Wairarapa Events Centre
What's On during June 2026
Miriama Kamo: Less Waste, Greater Place - Saturday 6th June, 1.00pmCome and join Miriama Kamo live for a special one-off afternoon at the Wairarapa Events Centre. Known for her work on Marae and Sunday, Miriama is an award winning reporter and one of Aotearoa’s most trusted storytellers.
Charles Rooking Carter Community Awards - Saturday 6th June, 6.00pmThe Charles Rooking Carter Community Awards are all about celebrating the people who make Carterton such a special place to live.
Talent Wairarapa Grand Finale - Saturday 13th June, 7.00pmCarterton Rotary Talent Wairarapa is back again in 2026, and we are ready for another big year! We are proud to have been a part of the beginning the careers of previous winners and performers, such as Maceo Field, Rampage, Dragonfly, Ruby Bremner, and Monty Fairbrother.
Smokefree Rockquest Wairarapa Final - Friday 19th June, 7.00pm
The Wairarapa Regional Final of Smokefreerockquest, New Zealand’s nationwide, live, original music, youth event giving young musicians the opportunity to perform live in a professional setting, in venues from Northland to Southland.
The Science of Sleep @ Sunset Cinema - Friday 26th May, 7.30pm
Cinemagician Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) returns to his native France to direct his own original screenplay, delving deep, with his own sweet brand of uninhibited delight, into the subconscious lives of two people in love.
Wairarapa Youth Orchestra - Fate & Hope - Saturday 27th June, 3.00pm
Join the Wairarapa Youth Orchestra for Fate & Hope: Symphonies, an inspiring afternoon of live orchestral music and the orchestra’s annual fundraising concert. Featuring music by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Dvořák and Holst, this programme explores themes of resilience, drama and optimism.
To view prices and to book a ticket - click here
Where: Wairarapa Events Centre, Holloway Street, Carterton
Website: www.wairarapaec.co.nz
Stallkeepers Greytown Market - Shades at Grays
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June 2026
Shades at Grays offers beautiful lampshades and stunning wood lamps – inspirational lighting that isn’t available in retail stores. You can find their handcrafted products twice a month at the local Stallkeepers Greytown Market, held in the old town hall at 89 Main Street.
The market is a carefully curated boutique market, with a wide selection of high quality homeware, clothing, jewellery and more.
You can buy Sue’s ready-made lampshades off the stall or order one from a wide range of fabrics and lampshade sizes to perfectly fit your home. Update a floor stand, brush off your favourite lamp base or add an eye-catching ceiling shade. Life’s too short for boring lampshades!
JB’s wood lamps are stunning, crafted from timber that resonates with New Zealand’s past. Each lamp is unique and each has a journey that begins more than 100 years ago, and which is described in an individual story that accompanies each piece. The finish is so gorgeous you won’t be able to resist touching them!
Visit the market or shop our lampshades and lamps online at shadesatgrays.co.nz
Time: 9.30am - 3.00pm
Price: Free Admission
Where: Greytown Town Hall, 89 Main Street, Greytown - click here for future market dates
Website: www.shadesatgrays.co.nz
Festival of Christmas - A Very Country Christmas
27th June - 25th July 2026
Get your Christmas jumpers (and gumboots) ready! The New Zealand Festival of Christmas returns this winter with a brand-new 2026 theme: A Very Country Christmas. This July, Greytown transforms into Aotearoa's cosiest destination, celebrating classic kiwi Christmas with a proudly rural, mid-winter twist.
Crackling braziers, glowing lights, festive food and drinks, mulled wine and gin—all wrapped in small-town hospitality. Rug up and wander Main Street with friends and whānau.
Much-loved favourites return bigger and brighter: the iconic Light Up Truck & Tractor Parade, Cocktails and Comedy, and the magical Illumination Night Walk.
New for 2026: a Winter Town & Country A&P-style Show, spectacular Festive Balloon Glow and Bonfire, and the Ride-On Lawnmower Grand Prix—adding unmistakable rural flair.
