What's Coming Up - Events & News From ASURE Oak Estate, Greytown
Greytown Crop Up
Saturday 19th April 2025
Crop Up is Greytown's very own ultra-fresh, ultra-sustainable and ultra-tasty Saturday morning pop-up place to get your fresh food. It's all about crops, coffee and community.
Crop Up brings a blend of small farm suppliers, growers and local backyarders, offering their produce. As well as locally grown fruit and vegetables, there’s coffee, breakfast from Bicycle Kitchen, plus special guest pop-ups offering fresh-caught fish and other tempting products.
The picnic tables will be ready and umbrellas up. Grab your gin accompaniments - lemon, herbs and cucumbers - from the final Crop Up for the season, before it closes up for the cooler months.
Crop Up is zero waste and plastic free - so don’t forget to bring your own keep cup and bags
Time: 9.00am - 12.00pm
Price: Free Admission
Where: Truckstop, 102 Main Road, Greytown
All New Tweed Meander - Easter Rebellion
Saturday 19th April 2025
NEW! Purchase your own beverages; your ticket does not include any alcohol but our partners at Greytown Gin will share their very best offers with you directly!
NEW! Ride at your own pace and enjoy the Tweed Meander activities that tickle your fancy!
HERE'S WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA, POPPET:
10am to 12pm – Bag Grab at Crop Up!
Pick up your Tweed Goodie Bag, Map, Meander Agenda, GDC Coupons and coveted Tweed Meander Rosette. And if your velocipede needs it, ask Shane from Blackwell and Sons to pump you up! Meet the Rear Admiral, get your portrait taken and have a free coffee on us from the Crop Up Coffee Cave.
12pm to 1:30pm – Tallyho!
Ride the Greytown Rail Trail! There will be special activities along the way for you to capture on your instamatic camera thingies, many of which are attached to telephones these days! By jingo!
2pm to 2:45pm – Shenanigans at the Orchard!
All sorts of mischief and prankishness at Molewood Orchards, led by the Rear Admiral himself. Who knew you could do all of these simply outrageous things with humble Braeburn apples? Oh, the chortling and giggles we will all enjoy!
3:30pm to 5pm – Gin and Jive at Cobblestones!
We’ll get you in the gate but you’ll need to open your hand-woven purse and hand over your hard-earned coins for a Greytown Gin G&T or cocktail. There’ll be dancing to the delightful tunes of the Dancing & Drinking Society, New Zealand’s premier exponent of authentic 1920s dance Jazz. And the Rear Admiral will pop up to lead more Tweed-centric mirth and award prizes for those of you dressed to the nines. Simply spiffing.
For those with any energy remaining, we’ll tootle off to the White Swan’s Garden Bar afterwards for a celebratory beverage to complete a day of outright rebellion! You’re so naughty!
Full details provided by email prior to the event.
Time: 10.00am - 6.00pm
Price: Reduced ticket price - $24.90 + fees per person - click here to purchase a ticket
Where: Main Street, Greytown
Website: www.greytownvillage.com
Hootenanny Flash Fling at Shadow Gallery
Saturday 19th April 2025
Ready to ink the moment? The Tattoo Flash Fling at Shadow Gallery is your chance to score a killer flash tattoo in a one-day-only event.
First come, first inked! Choose from a selection of custom flash designs created just for the day. Whether it’s your first tattoo or your fiftieth, this is all about spontaneity, style, and storytelling in ink.
No bookings, just bring your best tattoo-getting energy, and enjoy laid-back tunes & good company while you wait.
Time: 10.00am - 6.00pm
Where: Shadow Gallery Tattoo, 64B Main Street, Greytown
Website: www.greytownvillage.com
The Gin and Jive
Saturday 19th April 2025
Spend a charming afternoon unwinding in the picturesque grounds of Cobblestones, sipping refreshing Gin & Tonics while grooving to the tunes of the Dancing & Drinking Society (D.A.Ds).
Indulge in delicious food, hit the dance floor, and embrace the festive garden party vibe. Dressing up is highly encouraged - think tweed-inspired elegance for a chance to win fabulous prizes!
Time: 3.00pm - 6.00pm
Price: $25.00 + fees - click here to purchase tickets
Where: Cobblestones Museum, 169 Main Street, Greytown
Website: www.greytownvillage.com
Opening Night: The Delightfully Curious Gin Cocktail Mingle
Saturday 19th April 2025
Step into a world of vintage charm, fine gin, and delightful company as we kick off the Greytown Gin Hootenanny in style!
