fishing off the wharf was run for children, and was won by Dunedin girl Sienna Brits, who caught a 1.2kg blue cod and received a new fishing rod.

Crowds could also be seen enjoying the music in the afternoon, with many people letting their hair down and dancing to the Afro beats of Sam Manzanza.

Entertainers also included local musicians and Lyttelton group The Eastern.

Committee member AJ Johnston said one change from last year was the greater number of food trucks which came along.

The most popular stalls were still the local seafood retailers, which was good to see, he said.

The committee, made up of volunteers, had not yet determined how much money had been raised or got a final head count, but said at every festival they aimed to donate $15,000 to $20,000 to the community.