What’s on in Festivals this summer
Spring is here and as we get back into the warmer months of the year there is a lot happening around Aotearoa, with festival season on the horizon and plenty of great events coming up soon! If you are working these make sure you have good staff training in place and lots and lots of water available! Here are just a few to wet your whistle:
Hawkes Bay Wine Auction
Sat 13 September
Hosted at Toitoi: Hawke's Bay Arts & Events Centre, this annual event will raise funds for the Cranford Hospice – Hastings and involves over 50 wineries from Hawkes Bay and beyond.
Savour Northland
Weds 1 – Fri 31 October
Running all month long, this awesome set of events focussed on food and drinks will run across the region. Experience tastings, live entertainment, local kai all the way from the Far North down to Whangārei and out to the Bay of Islands.
Winetopia
Fri 3 – Sat 4 October
This huge showcase includes wines from over 50 NZ wineries and will include tastings, pop-up restaurants, live music and three main stage sessions with wine chat and panels from some great New Zelanders across the two day event.
NZ International Wine Show 2025
Fri 17 October
The best of NZ wine will be celebrated at this Industry awards night held at the Crowne Plaza in central Auckland. Medals will be given and the finest drops in the land will be celebrated.
Gisborne Wine and Food Festival
Sun 26 October
Hosted across two award winning local wineries just outside of Gizzy, this one day festival features grapes, grub and groovy tunes! Tickets also include transport to and from Gisborne so guests can soak up the atmosphere.
NZ Fruit Wine & Cider Awards
Sat 1 November
Hosted in the heart of sunny Nelson, 2025 will mark the 10th anniversary of this annual celebration of all things fruit! With more than 100 varieties featured this year there are more flavours than you can shake a branch at!
Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival
Fri 7 – Sat 8 November
With more than 75 vendors and over 150 brews on offer, the Dunedin CBFF will once again take over Forsyth Barr Stadium to showcase some of the best in NZ craft beers. Food and alcohol tastings, live music and a festival atmosphere set the stage for a great weekend in the south!