Choose from an irresistible selection of Greytown Distillery Co’s finest gin cocktails and classic G&T’s, alongside freshly shucked oysters and live music from local legend Charlie Matthews. Come thirsty, dress to impress, and get ready for a gin-soaked hootenanny soirée, and enjoy smooth tunes as the sun sets over the garden bar.
Time: From 5.00pm - no bookings required
Price: Pay on consumption
Where: The White Swan, 109 Main Street, Greytown
Website: www.thewhiteswanhotel.co.nz
Wairarapa Balloon Festival - Family Carnival
Saturday 19th April 2025
This magical five day festival promises to be fun for the whole family, with a vibrant display of balloons filling the Wairarapa skies. Balloons will take off from a different local town each morning, creating a magical experience. See them from the comfort of your own backyard, or head to one of the morning ascension spots for a close up slice of the action.
The pinnacle event is the Family Carnival, taking place on Saturday 19 April 2025. This revamped programme includes 5 hours of action-packed entertainment as part of the ticket price.
Choose from over 40 food trucks, or pack a picnic, find a spot on the grass, and enjoy the afternoon and evening of entertainment.
Tickets to the Family Carnival includes:
Live music and entertainment
Bouncy castle for the kids
Cold balloon walk throughs
Face painting Zone and animal balloon artists
An Easter egg hunt for the kids
Selection of art and craft stalls from Wairarapa crafters
The magical Balloon glow performance - lit up to music
Delicious food and beverage options to purchase from over 40 street food vendors, at Food Truck Alley
The 2025 Family Carnival will be an unforgettable experience.
Gates Open 2pm. Entertainment starts at 4pm sharp. Parking opens at 2pm.
Time: 3.00pm - 10.00pm
Price: Click here for prices and to book a ticket
Where: Solway Showgrounds, Judds Road, Masterton
Website: www.nzballoons.co.nz
Wairarapa Balloon Festival - Easter Weekend
Thursday 17th - Monday 21st April 2025
The much-loved Wairarapa Balloon Festival will return in 2025, with a five-day festival of flying that delights locals, and draws in crowds from around the country.
As one of the region’s flagship events, the festival will again take place over Easter, running for five days from Thursday 17 April – Monday 21 April, with balloons taking to the skies, providing a spectacular visual display.
The lift-offs, known as “ascensions” in the ballooning world, will be over Masterton, Carterton, Greytown and Martinborough, wrapping up with a mystery location on Easter Monday.
Stay tuned for the full programme which will be announced in February. In the meantime, block out your calendar for Easter, make your travel plans, and book your stay with us at ASURE Oak Estate Motor Lodge - click here to see what units are available.
Time: Times will vary - click here for the festival programme
Where: The daily ascensions will be held at different locations around the Wairarapa.
Website: www.nzballoons.co.nz
Stallkeepers Greytown Market - Shades at Grays
Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th April 2025
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
Greytown Apple Harvest Festival
Easter Sunday 20th April 2025
When we were kids, Greytown was involved in this thing called Top Town - it was actually a kind of game show, where small towns competed against each other in sports and in nutty challenges.
We had no idea about any of that as kids but what we do remember is the awesome t-shirts Greytown developed for Top Town, with this big red apple logo smack bang in the middle.
And so in the spirit of a wee bit of nostalgia, but also a great love for Greytown and for the wonder of nature’s bounty, we are really excited to be hosting the Greytown Apple Harvest Festival again this year. If Sunday is rainy, then the postponement day is Easter Monday.
There will be all sorts of cool stuff, loads of stalls and food trucks, games, puppy cuddles and carriage rides, plus cider and fruit wine tasting. And of course you can pick your own apples and pears for $3kg. Isn't it time you made a delicious apple pie? Or some chutney? Or a funky new cocktail? Well - the Greytown Apple Harvest Festival would be a great place to start!
Time: 10.00am - 3.00pm
Price: Free Admission
Where: Molewood Orchard, 17 Mole Street, Greytown
Website: www.molewoodorchard.com
Greytown Gin Hootenanny
Thursday 17th - Sunday 27th April 2025
Ten days of Gin-inspired Shenanigans!
Polish your monocles, dust off your finest attire, and ready your refined palates - it’s time for Greytown’s most jubilant juniper jaunt!
