THE streets of our town soon will be transformed into a festival brimming with food and music after a much-loved racecourse event has announced it will shift locale and change name, albeit slightly.
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The Tastings on the Hastings festival previously held at Port Macqu arie Racecourse and called Tastings of the Hastings this year will involve more than 100 stalls in Port Mac quarie's CBD.
But they are not the only changes for the food-lovers event.
A new partnership with Sundowner Breakwall Tourist Park will this year see a live-music stage erected alongside the Hastings River.
The Sundowner River stage will be graced by high-calibre musicians such as guitar virtuoso Jeff Lang, who last year performed at Byron Bay's Bluesfest.
The event takes place on October 14.
Now in its 10th year, thousands of people flock to the event annually. The crowd last year reached 7500.
Event Coordinator Sonia Fingleton said the new location would give people more room to move.
"We're taking a huge leap. It really outgrew the racecourse," she said.
Indie roots musician James Bennett and the toe-tapping sounds of Geoff Turnball will provide the soundtrack as locals and visitors weave their way around the food and wine stalls.
The live music from Sundowner would boost the whole atmosphere of the day, Ms Fingleton said.
"Because we're bringing it to town, we thought this year let's take it to the professionals," she said.
"Sundowner have put together a terrific assortment of entertainment."
Logistically, the stage would be relatively easy to set up, Sundowner Break wall Tourist Park managing director Simon Luke said.
The waterfront tourist park is no stranger to hosting live music, with Festival of the Sun held onsite annually in December.
The stage would create a buzz particularly when Jeff Lang steps out, Mr Luke said.
"We are always looking for ways to enrich the culture of the local community, particularly through supporting local musicians and live performance," he said.
The month-long festival also will feature events held throughout October.
It will be launched officially next week.
The festival showcases the region's best food and beverages.