The TASTES Port Stephens Weekend of Food Wine and Jazz is on this weekend, August 31 to September 1.
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Not to be missed, the Weekend of Fine Wine and Jazz is the big festival finale for this year's month-long Love Sea Food Tastes Port Stephens Festival.
The streets of Nelson Bay will come alive with a full program of free live jazz, across three stages, all weekend, with everything from classic to contemporary vibes.
Among more than 16 bands performing live will be crowd pleasers Fish Fry - known for their on-stage energy and jump-jive, funk and jazz style that's guaranteed to get you up and dancing.
Others artists include Jude and the Dude, Jugalug, String Band, Footloose Band, Half Nelson, The Tangled Souls, Pocket Jazz, Rehab Brass Band, The Djangologists, University of Newcastle Jazz Orchestra, Queen Porter Stomp, Hunter School of Performing Arts Jazz Band, Howard Ward Jazz Band, Steph Russell Quartet, MGs and Josh Duo and more!
There will be a festival marketplace where you can try and buy direct from local oyster farmers, winemakers, brewers and artisans at more than 70 stalls that wind through the town centre and along d'Albora Marina.
Festival entry is free. A festival wine or beer tasting glass can be purchased for $15, and comes with 5 x tasting vouchers.
Tickets are still available to the Jazz Luncheon Cruise with Moonshadow TQC on Saturday, August 31 from 11:45 to 2:30pm.
You'll set off for an afternoon of food adventure, cruising the sparkling bay waters, with toe-tapping live jazz by the Eric Gibbons Band and a three-course lunch with a complimentary glass of Pepper Tree wine on boarding.
If you're quick you may be able to get tickets for the 3:30pm Tasters Trail which includes a taste plate at four popular local eateries.
The festival vibe continues into Saturday night at Soldier's Point Bowling Club where you can catch the funked-up, 10 piece Hot Potato Band.
Tickets are $30 online or $35 at the door.
For Dads there will be a Father's Day prawn shelling and oyster shucking competition.
And you can watch local experts compete in the annual oyster shucking championships or enjoy free, live chef demonstrations.
At 1pm on Sunday there'll be a spectacular fly over and full handling display over the water by the RAAF Hawk 127 lead in-fighter trainer, which can be viewed from D'Albora Marinas.
And all weekend, restaurants all over Port Stephens are offering special seafood menus.
"TASTES Port Stephens is a wonderful weekend with so much for the whole family," Eileen Gilliland, CEO of Destination Port Stephens, said.
"We've pulled together some fantastic local and Sydney artists for the free live performances across three stages, offering everything from Dixieland to Classic Jazz, Blues and Soul - right across the festival weekend."
Festival stall holders in attendance over the weekend include:
Nelson Bay Fish Market, Port Stephens Oyster growers, Marine Rescue, Bobs Farm Avocados, Two Bobs Bakery, Fat Wren Farm, Salamander Mens Shed, Murrays Brewery, Mark Hunter Oysters, Burbridge & Burke, Crows Nest Home Trader and more
To view the full festival program or make bookings visit www.portstephens.org/loveseafood/