Summer 2023/2024 Events Guide
Enjoy concerts, festivals, car shows, or wander local markets. Here’s your guide to what’s on this summer in the Timaru District.
Timaru District Farmers Markets
September sees all the district's farmers markets kick back into life. The market's are local favourites for a weekend event.
Timaru Artisan Farmers Market
9am – 12noon, every Saturday
A Saturday morning must do, the Timaru Artisan Farmers Market provides a wide selection of quality arts, craft and food products held at the historic Landing Services Building. Local buskers are a weekly feature at the market.
Temuka Community Market
10am – 1pm, Saturdays from September
Explore this quaint local market featuring arts and crafts, plants, food and more!
Geraldine Farmers Market
9am – 1pm, Saturdays from September
Wander around and take in local fresh local produce, unique handmade crafts, plants and flowers, delicious coffee, baking and food while relaxing live music plays in the background.
Pleasant Point Farmers Market
9am – 12.30pm, Every third Sunday of the month
A local favourite, the Pleasant Point Market bustles with treats galore, gorgeous homemade gifts, arts and craft as well as a raft of local food producers.
Alpine Energy Soap Box Derby
Sunday 29 October 2023
An event organised to raise awareness around men's health, the Soap Box Derby is a local favourite!
Geraldine Summer Fete
Thursday 2 November 2023
Set in the charming gardens of Stover Farm, just 10 minutes north of Geraldine, the Summer Fete is the perfect chance to start your Christmas shopping with 200 high-quality artisan stalls, including homewares, garden and lifestyle items and much more!
Brews on the Bay
Saturday 4 November 2023
Caroline Bay comes alive as part of New Zealand’s newest beer and cider festival, Brews on the Bay. Enjoy a fantastic range of beer and cider producers alongside great music and tasty food, all overlooking our beloved Caroline Bay.
Get to the Point
Saturday 4 November 2023
A family fun day featuring market stalls, traction engine and steam train rides, dog trials, shearing competitions, music, food and games.
Harcourts Geraldine Festival
16 - 19 November 2023
2023 brings the 34th year of the Geraldine Festival (formally the Geraldine Arts & Plants Festival). This festival is a unique, boutique shopping experience with a wide range of local independent stores and market stalls, art and photography exhibitions and stunning local garden tours.
4 & Rotary South Island Champs
17 - 19 November 2023
4 & Rotary South Island Champs is a car lovers dream! Held in Timaru each year, it's New Zealand's premier automotive and lifestyle event featuring show & shine events, drifting, drag races and much more!
Timaru Festival of Roses
2 - 3 December 2023
An annual festival held to celebrate the arrival of summer and Timaru’s close affiliation with the rose.
Caroline Bay Carnival
26 December 2023 - 8 January 2024
A Timaru institution, the Caroline Bay Carnival is one of the longest standing events of its kind in the country, with 2023 being its 113th year. Packed full of family entertainment including carnival rides, competitions and concerts, this year including chart topping country music star, Kaylee Bell performing for FREE on 4 January at 7pm.
Trust Aoraki Thunder Down Under Super Trucks
26 - 28 January 2024
Three days of epic super truck racing at Timaru's Levels Raceway.
Seaside Festival
1 - 11 February 2024
A celebration of all things summer, the Seaside Festival takes place at Caroline Bay showcasing sand sculpture, rides, inflatables, movies, and huge, fabulous kites.