Organisers of the Food, Wine, a Taste of Port event at Rex Smeal Park on Saturday night are in damage control after fielding heavy criticism.

Party goers were forced to wait up to 80 minutes in queues estimated to be 70 people long at times, while others were forced to go to the nearby Court House Hotel for food and drink.

While headline acts the Black Sorrows and Dragon were lauded for their performances, caterers couldn't cope with the demands of the 2,000 or so guests who paid $45 each to enter, with lines stretching back through the tables.

Wine supplies dried up early in the evening and food was also in short supply.

The Newsport has been made aware that one group of ladies who travel from Victoria to attend the event each year were so disappointed they vowed not to return in 2013.

Did you go to the event? Tell us about your experience below.

Organisers of the event, Events NQ, put the pressure back on to local restaurants saying a lack of support was the reason for the long delays.

"We know people attending queued for a long time, and we simply need more local restaurants to support this event," said Events NQ's Donna Anderson. 

"Every year we invite the Port Douglas restaurants to take part, and every year they tell us they are too busy 'because it's Carnivale'.  This year, we had six restaurant stalls, the same number as in 2011 when we had 200 less attend. 

"The participation cost for a restaurant stall is $200 plus 13% of their revenue. So if a restaurant takes an average of $20,000 on the night, our share $2,600 goes to marketing costs of advertising, publicity and promotion of this event," she said.  

"From the $45 gate ticket, we provide the $200,000 infrastructure that makes this event happen including entertainment, fireworks, insurance, staffing, signage, printing, cleaners and security. 

"If you love this event, and we do, and you want it to happen, then please talk to your favourite restaurant about participating in 2013." 

Doug Ryan of Tourism Port Douglas Daintree said the first weekend of Carnivale had been fantastic for the town.

“There have been people everywhere, the town was pumping, the Seafood Extravaganza at the marina was packed, as was the crowd on Saturday night at Food, Wine and A Taste of Port. 

"It’s now a such an excellent big social event where everyone you’ve seen last year or the year before is coming back.  It’s been terrific to see all these people from interstate and overseas rocking up,” he said.

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