The famous Christmas Country Fête has come to Christchurch!
Thanks for a great day!
We’ll see you again in 2024!
A massive, heartfelt thank you to our amazing stallholders who came out to the idyllic National Equestrian Centre for The Christmas Country Fete. The winds were not quite in our favour, but your dedication was truly appreciated! To all our wonderful ticket holders, we want to express our gratitude for your support and making those unique Christmas gift purchases.
Earlybird Pricing Ends August 31st
Standard Tickets
Early Bird Sale for a Limited Time Only!
Join us for an enchanting and festive artisan shopping experience. Get your Christmas shopping done early, and enjoy food stalls and live entertainment.
Free entry for kids under 16 years old
Thanks to Orana Park, each ticket you buy also enters you in the draw for a FREE family pass to Orana Park.
Thursday 26th of October 2023 | 9:30am – 3:30pm
V.I.P. Tickets
VIP ticket sales have now closed!
This absolute treat includes entry to the Fête, plus a 2 course lunch, a glass of champagne, VIP parking, and a goodie bag.
Thursday 26th of October 2023 | 9:30am – 3:30pm
VIP ticket sales will close on the 11th of October, don’t miss out on this delightful occasion!
Seating note: Tickets purchased together on a single transaction will be seated together for lunch. If you are making a booking as part of a larger group with seperate transactions, please email admin@thefete.co.nz to arrange to be seated together.
Lunch Timing Note: Tickets purchased before the 3rd of October include a 12pm (midday) lunch. As the 12pm lunch is nearing full capacity, tickets for a 1pm lunch have now been released.
2023 Event Information
Thursday 26th of October 2023
9:30am - 3:30pm
National Equestrian Centre
820 McLeans Island Road, Christchurch.
We’re excited to announce a new venue for 2023! We will now be at The National Equestrian Centre, Christchurch, just opposite Orana Wildlife Park.
This venue offers access for all mobility levels, including wheelchairs. The National Equestrian Centre is just 15 minutes from Papanui Road behind the airport.
Stallholders will be located in Hampton Oval, a lovely green and smooth area, while the Wine and Food area will be the wooded area in front of the Stallholders. We have a great area for car parking right beside the Stallholders.
About the Christmas Country Fête
Welcome to The Christmas Country Fête, an enchanting annual event that celebrates the festive season. Enjoy early Christmas shopping with artisan stall holders and local businesses, while enjoying a social occasion complete with delicious food and live entertainment.
History
The Christmas Country Fête has been running since the ’90s and is known for its warm and welcoming environment. A relaxed and enjoyable experience for all visitors, including families. The Christmas Country Fête was originally known as the Culverden Christmas Country Fête, and people would travel to Culverden from all over New Zealand to enjoy a fantastic and unique day out.
Location
The Christmas Country Fête is now hosted at the National Equestrian Centre in Christchurch. This change allows more people to enjoy the festivities without having to venture too far from Christchurch. The picturesque surroundings of the National Equestrian Centre serve as the perfect backdrop for The Christmas Country Fete.
Parking and Transport
Plenty of parking is available for all mobility levels, and the National Equestrian Centre is also accessible via public transport.
Shopping, Food, and Entertainment
Immerse yourself in the festive spirit as you explore an exciting range of stalls, showcasing an extensive selection of high-quality products. Discover handcrafted gifts, artisanal food and beverages, home decor, fashion, and much more.
Food enthusiasts will be delighted by the wide array of culinary delights available at the fete. From gourmet snacks to delectable baked goods, the food stalls offer a tantalising selection of flavours. Whether you’re craving traditional Christmas fare or international cuisine, you’ll find something to satisfy your palate.
Enjoy 6 hours of live entertainment. We will have a live band, a dance group, and more! Keep an eye on our Social Media pages to find out more leading up to the day.
Kids
Free Entry for kids under 16 years old.
Plunket will run a fun area for kids, with activities and entertainment for preschoolers.
Don’t miss out!
Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic of The Christmas Country Fete at its new location. Join us for a day of festive cheer, discover unique treasures, indulge in delectable treats, and enjoy the warm hospitality that defines this remarkable event. Get your tickets now and prepare for an unforgettable experience at The Christmas Country Fete!
Double Talk
Sheryl Higgs & Alistair Bradley are a fantastic music duo who will entertain you at The Fête this year, covering great music that spans through the generations and genres.
Website: https://www.doubletalk.co.nz/
Stall Holder Profiles:
Rustic Furniture
Lilyfields Hakatere
Lilyfields Hakatere is a boutique family run business growing and selling beautiful lilies, spring bulbs and peonies. We will have a gorgeous range of packaged lily bulbs and a selection of potted lilies and peonies available at this years fete.
Lilyfields Website: www.lilyfields.co.nz
Home Base Enamels
Beautiful torch fired enamel jewellery.
“My name is Karen Ellis and I make colourful, contemporary enamel jewellery under the name Home Base Enamels.
Firstly I hand cut shapes from copper then sift on vitreous glass powder before firing with a torch or kiln.
I love playing with colour and pattern to create unique jewellery for people to wear.”
Light Seed
Artisan Soy Candles
“We’ve infused our Christmas candles with festive blends of florals, herbs, resins, and crystals, come and see us to elevate your Christmas gifting with our locally made beautiful candles.
Light Seed Candles make magical gifts. See you at the fete!”
