The festival season has begun in full effect! Thousands of people are flocking to one location to make the most of their time, immersing themselves in festivals and music, food and beverage, art, and more. New Zealand leaves no stone unturned and hosts some of the best food and beverage festivals, roping in a large number of breweries to showcase a wide array of beverages for you to sip on. You will have a chance to explore the art of the craft but also try on beer, cider, gin, and margaritas and buy drinks of your choice. Below are the best food and beverage festivals in New Zealand you need to know about.
Gindulgence, Nelson
When: Saturday, November 18, 2023; 12 PM to 6 PM
Where: Nelson [18+]
The second event of Gindulgence 2023, “New Zealand’s Gin Festival,” will be held in Nelson. On November 18, the Trafalgar Centre will be transformed into the land of all things gin. Come and join the celebration, where more than 16 distillers will showcase their gins from across the country and the world. Your ticket to Gindulgence Tauranga includes a festival G&T glass and access to over 16 distilleries from far and wide. Furthermore, you can check out all the gins that will be showcased, learn more about the flavors and botanicals, get gin samples from all distillers, and attend the festival program.
This is an unmissable event for gin lovers. The gin distillers at Gindulgence Nelson 2023 will have signature G&Ts, along with other gin-based drinks. Grab a glass or two, and if you like what you taste, you can even buy a bottle to take home. You can relax while sipping on your gin, enjoy the wide array of local food from vendors, meet the creators of the gins on display, and lots more! Get the cocktails and leave the festival as a gin expert, having learned more about the gin industry in New Zealand. Take in the breathtaking surroundings and chill with your friends and loved ones at this boutique gin event. You will get an opportunity to learn more about the aspects of distilling.
Get General Admission tickets for Gindulgence Nelson 2023 from The Ticket Fairy
Gindulgence: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Trafalgar Centre: Facebook
Gindulgence, Wellington
When: January 20 – 21, 2024; 12 PM to 6 PM
Where: Wellington [18+]
Gindulgence returns to Wellington for its 2024 edition at Frank Kitts Park in January. Held across two days on January 20 and 21, gin enthusiasts can have 6 hours of unforgettable time at Gindulgence Wellington with access to gin theater presentations and upwards of 90 gins on show. Just like Gindulgence Nelson, you can get gin samples from all 29 distillers at Gindulgence Wellington. You can have a wonderful experience at all the festival programs with the help of your ticket, and you can also take home a festival G&T glass.
General Admission tickets for Gindulgence Wellington are available at The Ticket Fairy
Gindulgence: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Gindulgence, Christchurch
When: March 16 – 17, 2024
Where: Christchurch
22 distillers will be on their way to Christchurch in March 2024 for Gindulgence Christchurch 2024. Featuring over 80 gins on the show and much more in store, Gindulgence Christchurch is sure to be a blast! It will be held at the function room facility at Ilam Homestead on March 16 and 17. If you enjoy the Nelson, Tauranga, and Wellington editions of Gindulgence, you should head to the Christchurch event on the grounds of the University of Canterbury for a memorable experience.
Seize your tickets to Gindulgence Christchurch from The Ticket Fairy
Gindulgence: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Ilam Homestead: Instagram
South Island Beer Festival | Nov 2023
When: November 25, 2023
Where: Christchurch [ALL AGES]
South Island Beer Festival returns for another smashing event in November. Raise your mugs, and get ready to have some of the most amazing beers and cider at the Ilam Homestead in Christchurch on November 25. South Island Beer Festival, “quite possibly New Zealand’s most chilled out beer event,” will see 30+ craft breweries from all over the South Island assemble at the Christchurch venue for the 2023 festival.
Starting at 12 PM, attendees can relax and taste beer and cider while enjoying music from Sammy and Wellington-born singer Kate Owen. The festival is also set to welcome author Greg Ryan with his new book. The members of the Society of Beer Advocates (SOBA) have voted the South Island Beer Festival the Best Canterbury Beer Event many times.
Sober Tickets, Early Bird, and General Admission tickets have SOLD OUT! Join the wait list for South Island Beer Festival | Nov 2023 at The Ticket Fairy, NOW.
South Island Beer Festival: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Otautahi Smoke
When: December 16, 2023; 2 PM – 10 PM
Where: Christchurch [18+]
Christchurch, prepare yourselves for a day of yummy BBQ, incredible drinks, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to the soundtrack of a stunning musical line-up! Taking place at the Christchurch Central City, Armagh Street event space – Hagley Park Special Events Area, the 2023 edition of Otauhahi Smoke will be held on December 16. Bringing you a wide variety of flavors that will make your taste buds want more, Otauhahi Smoke also offers the finest wines to elevate your culinary experience. The gastronomical affair will also see refreshing drinks, exhilarating ciders, crispy beer, and fulfilling beverages on the menu.
Otauhahi Smoke is also set to welcome outstanding homegrown bands that will play rock and offer soulful music in December. Alternative metal band Blindspott, Jordan Luck Band, and Christchurch-based rock and roll outfit Pieces of Molly are on the roster, along with Christchurch pop-funk-dance group Somebody Do Something and a modern dad-rock band Con Carne from Otautahi.
You can enjoy all the free features and entertainment with a GA ticket. Along with it, you get a souvenir-tasting cup and access to the festival grounds. The VIP tickets to Otauhahi Smoke provide access to the exclusive VIP area, wherein you get a chance to select complimentary soft drinks, juices, and alcohol. Astonishing and mouth-watering food will also be coming in throughout the event.
