The Brightwater Wine and Food Festival is returning after an “overwhelming” response from the public encouraged the Rotary Club of Richmond to revive their iconic fundraising event.
Rotary had organised the festival nine times raising around $230,000 for charities, schools and volunteer organisations around the district. The club canned the festival last year so it could reassess its future after a making a loss in 2012 but now it’s back with the 10th edition to be held at the same venue at Middle-Earth Vineyard on Bryant Rd in Brightwater on Sunday February 16.
“The public response has been overwhelming,” member of the festival organising committee Kevin Gear says. “Everyone has been asking ‘why it wasn’t held last year’ and ‘when will it be on again’ so that encouraged us to go ahead.
“It’s also been a wonderful fundraiser for the community. Rotary has raised around $230,000 from the festival and spread it around the community so we wanted to do that as well.”
Money raised from this year’s festival will go to Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter, Wanderers Sports Club, Brightwater Rural Fire Force and the Richmond Volunteer Fire Brigade.
However, Kevin and organising committee chairman Pete Glue say they needed to change the focus of the festival to make it a success. Pete says the crowds stayed away in 2012 because people were reluctant to pay $50 for a ticket so the emphasis this year is providing quality local wine, beer, food and entertainment at affordable prices. “The public have told us to go back to the basics so we have gone for all local entertainment and put the ticket prices back to $15 which is what they were three years ago,” Pete says. “It will be an affordable day and it will also give all the local musicians a chance to shine.”
Kevin says the response to the back to basics approach has been “fantastic” with the public, stall holders and sponsors all keen to support the festival. He says Rotary is also in debt to the landowner Rob Grey and Middle-Earth’s managers Ryan and Kylie O’Connell for allowing the festival to be held at the vineyard.
The festival’s sponsors are Fertilizer NZ Ltd, Goldpine, Colourplus, Knapps Lawyers, Middle-Earth Winery and Nelson More FM.
Buses will be running to and from the festival from Nelson, Stoke and Richmond.
“Come and ride to the festival and have a couple of wines and a dance and then ride home or catch a bus.”
Tickets to the the Brightwater Wine and Food Festival cost $15 and can be purchased from Colourplus Nelson, Colourplus Richmond, Haven Realty offices in Nelson and Richmond, Everyman Records in Nelson, Village Cycles in Richmond, Avanti Plus Richmond, Specsavers in the Richmond Mall and the Brightwater Mobil Garage. Gate sales will cost $20.
