Foodie fans are eagerly poring through the freshly released programme for this year’s Flavours of Plenty Festival, with tickets to almost 60 events now up for grabs.

It’s the fifth time Tourism Bay of Plenty is offering the annual festival across Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, and Whakatāne, and festival director Rae Baker says the April 16 to May 3 events will be bigger and bolder than ever.

“This year’s theme is Pushing the Palate, and this means our clever food and beverage producers and hospitality superstars will be creating fearless flavours to entice everyone to try something new.

“There’s something for every taste and budget, from immersive fine-dining experiences to free family friendly community events. Foodies from near and far will be able to try matcha cupping, whisky tasting, kimchi-making, and bacon curing, to name just a few of this year’s options.”

More than 20 eateries have signed up for the Plates of Plenty Challenge, which starts on April 1, two weeks before the first festival event. Challenge entrants will use a box of pre-determined ingredients to create dishes for diners and judges to taste and vote on.

Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan said the Flavours of Plenty Festival would then kick off on April 16 with the ever-popular Battle of the Snack, hosted by Kelli Brett from Cuisine magazine.

Over 18 days, festival attendees will enjoy Greek, Indian, Asian, European and Māori cuisine, hot chicken wing and chilli contests, and all-you-can-eat taco nights.

Two crafted beers have been specially brewed for this year’s festival – Sunseeker pale ale (by Mount Brewing Co.) and Fork’n Good rice lager (Lumberjack Brewery).

Vegan Vibes is back, and Kitchen Takeover will host Five Go Wild with Food, which will see some of the region’s best chefs create a five-course degustation menu using various Plates of Plenty Challenge ingredients.

Solera will host the festival finale on 3 May with its Melting Point event, a five-course savoury dinner where ice cream will feature in every dish. “It’s great to see this award-winning foodie festival earning its rightful place on the annual events calendar in New Zealand, and beyond, and we couldn’t have achieved this without the vital ongoing support from our funders, sponsors, and festival partners,” said Nathan.

“Food is an integral part of every travel experience, and our coastal region’s horticultural abundance, innovative food and beverage producers, and creative culinary flair deserve to be savoured and celebrated. That’s exactly what we’re all looking forward to doing in the Bay of Plenty this autumn.”

For the event programme, see www.flavoursofplentyfestival.com