Light Seed Website: lightseed.co.nz
Norwex
Cleaning Products from Joanne Neil, Norwix Consultant
Wick Worx NZ
Illuminate Your Christmas with Exquisite Scented Soy Candle & Wax Melt Creations
We are passionate creators of handcrafted soy candles, candle refills & wax melts, designed to add a touch of elegance and warmth to your festive celebrations. Our candles are meticulously crafted using premium-quality, eco-friendly materials.
Thoughtful Gifts for Loved Ones: Spread the holiday cheer with Wick Worx NZ candles, the perfect gift for family, friends, and colleagues. Whether you’re seeking a luxurious present for that special someone or a delightful stocking stuffer, our hand-poured candles are guaranteed to bring smiles and create lasting memories.
Join us at The Christmas Country Fete: We are thrilled to be a part of The Christmas Country Fete, where you can experience our candles firsthand. Come visit our booth, and let us help you find the perfect candle to brighten your holiday season.
Wick Worx Website: wickworx.co.nz
Fudge by Hopkinsons
Fudge by Hopkinsons creates creamy, velvety, smooth handmade fudge. Made in a registered kitchen in Timaru, they have a great variety of fun and traditional flavours including Creme Brulee, Lemon Meringue, Pineapple Lump, Russian, Chocolate, and oh so many more delicious flavours. This makes a perfect sweet treat for a dinner party/bbq/sharing platter, keep for yourself or giveaway as a beautifully packaged gift.
Website: www.hopkinsons.co.nz/collections/fudge
Flowers with Flair
I am a sole trader and have been selling Silk Flower cemetery flower arrangements for over 10 years.
The flowers are set in cement to avoid them blowing away and also have two coats of UV treatment to help keep them from fading. Reasonably priced from $20 for small roadside arrangements, $40 for pottles which fit in the vase recess and trays from $50 to $55 for in front of the headstone.
Website: www.flowerswithflair.co.nz
Kerri Back Photography and The Stockman Gallery
Website: www.kerribackphotography.com
Mt Lyford Honey
Website: https://www.mtlyfordhoney.com/
Woodnbits
Welcome to Woodnbits, your online shop for New Zealand products made from natural timber and wood
For all of your custom kitchen chopping boards and kitchen utensils made from timber sourced from the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand
We also make and supply chicken and dog houses and pet supplies throughout the Canterbury region
Additionally we craft Natural Macrocarpa sandpits and send them throughout the Motu
Website: www.woodnbits.co.nz
The Blue Hare
The Blue Hare brings your home a country feel. Blending cornflower and French blues, greens and neutral creams. Alongside woodland characters and a mix of buffalo check, plaid and gingham patterns these will give your home a cosy feel and sense of style.
Website: https://www.thebluehare.co.nz/
Naturalus
Naturalus was started by Tanya – Clinical Medical Herbalist & Murray – Musician/Graphic Designer in 2008. They wanted to make 100% natural, organic products affordable for everyone, always sourcing local, sustainably sourced, & organic ingredients firstly. 15 years on they now have a wide range of products which include Handmade Milk Soaps, Organic Scrubs, Body Butters, Clay Masks, Facial Serums, Healing Balms/Ointments, Massage Oils, Fizzing Bath Salts, Shampoo/Conditioning Bars, 100% Pure Essential Oils, a wide range of Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffusers in all shapes & sizes, plus loads more organic products for your body & soul!!
Website: https://www.naturalus.co.nz/
Fononga Boutique
Fononga Boutque is a small family business base in Christchurch with 100% homemade products.
Candles are with soy wax, carefully hand pour in small patches, so they have our full attention at all
times. Wrap around is our signature kafa that represents us, our roots, our culture, our resilience,
and strength. Looks great but smell amazing.
Our body products are all natural as we are strong believers of wellbeing and being natural. We look
afer the environment by reusing and recycling all our products’ containers.
Looks and smells great but very affordable.
Website: www.fononga-botique.com
National Trade Academy
The National Trade Academy has been providing land-based training since 2000. Located on a 70-hectare Training Centre at McLeans Island on the outskirts of Christchurch. NTA is committed to meeting the education and training needs of our students and has expanded into other sectors to offer diverse training opportunities, as well as a number of programmes for international students. Essential to this is the provision of a safe supportive learning environment both in the classroom and in the practical environment. We have 23 years of training experience and are NZQA certified.
The National Trade Academy provides both full-time and part-time programmes, including Dual Enrolment and Star and Gateway programmes designed for secondary school students who are interested in studying and working in their chosen industries. We offer programmes in Agriculture, Animal Care, Civil and Agriculture Infrastructure, Equine, Horticulture, Transport, Logistics and Warehousing and Welding.
Website: www.nta.co.nz.
Little Brown Kiwi
Little Brown Kiwi has an amazing range of Children’s Bath, Bed and Clothing, for the special little people in our lives.
When Nature Calls
When Nature Calls offer composting eco toilets and off-grid showers built using a combination of new and high quality reclaimed materials, available to rent or buy.
Perfect for events, work sites, dairy & wool sheds, off-grid living or guest accommodation.
Ad Maiora Angora
Locally produced mohair from a small farm situated on the Banks Peninsula.
Mohair, the fleece of the Angora goat, is one of the world’s most beautiful and exclusive sustainable natural fibres.
After nearly a decade of meticulous breeding, Ad Maiora is proud to introduce their exclusive collection of mohair yarns, designed to take your knitting projects to unparalleled levels of luxury and elegance. Why settle for ordinary when you can create extraordinary?
website: www.admaiora.co.nz