MEDIA RELEASE 17-11-25 Kāpiti Food Fair getting ready for the ultimate food festival on the Kāpiti Coast

Media Release

Kapiti Food Fair

 

Author: Helene Judge

Created: 5 hours ago

Category: Event Promotion

Location: Kāpiti Coast

 

Kāpiti Food Fair: Get ready for the ultimate food festival on the Kāpiti Coast

Kāpiti Coast, Wellington, New Zealand, November 17th, 2025: The countdown is ON! The Kāpiti Food Fair returns on Saturday 6 December, from 10am to 5pm. Our Site Map is now LIVE, and excitement is building as we prepare to serve up delicious happiness for thousands of visitors to enjoy all day long.

Standard tickets are LIVE!  Don’t miss out, jump online and book now.  It only takes a moment to secure your spot and SAVE >>

• $20 Adults
• $15 Gold Card & Student ID
• Children up to 12 FREE

WHY GET TICKETS online before the day?

• Cheaper tickets = more $$ for food and drinks on the day
• Convenient $10 VIP parking right on site
• Skip the queues with fast entry
• Ticket Savings: Buying tickets at the Ticket Office are premium rates:
  • $25 Adult
  • $20 Gold Card & Student ID
  • Children up to 12 FREE

Have your tickets ready to scan at Gate Entry or let the Gate Entry team find your booking in the APP!  Skip the queue, walk straight in with your ticket – no waiting in line at the Ticket Office to buy a more expensive ticket on the day!  You can scan our ticket QR code at the venue to avoid the Ticket Office and save $$s!

If you want to purchase a ticket on the day, your best option is to park off site in a GOLD COIN parking zone and walk to the Ticket Office (CASH or EFTPOS sales ONLY).

TOP TIPS for a FANTASTIC DAY at the Kāpiti Food Fair:

1. Have your VIP parking and gate entry tickets ready for scanning./li>
2. Bring a gold coin for parking koha donations if VIP parking is not purchased.
3. Pack a hat and sunscreen – complimentary SPF is available.
4. Bring a picnic blanket to relax, enjoy the ambiance, and savor your treats with plenty of seating and a NEW shaded picnic zone under the trees!
5. BYO your own chair if you wish and a chilly bin for purchases!
6. Plan your foodie route with the Site Map – Browse the Site Map now >>
7. Visit the Tuatara Bar (EFTPOS ONLY) and relax over a craft brew, wine, local cocktails and delicious cider while enjoying the vibe of the 80's to 90's revival party all day long on the Thames Pacific Main Stage!  Children welcome with parent or guardian.  CHEERS to that!
8. MOST vendors accept EFTPOS or bank transfer.  BYO cash as there is no ATM.

TRANSPORT & PARKING – Check the PARKING MAP before you drive!

If you have a VIP parking ticket, head directly to Scaife Dr at Mazengarb Reserve and present your ticket at the Barrier Arm for scanning.  From there you will be directed by parking marshals to your VIP parking in one of our VIP parking zones to conveniently park all day.

NO VIP parking ticket?  Head to a managed GOLD COIN parking zone shown on our PARKING MAP.  Walk the short distance to the Fair and enjoy the vibe along the way with many other visitors arriving and departing!

DISABLED/MOBILITY parking is FREE and near Gate Entry 2, with parking marshals ready to assist.

HEADS UP: MEADOW COURT entry will be CLOSED, and Realm Drive car park will be OPEN with a fenced pathway to tarmac near Gate Entry 2.

FREEDOM CAMPING options in Kāpiti as Mazengarb Reserve is locked each night and camping is not permitted – click here >>

LOCALS: We recommend walking, running, biking (plenty of bike racks and lock-up options on site) – OR catch the train from Waikanae or Paekākāriki and board the FREE bus from Paraparaumu Station (timetable below).

FREE Bus Schedule

CATCH the TRAIN to Paraparaumu Station and board the FREE Bus on the half hour for a short ride to and from the Fair.

Depart Paraparaumu Station Intercity Bus Stop, Main Rd, Southbound:

10.13am, 10.43am, 11.13am, 11.43am, 12.13pm, 12.43pm, 1.13pm, 1.43pm, 2.13pm, 2.43pm, 3.13pm, 3.43pm, 4.13pm.

Depart Mazengarb Reserve:

10.43am, 11.13am, 11.43am, 12.13pm, 12.43pm, 1.13pm, 1.43pm, 2.13pm, 2.43pm, 3.13pm, 3.43pm, 4.13pm, 4.43pm, 5.13pm.

