Chontelle Grecian, who alongside Anita Hutchinson have for a second year volunteered to organise Tastes on behalf of Tomaree Business Chamber, said with 70 stalls, two stages, a new dedicated cooking demonstration area and even more side events the 2018 festival will be “bigger and better”.

“We have a really full program of entertainment, cooking demonstrations, stalls and entertainment this year,” Ms Grecian said. “There’s something for everyone.

“We’re really passionate about events and feel really strongly about having events for locals. 

“We do want people from outside Port Stephens to visit but a festival like this is a great opportunity for locals to see what’s on offer in their own backyard, to wander around and try new things.”

A winemakers dinner at Nelson Bay Golf Club on Friday, November 2 will kick off the weekend.

ALSO READ: Tastes at the Bay 2017: Fine fare tempts foodie tastes

Stockton and Magnus streets, in the heart of Nelson Bay, will be closed to traffic on November 3 and 4 and filled with food, beverage and market stalls plus two stages for music and other entertainment.

Music will begin at 10am each day.

The Yacaaba Street extension will serve as a family friendly area featuring children’s activities, food stalls and the Tastes Kitchen where cooking demonstrations will be carried out across the two days.

This year, leading chefs from Port Stephens and Newcastle will provide the demonstrations including:

Demonstrations will begin at 10.30am each day.

The Taster Trail, introduced last year, will return on Saturday, November 3.

This takes groups of 50 on a progressive taste tour to:

Tammy Kelly from Evviva said being part of the Taster Trail was a “great experience”.

“We met a lot of people who said they had been meaning to come in, but hadn’t until they did the trail,” she said. “It was a great way for us to show people what we’re about, and we were quick to get repeat business.”

Due to its popularity, this year there will be two Taster Trail sittings – at 3.30pm and 4.30pm.

The jazz luncheon cruise, with Moonshadow-TQC, will also return this year. The cruise will depart at noon on November 3. 

A new event this year is Munch and Move.

Supported by Port Stephens Coaches, Munch and Move takes tasters on a tour of Mavericks on the Bay, Valhalla at Bobs Farm and Murray’s Brewery. The tour will begin at 11.30am on Sunday, November 4.

Tickets to the winemakers dinner, jazz cruise luncheon, Taster Trail and Munch and Move are on sale now through tastesatthebay.org.au.

Tomaree Business Chamber president Leah Anderson said she is “excited” for this year’s festival.

“The chamber is passionate about supporting community and businesses, which is why we founded and continue to support this flagship event,” Ms Anderson said.

“It’s a great community event but economically it really boosts the town. We hope businesses will have their doors open across the weekend and take advantage of all the foot traffic.

“It’s not just the stallholders who benefit from the festival, but local businesses as well.”

Ms Grecian said feedback from businesses in the weeks after last year’s festival, which attracted about 6000 people across the rain-soaked two days, indicated a 22 per cent sales growth.

This year, organisers are expecting up to 10,000 people to attend.

More volunteers are being sought to help across the two-day festival. To volunteer email admin@tasteatthebay.com.au.

The Examiner has one double pass (two tickets valued at $118) to give away to the 3.30pm sitting of the Taster Trail. To win, send an email to portstephens@fairfaxmedia.com.au with your full name, daytime contact number and 100 words on why you would like to go on the Taster Trail.