What you need to know about Noosa Eat & Drink Festival 2024

Ready to treat your taste buds? Noosa Eat & Drink Festival is set to satisfy your cravings with 75 mouthwatering events over four days! From celebrity chef dinners to kitchen masterclasses, prepare for a culinary adventure filled with fresh seafood, gourmet street eats, and liquid delights that’ll leave you craving more.

It’s back, baby, bigger and better than ever!

Noosa Eat & Drink 2024 is a cheeky 21-year-old event that’s discovered the depth of its appetite with its most extensive program ever! This year’s menu is a feast for the senses, boasting 75 scrumptious events over four delectable days, Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 2. 

 Noosa Food & Wine has a beach party!

Get ready to loosen those belt buckles and indulge in a culinary adventure. This foodie fiesta celebrates everything delicious in Noosa, from the freshest seafood to gourmet street eats that’ll have you licking your fingers and asking for seconds.

With celebrity chefs whipping up gourmet dinners that will make your taste buds do a happy dance, to cooking demos and rockstar kitchen masterclasses, there’s no shortage of deliciousness to dive into. Liquid delights range from fine wines to craft beers and artisanal cocktails that’ll have you buzzing.

The festival also includes live music, entertainment, and activities to keep the family smiling. 

Ben Williamson from Agnes in Brisbane, Christ Hagan of Locale, and Jason Saxby from Raes on Wategos in Byron come together at Locale for a very special gala dinner.

Get ready to loosen those belt buckles and indulge in a culinary adventure. This foodie fiesta celebrates everything delicious in Noosa, from the freshest seafood to gourmet street eats that’ll have you licking your fingers and asking for seconds.

With celebrity chefs whipping up gourmet dinners that will make your taste buds do a happy dance, to cooking demos and rockstar kitchen masterclasses, there’s no shortage of deliciousness to dive into. Liquid delights range from fine wines to craft beers and artisanal cocktails that’ll have you buzzing.

The festival also includes live music, entertainment, and activities to keep the family smiling.

Who will be at Noosa Eat & Drink 2024?

The big names include Gary Mehigan and Hayden Quinn, who will host the village’s main stage from 11 am daily.

Live demonstrations from chefs such as George Calombaris, Anna Polyviou, Adriano Zumbo, Warren Mendes, Sarah Todd, Khanh Ong, Matt Golinski, and Sergio Perera will keep you entertained. How many of these celebrities will you brush shoulders with around the festival and in Noosa? Ever seen a chef surf?

Be the Village People

The Festival Village is back! This time, it’s in Noosa Woods, that parkland area at the north end of Hastings Street. It’s a great spot with plenty of shade and parking within easy walking distance, but don’t expect to find many empty spaces as this is a popular swimming spot. Pray for fine weather, too, as it’s more than a bit soggy after lots of rain.

Kerry Heaney and Chef Matt Golinski

Noosa Eat & Drink Festival Director John Guise, Kerry Heaney, and Tourism Noosa Communications Manager Susan Ewinton at the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival 2024 launch.

Did I hear there’s prosecco on arrival?

Yes, you did! It’s a glass of Dal Zotto prosecco on arrival at the Festival Village! Now, that’s guaranteed to get the party started. Expect pop-ups from your fave Noosa restaurants and a Producers Pavilion stocked with local artisan products. Brewers, distillers, and local wineries will also be out in force. Festival Director John Guise promises over 80 different brands for you to browse.

Masterclasses not to miss

Experience a more intimate touch with masterclasses by Polyviou, Zumbo, Mendes, Todd, George Georgovski (The Lunchbox Dad), Seabourne Gin, and Sunshine & Sons Gin. Don’t miss the daily showdown at the Celebrity Cooking Competition featuring special guests Olympian Michael Klim and Olympian-turned-restaurateur Eamon Sullivan showcasing their culinary prowess.

Lanai will serve these amazing prawn sandwiches in the Chandon VIP Lounge.  

My top Noosa Eat & Drink 2024 events

• Sunday Night Gala Dinner

This event, hosted by the legendary team at Locale, is an absolute standout. It’s a collaboration between the greatness of Ben Williamson from Agnes in Brisbane and Jason Saxby from Raes on Wategos in Byron. Avoid tears and run; don’t walk to grab these tickets.

• Friday Long Lunch

Held in Arcadia Street, Noosa Junction, this is sadly already sold out! Mark this as a must-do for 2025. Tickets will be on sale in November 2024.

• Two Catalina Cruise Events

You have two chances to snag a spot on the M.V. Catalina, a floating beach club that always has an amazing party vibe. Choose between the pre-launch sunset party with a kitchen collab between renowned Bali hot spot Canggu, Mason, and award-winning Brisbane restaurant, Agnes, by Ben Williamson. and the lunch cruise, a collab with Mexican restaurant, Bandita.

• Lucio’s Marina Tuna Experience

This is one for real foodies who will revel in the demonstration of cutting Walker’s premium tuna and then tasting it.  I dined at Lucio’s recently and it’s a fabulous experience. Also, it comes with paired cocktails and wines.

• Pucca’s Sunshine Coast Gin Tour

Explore a delightful variety of gin selections from Seabourne, Sunshine & Sons (all local distillers), and more, all while treating your taste buds to Chef Neale White’s inventive Euro-Indian street food.

•  Meet the chefs

This is heaven for celebrity spotters and chef fans with some of Australia’s biggest name chefs strutting their stuff on the main stage. There’s also a cooking competition daily at 3 pm where celebs will put their skills to the test.  Watch this space.

• Chandon VIP Lounge

If you want the best festival experience, grab tickets for this lounge quickly. The catering is from Lanai Noosa, and their food is just amazing! It makes the festival a very comfortable ride because after that Chandon cocktail on arrival, you are going to be feeling the vibe and wanting to relax in a comfy lounge. TIP: They have separate toilet facilities!

Need to Know for Noosa Eat & Drink Festival 2024

The Festival Village opens at 11 am and closes at 7 pm on Saturday. On Sunday it closes at 6 pm.

Don’t drive into Noosa Heads and expect to find a park. It’s a nightmare. Instead, park at Noosa Junction and get the free bus. Better still, arrive after a chill ride on the Noosa Ferry. There are stops at Tewantin, Noosaville, and Quamby Place where you can hitch a ride. The ferry takes about 30 minutes from Tewantin, and the last leaves Hastings Street at 6 pm.

Where to Stay

Anywhere in Hastings Street is the best place to stay for the festival, but you’ll need a big budget. My recent stay at Sofitel Noosa Pacific was terrific, and I would recommend the hotel (Have you seen their pool?).

Stay in Noosaville, where there is a wide range of accommodation, for an accessible festival transit by ferry or road.  Of course, anywhere on the Sunshine Coast puts you within driving distance of the event. Just book your accommodation early, as it’s sure to be tighter than a clamshell.

Here’s your go-to list for dining in Noosa and the best new restaurants.

Get Your Tickets

Noosa Eat & Drink Festival 2024 tickets are on sale from 12 noon on Thursday, March 14. Do not delay for the top events. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: Kerry Heaney was a guest at the launch of Noosa Eat & Drink Festival 2024 

Sofitel Noosa Pacific from Noosa River 

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