ENTERTAINMENT:

Enjoy live music all day on the Thames Pacific Main Stage with an 80's to 90's revival party theme!  Love cooking?  Visit the ANZ Kāpiti Kitchen Stage for demos, or head to the ZEAL Zone for local talent and circus acts.  There’s also a supervised FREE kids’ zone for families and plenty of roving street performers.

ON SITE

BYO cash as there is no ATM.  MOST vendors accept EFTPOS or bank transfer.

Head to the INFO Hub for questions, LOST property (including kids!), free BAG STORAGE, and purchasing Kāpiti Food Fair merch, t-towels & aprons for $3, $5 & $10, perfect for holiday gifts!

Paramedics for any emergency.

Flush portaloos near Gate 1 & 2 and two disabled toilets (one inside Pavilion and another accessed externally near Ticket Office).  Additional flush wahine/tane toilets are available inside Pavilion and at some GOLD COIN parking zones (see PARKING MAP).

Crowd friendly dogs on lead welcome – FREE water for pets and humans at the INFO Hub and Tuatara Bar.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Our goal is to repeat our last year’s performance of 99% diversion of waste from landfill.  Partnering with waste experts from Organic Wealth, alongside volunteers from No 49 Squadron Air Cadets, underscores our commitment to sustainability and caring for Papatūānuku.  We ask visitors to think before they drop their waste into the right bin on the day as this is super helpful for the onsite waste depot crew.

LICENCED TUATARA BAR

Relax in the licenced Tuatara Bar (EFTPOS ONLY) with a craft brew, wine, local cocktails and delicious cider.  Children welcome with parent or guardian, CHEERS to that!  Beverages purchased in the Liquor Zone cannot be opened or consumed at the Fair.  Take them home to enjoy or wrap them up as the tastiest gifts around!  We encourage responsible drinking, support our local makers, savour the flavours, and know your limits.

More Visitor Info >>

THAMES PACIFIC MAIN STAGE with MC AJ Crawshaw

Get ready to party at the Kāpiti Food Fair 80’s to 90’s revival party all day long on the Thames Pacific Main Stage!

9:45 AM – 9:50 AM | Official opening with Mayor Holborow

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Devon Welch

Devon Welch is a soulful and genre-defying singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the Kāpiti Coast.  Catch him live, experience the vibe, where rhythm meets soul and every lyric tells a story.

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM | Intercite

Turn up the volume for Intercite, Kāpiti Coast’s rising stars of alternative rock!  This electrifying four-piece band is made up of young, passionate performers who are making waves in Aotearoa’s live music scene.  Don’t miss your chance to see them live, bringing fresh fire to the stage.

11:45 AM – 12:45 PM | Jodie & The Stowaways

Get ready to dance, sing, and party with Jodie & The Stowaways, Wellington’s go-to cover band for high-energy vibes and unforgettable performances!  Their shows are a celebration, full of sing-alongs, dance-floor anthems, and feel-good moments that leave audiences buzzing.

1:15 PM – 2:15 PM | The Beat Girls

Get ready to groove with the fabulous Beat Girls as they turn up the nostalgia at the Kāpiti Food Fair!  The Beat Girls are more than a band, they’re an experience.  Don’t miss your chance to relive the magic of two unforgettable decades with Aotearoa’s favourite girl group!

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM | The Relatives

Get ready to move and groove with The Relatives, Wellington’s high-energy, crowd-pleasing four-piece band!  Whether you're reliving your dancing days or discovering these hits for the first time, this is one show you won’t want to miss.  Come ready to sing, dance, and celebrate, The Relatives are bringing the party!

4:15 PM – 5:15 PM | Love Shack

Get ready to relive the ultimate 80s dance party with Love Shack, Wellington’s premier retro six-piece revival band!  Don’t miss your chance to party like it’s 1985, Love Shack is the ultimate feel-good band that’ll keep you grooving all day long!

ANZ Kāpiti Kitchen Stage

Get ready to stir up some summer magic!  Join us for a full day of delicious inspiration at the ANZ Kāpiti Kitchen Stage, where our talented lineup of local culinary stars will be serving up creativity, flavour, and expert kitchen tips.  Whether you're a seasoned foodie or just love to dabble, you'll leave with fresh ideas to whip up in your whare home kitchen this summer.  Come for the vibes, stay for the recipes and tastings!

11:15 AM – 11:45 AM | La Ficelle Bakery

12:45 PM – 1:30 PM | Lustre Kitchen and Dining

2:15 PM – 2:45 PM | Funk with Food

3:45 PM – 4:15 PM | The Bond Store  

ZEAL Zone & NEW Pavilion Zone

Join us for an exciting and vibrant programme curated by Kāpiti Food Fair and ZEAL Kāpiti, showcasing the incredible musical talents of local rangatahi.  Be amazed by professional circus buskers from Colossal NZ and enjoy spontaneous pop-up street performances from a variety of talented artists roaming the Site Map.  It’s a dynamic celebration of creativity, culture, and community you won’t want to miss! 

