Roll up and have a ball (literally) at the inaugural Hastings Meatball Festival. Sink your teeth into delicious, creative takes on the classic meatball, with Hawke's Bay bakers, butchers, chefs, and cooks battling it out for your Visitor’s Choice vote. Smothered in sauce, spicy, plump, and porky or classic and crumbed in a bag, you will be spoiled for choice.

The ‘Meatballer’ line-up includes  local food favs Sazio, St. Georges Restaurant, BJ’s Bakery and a very special collaboration between Chef Peter Gordon and Eastern Institute of Technology. There’s even a Hastings Distillers vegan ‘neatball’ and a Long Island Delicatessen vegetarian ‘no meat’ ball!

Add some live music, beverage pop-ups, games, and an atmosphere buzzing with energy, and you’ve got a family recipe for an unforgettable evening.

Come hungry and leave stuffed to the meatball max. The Hastings Meatball Festival – it’s messy, it’s mouthwatering, and you won’t want to miss it.

This is a free event - but you do need to register for tickets via eventfinda. You pay for your purchases as you go.

Voting for The People's Choice will be open throughout the event, allowing you to pick your favorite and help crown one meatball maestro creation as the People's Favourite!

F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic is a series of exceptional food and wine experiences set in stunning locations in Hawke’s Bay. Running from March 14-23, F.A.W.C! is a chance to get up close and personal with chefs and food producers, wine makers and the clever people that make up the New Zealand food and wine scene.