Waimate’s Strawberry Fare

When and where is the Waimate Strawberry Fare?

What: A free family festival celebrating Waimate strawberries
Where: Seddon Square, Queen Street, Waimate, South Canterbury
When: The second Saturday of December each year
Cost: Free entry

Held in Seddon Square in central Waimate on the second Saturday of December each year, the Waimate Strawberry Fare is one of South Canterbury’s largest annual events.

More than 14,000 people come from around New Zealand for this free family day out, with live entertainment, market stalls, activities and a wide range of food – including plenty of locally grown Waimate strawberries.

Strawberries have been grown in the Waimate District since 1880 and remain an important part of the local economy. The Strawberry Fare celebrates that long history with a rather large day in the middle of town.