Waimate
Event
Calendar
Waimate knows how to throw a good event.
From motors and mountain bikes to markets, theatre and community days, there’s always something happening through the year.
Check the calendar to see what’s coming up and plan your visit around it.
August events
Movies in Waimate in August
Waimate Regent Theatre
Corner of Slee and Shearman Sts
Toy Story 5
📅 Sunday 2 August
🕑 2pm
🎟️ G | 1 hour 42 minutes
Minions & Monsters: Waimate Scouts fundraiser
📅 Sunday 9 August
🕝 2.30pm
🎟️ All tickets $10 | PG | 1 hour 30 minutes
Evil Dead Burn
📅 Friday 14 August
🕖 7pm
🎟️ R16 | 1 hour 49 minutes
Primavera
📅 Sunday 16 August
🕕 6pm
🎟️ M | 1 hour 51 minutes
The Odyssey
📅 Friday 21 August – 7pm
📅 Sunday 23 August – 6pm
🎟️ M | 2 hours 52 minutes
Ticket prices
Adults $15
Students and SuperAnnuitants $12
Children’s movies $10
No EFTPOS. Cash for intermission.
Weekly events at the Waimate Event Centre
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![Advertisement for Supergold Cardholders and Sporty Gold Cards at Waimate Event Centre every Friday from 10 am to 12 pm, with drop-in sessions and no bookings required.]()
Sporty Gold Cards
$2 Sporty Gold Cards, Friday 10am to 12pm.
Drop-in sessions for SuperGold cardholders. Stay active with sports such as badminton, tennis, pickleball, table tennis and indoor bowls.
Plus, you can do your own circuit training with each exercise explained in a pre-set circuit. -
![Colorful poster for circuit exercise training at the event center, supported by Waimate District Council, with details about schedule, cost, and contact information.]()
Circuit Exercise Training
$5 Circuit Training, Monday and Thursday from 9:15am to 10am and from 5:15pm to 6pm.
These classes, which started in May, offer a great full-body workout.
There are 10 'stations' and at each, you'll do a specific exercise for 30 seconds, then rest for 15 seconds before the next exercise.
Examples of exercises are skipping, squats, lunges, weights and battling ropes. -
![Colorful poster advertising a weekly community social event at Waimate Event Centre, featuring activities like music, light recreation exercise, card play, board games, and coffee and tea, held every Tuesday from 10 am to 12 pm.]()
Community social
$2 Community Social, Tuesday from 10am to 12pm.
From its inception in March, this gathering is gaining momentum week by week.
Offering the chance to meet new people, chat over a cuppa, play cards or board games and get some movement in, there’s something for everyone.
Sports available include table tennis, pickleball and badminton, plus a mobility session led by Rob, our fitness facilitator. -
![Flyer advertising Waimate Event Centre with activities including table tennis, skating, pickleball, badminton, football, and hoops, with all equipment provided, drop-in hours Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, cost $2 per person per hour, for school-aged children.]()
Waimate Event Centre
$2 drop-in sports sessions for school aged children, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (when the courts are not otherwise booked).
Running since mid-December 2025, these hour-long sessions open the courts to children who may be looking for an after-school activity or a place to train and practise.
Sports available include football, basketball hoops, badminton, pickleball, table tennis, indoor disc golf and skating.
September events
SCOFF
SCOFF is a region-wide celebration of local food and the growers, producers, makers and artisans behind it.
Taste your way from the coast to the high country, with exclusive SCOFF specials at participating eateries across Timaru, Waimate and Mackenzie. Order a special, discover something delicious and go in the draw to win fantastic prizes.
Waimate Scarecrow Hunt
The Scarecrow Hunt is a fun school holiday activity that raises money for local community groups.
People from around the district create scarecrows based on a theme and display them around Waimate. Pick up an entry form and map, then follow the trail, admire the creations and see how many you can identify.
October events
NZ Spring Shears
The Waimate Shears is an annual shearing and woolhandling competition
November events
Edition Zero Gravel
Edition Zero Gravel is a premier, annual long-distance gravel cycling event. Often cited as the country's first true endurance gravel race. Focused on adventure, community, and adventure, it features multiple course distances up to 250km+.
24 Hr Farm Bike Challenge 2026
Annual events
List your event
Events bring life to a place. They give people a reason to visit, catch up with friends, try something new and fill the town with a bit of buzz.
If you’re organising an event in Waimate District, Explore Waimate can help spread the word - and it’s free. From website listings to social media and local promotion, there are a few simple ways to get your event in front of locals and visitors.
Here’s how we can help promote your event.
1
Create a free listing in the event calendar on this website
2
Upcoming events are published in our fortnightly newsletter, Newsline.
3
Social media promotion on Explore Waimate Facebook and Instagram.
4
Display a poster on the noticeboard outside the Council offices.
Get started
Email your event information to us, including:
event name
date
venue
brief description
a link to learn more
photo/photos and/or your event poster.