Chefs will be dishing up tasting plates featuring local produce and home brewers will be battling for beer awards as an array of entertainment is served up at Palm Cove’s Reef Feast during 8-11 October.

Tourism Palm Cove President Francetta Bridle said the annual Reef Feast held alongside Palm Cove’s palm-fringed beach would celebrate Tropical North Queensland’s lifestyle and unique regional produce with nine events over four days encompassing food, wine, beer, fashion, art and music.

“New to Reef Feast this year is an emphasis on the local farmers who supply incredibly diverse produce to Palm Cove’s 30 restaurants for their chefs to transform into tropical dishes and drinks to be enjoyed beside the Coral Sea,” she said.

“Cairns Airport is presenting Reef Feast in 2015 as part of the Tropical Queensland Export Exchange, an initiative of the Airport, in collaboration with Cairns Regional Council and Trade and Investment Queensland, to grow the profile of Tropical North Queensland's produce and create international trade opportunities.

“The Exchange involves 50 visiting media from the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists who will attend Reef Feast which we hope will result in an international profile next year.”

Mrs Bridle said Reef Feast had become a much anticipated event on the Tropical North Queensland events calendar with more than 11,000 people attending last year.

“Our opening event, Cocktails and Coconuts on Thursday, October 8 will set the tone for four days and three nights of fun with a fire show, coconut dancers and canapés.

“Prawns and Jazz at the Jetty on Friday, October 9 will be a great family evening overlooking the Coral Sea as the sun goes down with buckets of prawns, jazz and entertainment for the kids.

“On Saturday, October 10 the third TNQ Beer Awards will be hotly contested by some remarkably talented home brewers and Taste of Palm Cove under the Stars will have tasting stalls operated by Palm Cove’s restaurants as well as music and entertainment.

“The Reef Feast Palm Cove Market Day on Sunday, October 11 will feature farmer’s produce markets alongside stalls with tasting plates, arts and crafts.

“In between there will be events for those who enjoy sparkling wine and fine dining, a golf day, a Kashmiri feast and Feast for the Eyes celebrating fashion, hair and makeup.”

For more information visit: Reef Feast