For ten glorious days, charming Greytown village transforms into a gin-lover’s paradise, with botanical delights and frivolity. From sumptuous tastings to splendid soirées, we’re rolling out the tweed-lined carpet for cocktail connoisseurs, spirited swillers, and dapper drinkers alike.
Time: Times will vary - check the programme by clicking here
Where: Various spots in Greytown Village
Website: www.greytownvillage.com
The Bootleggers' Run
Saturday 26th April 2025
The Bootleggers’ Car Run ain’t for Sunday drivers! We’re cruisin’ the hills and valleys, makin’ secret pickups at wineries, gin joints, and historic hideouts. Your contraband map will guide you to the best deals, but ya better move fast - each stop’s got a tight window before the fuzz catches wind, its’s a race against the law - metaphorically, of course (we ain’t lookin’ for trouble).
Think your ride’s got class? Our top booze barons will be judgin’ the finest wheels on the road, with the big reveal at The White Swan Hotel Bootleggers’ Mingle from 3.30pm onwards. The best-dressed crews and finest-looking motors might just land themselves on the Most Wanted list… for all the right reasons.
So shine up your bumpers, grease those tires, and keep your flask handy—we got one rule in this game: Full yah Boots!
Click here for full itinerary and details
Time: Starts at 9.30am
Registration: $10 per car (all proceeds go to Life Flight Trust) - click here to register
Where: White Swan, Main Road, Greytown
Website: www.thewhiteswanhotel.co.nz
Pick Your Own Apples & Pears - Molewood Orchard
Saturday 1st March - Monday 2nd June 2025 (Open Weekends)
Molewood Orchard operates a ‘farm gate’ allowing people to pick their own fruit during picking season. So, if the idea of spending an hour or two wandering down rows of trees laden with fresh delicious apples and pears appeals, we have got your weekend plans covered!
Please bring a bucket, basket or bag for the apples. You’re welcome to bring a picnic lunch as well and make a day of it - the new Molewood Meadows are perfect for a picnic, a bit of frisbee, or a random game of cricket. Sunscreen and a hat are a good idea too.
Time: 9.00am - 4.00pm weekends, from Saturday 1 March 2025 up to and including King’s birthday weekend, so our last pick your own day will be Monday 2 June.
Price: $3 / kg
Where: 17 Mole Street, Greytown
Website: www.molewoodorchard.com
Featherston Booktown Festival
Friday 9th - Sunday 11th May 2025
Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival - held annually on the second weekend in May - is a celebration of books, storytelling, and ideas like no other. Started in 2015, Featherston Booktown transforms the historic Wairarapa town of Featherston into a vibrant literary hub each year in May.
With eight permanent bookshops, captivating author talks, workshops, and performances - including the iconic Fish'n'Chip Supper opening night featuring kapa haka - you’ll find something to spark your imagination. Enhance your visit with the Booklover’s Trail Te Ara Kai Pukapuka audio app, guiding you through literary landmarks along SH2 from Wellington, through Wairarapa and all the way to Hawke's Bay.
Whether you’re a passionate reader or simply curious, the festival in an annual weekend of inspiration and discovery. Don’t miss it!
Events: Click here to see the events for the festival - times and prices vary
Where: Various locations in the Wairarapa
Website: www.booktown.org.nz
Festival of Christmas Greytown
26th June - 26th July 2025
In the depths of winter, whilst most people are staying inside watching Netflix, here in Greytown we’re donning our Christmas jumpers, gathering around the outdoor braziers and having some good old fashioned fun. Our mid-winter festival is a month-long celebration designed to bring friends and family together. Set to a backdrop of spectacular lighting, festive food, events, night markets, workshops, beautiful displays, live entertainment and even snow, it’s a place to get together and create special memories.
The joy and happiness that you can experience here during the month of July is simply contagious.
Get ready for a mid-winter Christmas Carnival!
We’re beyond excited to unveil this year’s theme – Christmas Carnival – and boy do we have some exciting things in the pipeline. Our 2025 festival mascot Hari – the delightful festival pooch - will be spreading joy and cheer, with some brand new events and activities, alongside the return of the much-loved favourites.
The programme for the festival will be announced in May. But to be prepared, block our your calendar and book your accommodation with ASURE Oak Estate Motor Lodge - it's going to be amazing!!