More than 100,000 scallops were shucked to feed the sold out crowd of 5000 people at the Whitianga Scallop Festival on Saturday.

The event sold out on the Monday prior to the festival and it met the expectations of those working behind the scenes to make it a success, said organiser Linda Simonsen.

Year 10 - 12 Mercury Bay Area School Hospitality students from front to back Jeffrey Pulford, Hope Simpson and Geoffrey Huntleigh-Smith serve up some delicious scallop kebabs wrapped in bacon. Photo: Claire Fitzjames/Fairfax NZ

Despite a tsunami warning two days before and a weather forecast of heavy rain, Simonsen said mother nature was smiling down on the event and feedback has been only positive.

"Some people had said it was the best festival they had ever been to.

"The weather was fantastic, the food was amazing and the musicians were incredible. The cooking stage with new talent Kasey and Karena went down really well, we've booked them for next year," she said.

Sisters Kasey and Karena Bird, the 2014 MasterChef winners had the crowd chuckling as they bantered their way through their cooking demonstration.

Culinary chief chef Ray McVinnie also pleased the crowd with his demonstrations and more laughs were provided with the celebrity cook off involving Karena and Steve Devine, against Kasey and Ray McVinnie. Team Devine won.

About 50 food stalls representing local restaurants, wineries and community groups served up scallops in a variety of ways to the scallop devoted crowd.

From the classic scallop and bacon skewer, scallop mornay, to tempura scallops with chilli, lime and dill sauce, or handmade steamed bun filled with grilled scallops, pork belly, pickled carrot, cucumber, hoisin and peanuts, scallop lovers were treated to a real mix of culinary delights.

Entertainment was provided by live bands, including Filthy Two, The Trentwith Boys, Tim Armstrong and Scallop Festival regulars Vegas Brown, who managed to entice dozens of dancers on to the dance floor.

- Stuff