Summer 2025/2026 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.

Brews on the Bay
Saturday 1 November 2025
Enjoy a fantastic range of beer and cider producers alongside great music and tasty food, all overlooking our beloved Caroline Bay. Caroline Bay will come alive with an afternoon of tasty food and some of NZ's favourite breweries.
Geraldine Summer Fete
Thursday 6 November 2025
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!
Get to the Point
Saturday 8 November 2025
A family fun day featuring market stalls, traction engine and steam train rides, dog trials, shearing competitions, music, food and games.
4 & Rotary South Island Champs
Friday 14 - Sunday 16 November 2025
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!
Harcourts Geraldine Festival
Friday 14 - Sunday 16 November 2025
2025 brings the 36th 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.
Twilight Night Market
Friday 21 November 2025
Get ready for a great night out with family and friends celebrating the start of the festive season! With over 60 stalls, you’ll find plenty to enjoy – from gifts and Christmas decorations to tasty food and local treats. Stallholders are excited to welcome you back for another fun evening at The Exchange. Come along, explore, and enjoy the atmosphere of this much-loved community event!
Property Brokers Temuka Christmas Parade
Saturday 29 November 2025
Bring along the family for a fun day of celebration at the Temuka Christmas Parade, with live entertainment and festive floats as the town comes alive with Christmas spirit.
Geraldine Christmas Parade
Friday 5 December 2025
The Geraldine Christmas Parade brings joy to the crowds with amazing floats, the lively tunes of the South Canterbury Pipe Band, a special visit from Father Christmas, and festive fun for the whole family in the Domain.
Timaru Festival of Roses
Saturday 6 December - Sunday 7 December 2025
An annual festival held to celebrate the arrival of summer and Timaru’s close affiliation with the rose. Introducing a Saturday Night Beats & Eats this year with live music and great food stalls. Explore the market and food stalls, garden demos, kids zone and listen to live music on the Sunday Festival Day.
Orari Races
Saturday 6 December 2025
Get dressed up and have a fun day out at the races! A popular Christmas function venue enjoying live music and a buffet meal.
PrimePort Timaru Santa Parade
Sunday 7 December 2025
Join Santa on his annual journey of fun, colour and excitement as he travels along Stafford Street, down the Loop Road and onto Caroline Bay where you can then say hi to the Ballantynes Santa and meet his friends from the parade.
Christmas on the Bay
Saturday 13 December 2025
A fun family Christmas concert held every year at the Caroline Bay Soundshell. See you at McCains Christmas on the Bay — the best way to kick off your holiday season!
Pleasant Point Christmas Procession
Friday 19 December 2025
Pleasant Points Main Street comes alive on the 3rd Friday of December every year, featuring floats with the locals take on 'political' topics and news from the year. This procession has become well known for its festive, NON-PC approach to reflecting on the year that was.
Caroline Bay Carnival
26 December 2025 - 11 January 2026
A Timaru institution, the Caroline Bay Carnival is one of the longest standing events of its kind in the country. Packed full of family entertainment including carnival rides, competitions and concerts.
Trust Aoraki Thunder Down Under Super Trucks
Saturday 31 January - Sunday 1 February 2026
Two days of epic super truck racing at Timaru's Levels Raceway. This is one of the biggest racing events of the year with plenty of entertainment for the whole family.
Seaside Festival
Thursday 5 February - Sunday 15 February 2026
A celebration of all things summer, the Seaside Festival takes place at Caroline Bay showcasing sand sculpture, rides, inflatables, outdoor movies, and huge, fabulous kites.
Southern Classic
Friday 13 February - Sunday 15 February 2026
The Classic Motor Racing Club proudly presents the Southern Classic, 8 Action packed classes racing over 2 days.
Gintastic - South Canterbury
Saturday 14 February 2026
The first time this boutique gin festival hits the region! Sip on expertly crafted gin cocktails, indulge in tasty food, and soak up the festival atmosphere. Plus, you’ll have the chance to take home a bottle (or more) to add to your collection. Hosted at the breathtaking HiltonView, with sweeping views of the countryside and the Southern Alps, this is the ultimate summer celebration of gin, food, music and love.
World Tennis Tour - Timaru
Monday 9 March - Sunday 15 March 2026
An incredible chance to watch professional tennis live for FREE at the Trust Aoraki Tennis Centre. This is the second year holding this event in Timaru.
Caroline Bay Rock & Hop
Thursday 19 March - Sunday 22 March 2026
2026 will see Timaru hosting the 10th Caroline Bay Rock and Hop, featuring Classic, Custom and Vintage vehicles. Stalls, dances, competitions and more on the Gala Day, plus events on everyday throughout the event.


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 – 12:30pm, 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.
Stay a bit longer by checking out one of our itineraries and experience the best of the what the Timaru District has to offer.