It's a full month of festive fun, country-style. It may not be the biggest festival in the world, but it is the happiest. Block out your calendar for Greytown this winter.
We're launching two brand-new festival packages for 2026! Created for those wanting more action while supporting this beloved free festival, they unlock extra perks, exclusive access, and festive merch. Limited-edition pins are also available - the perfect keepsake to show your support.
Festival VIP Packs - 2000 packs available - on sale unless sold prior
Every pack and pin purchased contributes directly toward the cost of delivering the 2026 Festival. Purchase your preferred option, and collect it at the 2026 Festival from a central location (details to follow)
Little Elf Pack - $29.90 (valued at over $39.90) - click here to purchase
Festival Sparkle Pack - $50.90 (valued at over $100) - click here to purchase
Festival Pin - from $25.00 - click here to purchase
Please note: Ruru the Morepork (our Festival Mascot) is exclusively included in the Little Elf Pack and will not be available for purchase during the Festival. All Festival Packs must be pre-ordered as they cannot be purchased during the Festival itself.
Explore the full programme by clicking here
Website: www.greytownvillage.com
Festival of Christmas - Big Switch Opening Night
Saturday 27th June 2026
Kick off the festivities on Saturday 27 June with a spectacular rural celebration. Main Street turns into a Town and Country show of sorts, where you can cheer on your favourite backyard hero in our Ride on Lawnmower Grand Prix, play old school games, and once it gets dark, see the magical lights get switched on for the first time, and enjoy the much-loved Light Up Tractor Parade as it rolls through the village.
What to expect:
- Entertainers throughout the village
- Artisan Night Markets with arts, crafts, food, and festive treats
- Outdoor dining at Truckstop, The White Swan Garden Bar and Food Truck Central
- The first switch-on of magical Christmas lighting
- The beautiful Community Christmas Tree, featuring adorable Ruru Morepork's decorated by local children. Thanks to Greytown Lands Trust.
- Snowfall returns — by popular demand - thanks FreshChoice Greytown! Every 30 mins from 6pm - 8pm
- Spin the wheel to win a meat pack
Browse the Night Markets and sample delicious food truck treats, grab a hot chocolate or mulled wine, enjoy the entertainment, the snowfall and festive music through the streets.
Main Street will be closed to traffic so you can roam freely and soak up the atmosphere. Throw on your winter coat or your Christmas jumper and join us for an opening night to remember, thanks to Greytown Lands Trust.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Some Festival of Christmas events involve flashing lights and light projections, which may affect people with light sensitivity. Please stay within designated safe zones and follow the directions of our traffic marshals.
Time: 3.00pm - 8.00pm
Price: Free Admission
Where: Greytown Town Hall, 89 Main Street, Greytown
Website: www.greytownvillage.com
Festival of Christmas - ILLUMINATION Night Walk at Cobblestones
Friday 3rd - Sunday 12th July 2026
Step into a world of wonder with your family at our enchanting interactive light show walk, where the beautiful grounds of Cobblestones comes alive with dazzling lights, magical soundscapes, and surprises around every corner! Watch your child's face light up as they step on colour-changing pathways, and discover hidden stories told through beams of light.
Perfect for all ages, this unforgettable nighttime adventure combines the outdoors with cutting-edge technology to create a one-of-a-kind experience that sparks imagination, laughter, and memories. Don’t miss your chance to walk through the magic—grab your tickets now! Open for ten nights only, as part of the NZ Festival of Christmas.
Session One: Gates open 5.30pm. Last entry is 6pm
Session Two: Gates open 6.30pm. Last entry is 7pm
Session Three: Gates open 7.30pm. Last entry is 8pm
2026 Sparkle Pack Presale - on sale 1-7 April, exclusively for Festival Sparkle Pack holders
2026 General Public - on sale from 8 April
Illumination Night Glow is designed to go ahead in typical winter weather conditions. Please dress warmly and come prepared to enjoy the experience, rain or shine.
In the unlikely event that your selected session is cancelled due to extreme weather, your ticket will be transferred to the next available date, so you won’t miss out.
Sorry, no dogs allowed.
