A fire-cooked feast and pottery glazing class, garden-to-plate lunch and Spanish tapas with flamenco dancers are just some of the unique experiences you can enjoy at The Curated Plate Food and Drink Festival.
Held over 10 days across the Sunshine Coast from July 25 to August 3, limited early release tickets are now available, giving food lovers the chance to plan their weekend getaways and locals time to lock in events.
Other amazing experiences include coffee plantation tours and a Japanese tuna-cutting show.
The Curated Plate Culinary Director and renowned chef Peter Kuruvita said the festival was on track to deliver more than 60 incredible events as part of this year's program with more events to be announced next month.
"With 35 events releasing tickets today, locals and visitors have the chance to lock in something to look forward to this winter," Mr Kuruvita said.
"Foodies will get a sense of the range of cuisines and events on offer this year - stretching right along the Coast and throughout the Hinterland.
"From European favourites like French and Greek, to Asian and American flavours, each event celebrates something distinct. What unites them all is the focus on local Sunshine Coast ingredients."
A celebration of local produce
Each venue and chef must develop a menu that features as much local produce as possible such as meats, seafood, vegetables and fruit sourced directly from the Sunshine Coast and a drinks menu to shine a light on regional brews and craft-distilled spirits.
Sunshine Coast Council Economy Portfolio Councillor Joe Natoli said the early ticket release offered a taste of the exciting experiences that awaited this winter.
"We invite locals and visitors to explore the fantastic culinary offering we have here on Sunshine Coast," Cr Natoli said.
"Participation enriches our vibrant community and strengthens our food, agriculture, hospitality and tourism sectors.
"Renowned for our spirit of collaboration and innovation, this year's food and drink festival showcases the very best of what our region has to offer."
Also included in the early release are tickets to a native-inspired five-course degustation, a vibrant producer twilight market, a French-style winery feast and a long lunch set in an orchard.
Get in quick for hotly anticipated events
Tickets are also now available for the highly anticipated 'Grape vs Grain' pairing dinner which sold out in 2024 and Saltwater Eco Tours' experience onboard a restored boat with bush tucker themed canapes.
Families are expected to snap up tickets to Picnic on Kings - a family friendly event featuring Australia's favourite Blue Heeler characters Bluey and Bingo. The event is free to enter and $10 per person for the stage show.
The hotly anticipated Asian Food Festival at Spicers Tamarind Retreat in Maleny has also released tickets for both days of their usually sold-out event.