Remember to bounce into fun at the KIDS Zone!  Smiles, laughter, and unforgettable moments, one bounce at a time!  This action-packed zone is bursting with excitement, featuring multiple bouncy castles and giant games like basketball shoot-out, batter-up baseball, noughts & crosses, connect 4, and jumbo jenga, the ultimate playground for little foodies, and brought to life by the local legends at Kāpiti Castles.

Add a splash of sparkle at the KIDS Zone with Daizy Design Face Painting!  Watch little faces light up with colour and joy thanks to the talented Christie Lewis and her assistant, Wellington’s go-to pros for magical transformations.  From glittery butterflies to fierce superheroes, their artistry brings imagination to life and adds extra fun to your little foodies’ day out.

ZEAL ZONE with MC Terry Poko

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Rangatahi Musicians

10:45 AM – 11.15 AM | Dangerous Darlings Show

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Local Rock n Roll Club Demo

12:15 PM – 12:45 PM | Tui Singer & Entertainer

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Booth & Jak Show

1:45 PM – 2:30 PM | Rangatahi Musicians

2:45 PM – 3:15 PM | Dangerous Darlings Show

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Rangatahi Musicians

PAVILION STREET ZONE

10:30 AM – 10.50 AM | Parading Kāpiti Coast Pipes & Drums

12:30 PM – 12:50 PM | Solo Colossal Street Performer

2:15 PM – 2.35 PM | Solo Colossal Street Performer

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Roaming Wellington Tree

Check out the full entertainment programme >>

ABOUT:

Kāpiti Food Fair is more than just a culinary event; it is a celebration of Aotearoa’s rich food culture and a chance for visitors to experience the best of what the Kāpiti Coast has to offer.  It draws visitors from across the Wellington Region and beyond, contributing to the area's tourism and hospitality sectors.  The Fair is a festive event that aligns with the start of summer, encouraging outdoor activities and the enjoyment of local cuisine in a vibrant, community and festival focused setting.

Kāpiti Food Fair was established in 2008 as a community event with humble beginnings.  Now privately owned and operated as a limited liability company with directors and shareholders, Helene Judge and Jeanine van Kradenburg,who helped conceptualise the initial event.

The vision of the Fair is about leaving a lasting impression on food lovers.  While their mission is to bring visitors to the Kāpiti Coast for an exciting and indulgent day filled with good food, good music, and great company for all food enthusiasts, Helene and Jeanine want the Fair to be remembered as a standout food and beverage pop-up experience that sees visitors returning each year.  Creating happiness is important to Helene and Jeanine.  They want everyone to have FUN, as life is busy, so creating a moment to stop and enjoy what is happening around us is paramount.

The Kāpiti Food Fair cannot operate without incredible sponsors.  Running a food festival of this size takes heart, hustle, and a whole lot of support.  Thanks to our generous sponsors, the Fair keeps growing, bringing flavours, fun, and memories that last long after the day is done.  Their commitment is what makes this event possible year after year.  Please support them so we continue as a major sustainable event!

Every member of our crew and volunteer team plays a vital role in making the Kāpiti Food Fair a standout event.  Their dedication ensures a memorable and successful day for visitors.  They are at the heart of our operation, contributing essential roles each year and making our mission a reality.  Generous donations to volunteer groups are central to our social entrepreneurial ethos to make a positive impact in our community.

In collaboration with our largest volunteer group, Kāpiti Rotary, who exemplify service and dedication, they manage critical tasks such as setup, pack out, and onsite traffic management – they are true community spirit in action.

We also have another large crew from Work Ready Kāpiti who source students from all three local colleges, Paraparaumu, Kāpiti and Ōtaki.  This crew greet visitors with enthusiasm while handling ticket scanning and gold coin parking koha.  The local ANZ Kapiti team, our Silver Sponsor, provides invaluable support and customer service by running the Ticket Office for which we are hugely grateful.  Kāpiti Community Patrol are also onboard again to monitor various aspects of the Fair site, and our final important volunteer crew is the amazing team from the No 49 Squadron Air Cadets, who are extraordinary waste busters!

Let's make a magic day out together – we can't wait to see you all real soon!

Contact:

Helene Judge, 027 244 9585 or Jeanine van Kradenburg, 021 605 488, or contact us >>

The Fair reserves the right to use any image captured by our official photographer for promotional purposes in any media, in perpetuity without compensation, unless not consented.

Kāpiti Food Fair is a Member of the New Zealand Events Association.