Last updated: 11 November 2024
Enjoy the joy of the season in Whanganui with our detailed event guide. For those who breathe Whanganui air daily and those just sampling it, our guide brings holiday magic to life.
Popular Events: Kick off your festivities at the Mainstreet Whanganui Christmas Parade, where local floats and community spirit create a delightful spectacle for all. Then, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the Christmas at the Races Night Market, featuring unique stalls, delicious food, and exciting races. And don't forget Tauranga Christmas at the Races, offering a perfect blend of festive cheer and exhilarating horse racing action. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Whanganui Holiday Markets and Shopping
Marton Market Day
- What to Expect
- Vibrant street festival with mini inflatable world and diverse food trucks.
- Description
- Marton Market Day is Rangitikei's largest event, featuring over 200 stalls with a variety of goods, including garden art, children's toys, furniture, jewelry, pottery, food, plants, and body products. The event transforms Marton Park into an inflatable world for kids and offers diverse food trucks from around the globe.
- Where
- Marton | More Info : Marton Market Day
Makers Market
- What to Expect
- Showcasing local artisans and their unique handmade products.
- Description
- Makers Market showcases local artists, crafters, bakers, and growers from Rangitikei, Whanganui, and Manawatu. The event features a variety of handmade items, including jewelry, knitted and crocheted goods, glassware, and more.
- Where
- Marton | More Info : Makers Market
Whanganui Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Carols by Candlelight
- What to Expect
- Community singing in a serene outdoor setting illuminated by candlelight
- Description
- A community gathering filled with the warmth of singing traditional carols by candlelight. Locals and visitors alike come together to celebrate the season with heartwarming music set against a beautiful backdrop. Families and friends cherish this opportunity to create lasting memories while sharing in the spirit of joy and harmony.
- Where
- Whanganui | More Info : Carols by Candlelight
Whanganui Other Holiday Activities
Mainstreet Whanganui Christmas Parade
- What to Expect
- Community-driven Christmas celebration with festive activities.
- Description
- The Mainstreet Whanganui Christmas Parade is a community celebration where people come together to share the Christmas spirit and create lasting memories.
- Where
- Whanganui | More Info : Mainstreet Whanganui Christmas Parade
Christmas at the Races hosting Rangitikei RC
- What to Expect
- Electric atmosphere with festive entertainment and thoroughbred racing.
- Description
- Join Wanganui Jockey Club for their Christmas at the Races event, featuring festive entertainment, delicious hospitality, and thrilling thoroughbred racing. This is a perfect day to celebrate the end of the year with friends, family, or colleagues.
- Where
- Wanganui | More Info : Christmas at the Races hosting Rangitikei RC
Wanganui Christmas at the Races
- What to Expect
- Historic horse racing event with festive atmosphere.
- Description
- The Wanganui Christmas at the Races is a premier event featuring the 176th running of the Steelform Roofing Group Wanganui Cup. Enjoy thrilling horse racing and festive atmosphere at the historic racecourse.
- Where
- Wanganui | More Info : Wanganui Christmas at the Races
Up The Garden Path
- What to Expect
- Self-guided garden tour with unique gardens and market stalls.
- Description
- Explore a curated selection of gardens in northern Rangitikei, featuring renowned gardens and boutique market stalls.
- Where
- Marton | More Info : Up The Garden Path
Hunterville Shemozzle
- What to Expect
- Grueling race for Shepherds and their Huntaway dogs.
- Description
- The Hunterville Shemozzle is an iconic event featuring the 26th annual Shepherds Shemozzle, a grueling race for Shepherds and their Huntaway dogs, along with many other competitions, events, and activities for all ages.
- Where
- Hunterville | More Info : Hunterville Shemozzle
Kiwiburn
- What to Expect
- A community-driven celebration of art, music, and self-expression.
- Description
- Kiwiburn is New Zealand's regional Burning Man event, celebrating principles like inclusion, radical self-expression, and gifting. The event features a unique theme each year, with 2024's theme being "Decadance," a mashup of decades and dancing.
- Where
- Hunterville | More Info : Kiwiburn