Time: 5.30pm - 8.30pm (3 x 1 hour sessions)
Price: Click here to view prices and purchase tickets
Where: Cobblestones Heritage Village, 169 Main Street, Greytown
Website: www.greytownvillage.com
Festival of Christmas - Grand Prix Lawnmower Racing
Saturday 27th June 2026
Start your engines, it’s time for one of the Festival of Christmas’s newest iconic events, the Lawnmower Grand Prix!
Watch as brave (and slightly competitive) speedsters take to the track in a high-speed showdown of modified mowers, questionable tactics, and plenty of festive spirit. From souped-up speed machines to wildly twisty chicanes, anything can happen once the flag drops.
Expect:
• Fast laps and fierce competition
• Noise
• Plenty of laughs (and maybe a few breakdowns)
• Serious bragging rights up for grabs
Whether you’re racing or just cheering from the sidelines, it’s guaranteed chaos, camaraderie, and classic small-town fun.
Don’t miss it — this is lawnmowing like you’ve never seen before.
Head to the Farley Ave door, follow the noise, grab a hot drink, and witness some racing before the Festival Big Switch.
Many thanks to the North Island Mower Racing Association for this event.
Time: 2.00pm - 3.30pm
Price: Free Admission
Where: Molewood Orchard, 17 Mole Street, Greytown
Website: www.greytownvillage.com
Festival of Christmas - Star Stories - A Matariki Art Activity
Wednesday 8th - Saturday 11th July 2026
Celebrate the magic of Matariki with a hands-on creative experience at the Greytown Art Gallery.
You are invited to paint your own wooden star, choosing colours and patterns that reflect one of the Matariki stars or your own hopes and wishes for the year ahead. This activity is offered for a koha, welcoming everyone to take part in the spirit of generosity and community. Once complete, each star becomes part of a growing outdoor art installation, carefully placed in a special Matariki display in front of the gallery.
Together, these stars form a vibrant, community-created artwork that honours connection, remembrance, and new beginnings. Fun and full of wonder for all ages!
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Price: Free Admission
Where: Greytown Gallery, 115 Main Street, Greytown
Website: www.greytownvillage.com
Festival of Christmas - One NZ Festive Night Glow
Saturday 18th July 2026
For one night only, Molewood Orchard transforms into a glowing wonderland. Step through the hidden door and follow illuminated pathways into the heart of the orchard, where hot air balloons are inflated and will glow, tethered to the ground and set to music.
Grab a bite to eat from one of the food trucks, toast marshmallows over the open fire, and gather around the bonfire as you soak up the magic of this unforgettable evening. Proudly supporting the Greytown Fire Brigade.
Postponement date Friday 24 July. If this event needs to be postponed, your tickets will automatically be transferred to the postponement date. You will be notified on the day of any changes due to weather.
The Festive Night Glow is designed to go ahead in typical winter weather conditions. Please dress warmly and come prepared to enjoy the experience, rain or shine. Thanks to One NZ.
Sorry, no dogs allowed.
Time: 5.00pm - 7.00pm
Price: Click here to view prices and purchase tickets
Where: Molewood Orchard, 17 Mole Street, Greytown
Website: www.greytownvillage.com
Festival of Christmas - Grand Finale Spectacular - Country-style!
Saturday 25th July 2026
Experience the grand finale of Aotearoa’s happiest mid-winter festival! Main Street will be closed, giving you the perfect spot to enjoy the last flutterings of snow while you feast, drink, and be merry. Explore bustling markets, cheer on a country-style street parade, enjoy fabulous entertainment, and discover surprises that will dazzle and delight.
And yes… there will be fireworks, thanks to Dave and Jennah, Property Brokers Greytown! Gather friends and family for a ten-minute spectacle of colour and cheer. An unforgettable, explosive end to the 2026 Festival, country style. Brought to you by Tumu, proud supporters of the Festival of Christmas.
Time: 3.00pm - 8.00pm
Price: Free Admission
Where: Greytown Town Hall, 89 Main Street, Greytown
Website: www.greytownvillage.com