Get General Admission and VIP tickets for Otauhahi Smoke via The Ticket Fairy
Otauhahi Smoke: Website | Instagram | Facebook
WINE & VIBES VOL. III
When: December 2, 2023
Where: Waiheke Island [18+]
Kick off the first weekend of the last month of 2023 in the best way possible! The most delicious wine is coming your way, courtesy of Batch Winery, for the third episode of Wine & Vibes. It’s almost time to bid farewell to 2023, but the summer is only getting started in December! Slap on some sunscreen, and gear yourselves to sip on award-winning wine while enjoying music from a curated line-up.
On December 2, you can get a chance to admire the jaw-dropping island, indulging in tantalizing food, wine, and killer sets from DJs taking over the Wine & Vibes Vol. III stage at the beautiful Batch Winery located at 129 Carsons Road. Auckland’s George FM resident DJ Pixie Lane, George FM host Grant Marshall, and Ben Parkes have been tapped for the festival, with DJ Doctor. J, Elmo, and DJ/producer Lewis McCallum also on the line-up.
Early Bird tickets have SOLD OUT! Visit The Ticket Fairy to grab your Second Release tickets for WINE & VIBES VOL. III
Wine & Vibes: Facebook
Batch Winery: Instagram
Brew Year’s Eve 2023
When: December 31, 2023
Where: Upper Hutt [18+]
Ring in the new year with the finest Kiwi headliners Sydney-based rock band Dragon, pop rock outfit The Feelers, NZ pop-rock band Hello Sailor, and rock covers trio The Blueprint at Brew Year’s Eve 2023. For a memorable night of music and fun-filled lawn games, head to Brew Year’s Eve 2023 at 27 Blenheim Street, Upper Hutt, on Sunday, December 31. Check out craft beers from an impressive selection of brews from Brewtown’s resident breweries, savor the wine, pick spirits, non-alcoholic drinks, and bubbles from a first-class selection, and enjoy scrumptious food from food trucks at this New Year’s party.
Bring your own deck chair, witness some of the finest acts take the Brew Year’s Eve 2023 stage, and welcome the new year in style. Get the Stay Pass to elevate your Brew Year’s Eve 2023 experience by staying at the self-contained motorhome or caravan on-site. If not, Brewtown is a five-minute walk from the Upper Hutt train station. There are Tranzit buses available to and from Wairarapa, Wellington CBD, and the Hutt Valley.
Tickets for Brew Year’s Eve 2023 are brought to you by The Ticket Fairy
Brewtown Upper Hutt: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Outfield, Music, Food & Arts Festival 2024
When: February 10, 2024
Where: Te Awanga [ALL AGES]
NZEA Best Music Event 2023 finalist Outfield Music, Food & Arts Festival returns for its fifth year at the scenic coast of Te Awanga. The admired independent festival also has camping options to make the most of the experience. Outfield promises a mix of phenomenal established as well as rising stars in music on the line-up. There will be a great deal of food options at this family-friendly affair. Join in at the celebration of music, food, culture, and art on February 10 next year. Be prepared to see spectacular art exhibited at Outfield Festival 2024 in the Hawke’s Bay region!
Visit The Ticket Fairy for more important information about the festival and bus and camping tickets.
Purchase your tickets for Outfield Music, Food & Arts Festival 2024 from The Ticket Fairy
Outfield Festival: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Provincial Insurance Brokers Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival 24
When: February 17, 2024
Where: East Taratahi
Taking place at the scenic setting called ‘The Cliffs’ on the banks of the Ruamahunga River, the Wairarapa Harvest Festival will be held on February 17. The vineyard will host a bevy of foodies and wineries at the 2024 festival. Family-run estate providing organic, natural, and biodynamic wines, Cambridge Road Vineyard; Te Hera Estate and Urlar; family-owned handcrafted wines, organic grape and wine producer, Grava Wines; urban winery generating a wide array of wines, Alexia Wines; family-owned Nga Pari are some of the wineries displaying their wines at Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival 2024.
You can get delicious food from The Clareville Bakery, Kiwi Kai Catering, Columbo Martinborough, Featherston restaurant and bar – Brac & Bow, Caveman BBQ, and more. The festival was a finalist in the Vibrant category for the 2023 Wellington Gold Awards! The Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival 2024 also brings to you WINE GEEK 101 – “a curated wine tasting experience” for the very first time. You can be a part of this captivating experience that will include eight experimental wines before the festival begins. It will be hosted by none other than the people who made it and will give you a look into winemaking.
Secure your tickets for Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival 2024 before they are sold out from The Ticket Fairy
Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival: Website | Instagram
Beast of a Feast – Craft Beer, Music & Food Festival
When: February 17, 2024
Where: Mount Maunganui
Beast of a Feast is set to open its doors to attendees, outstanding acts, foodies, and beer vendors on February 17 at the Soper Reserve Park Park Mount Maunganui. This year, 14 beer vendors had their craft beer on display. You can get beer from multiple vendors at the 2024 edition of the festival. Indulge in the flavorsome food from the many options available at this Craft Beer, Music, and Food Festival while enjoying music from a stunning line-up of artists.
Pop rock band The Feelers, DJ/producer duo Sweet Mix Kids, and Raglan brother-sister duo Masaya have been booked to perform at the Beast of a Feast 2024. Matty & The Buxtones will bring their soulful sound to the festival, joining the band Marmalade Skies, Fleetwood Mac Tribute, and Wellington-based indie singer-songwriter Alba Rose on the roster.
HURRY! Early Bird tickets are selling fast. Seize your tickets for Beast of a Feast – Craft Beer, Music & Food Festival from The Ticket Fairy
Beast of a Feast: Website | Instagram | Facebook
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