Eateries
11 September 2026
Christchurch & Canterbury food festivals
Canterbury is New Zealand’s food basket, so little wonder it’s home to mouth-watering foodie events.
Christchurch & Canterbury food festivals worth sinking your teeth into
Ōtautahi Christchurch sits in the heart of the Canterbury – the country’s largest region, with mountainous high country, rolling terrain, endless plains and a rugged coastline. This land, with its diverse geography and unique microclimates, offers a plentiful array of quality growers and farmers, and a seriously diverse food basket.
With our cornucopia of kai, superb producers, crafty brewers, distillers and winemakers, and globally recognised cuisine, the city and region comes together to explore the newest flavours, tantalising textures and exciting latest tastes from across Canterbury.
Across the year, explore the festivals and events that celebrate these people and this place throughout the seasons, and get a taste of that provenance that puts our produce up there with the best in the world.
Christchurch city food festivals
Fire and Feast
Formerly Fire on High, this exciting street food festival is the first food event of spring, showcasing Christchurch’s incredible range of award-winning and recognised chefs. Bringing together over a dozen restaurateurs from across the city and region, where else could you find the likes Simon Levy of Inati, Shafeeq Omar of Odeon as well as Tristan Anderson of Smokey T’s or Corentin Esquenet of Butter – all in one spot?
Food by Fire’s Josh Hunter says, “This is more than just a barbeque pop-up, it’s a celebration of Canterbury kai – a showcase of local produce, regional ingredients, and the people who transform them into memorable experiences.”
The concept is simple – everything must be cooked over an open flame – and this year the event turns up the heat, with Fire and Feast expanding to two full days to spark its new location of Cathedral Square to life. With local wine and beer producers pouring, and a stage for various local acts, this free community event is a tasty dish.
Event details
- Date: 12 & 13 September 2026
- Where: Cathedral Square, Christchurch
- Cost: Free
South Island Wine & Food Festival
Kicking off summer, there’s no better place to celebrate the year that’s been with the first festival of the season. The South Island Wine and Food festival showcases the best food and beverage across the motu in the leafy green wide-open space of Hagley Park.
Just a few minutes' walk from the central city, spend the afternoon exploring the smorgasbord of local producers, vineyards, distillers and brewers to an ensemble of local acts on stage.
Festival director Callam Mitchell says “SIWFF brings together some of the South Island’s best winemakers, food producers and musicians in the heart of Christchurch. It’s a relaxed afternoon in Hagley Park and a pretty special way to begin the summer.”
Get the work crew together for the end of year bash, dust off the fedora or a summer dress and book the first weekend of December for the iconic summer outing and run up to holidays.
Event details
- Date: 5 December 2026
- Where: Hagley Park, Christchurch
- Cost: Tickets from $56.90 + booking fee
Great Kiwi Beerfest
The hottest time of year deserves the coolest event, and the country’s largest beer festival in Hagley Park North is the perfect antidote to those dry, hot summer days. Featuring over 35 locally and nationally renowned brewers and distillers pouring more than 300 drops, the country’s largest urban green space transforms into a watering hole for beer-aficionados and beer curious.
With an incredible array of food, and a particular emphasis on smokey and barbeque vendors, as well as a stage for the hottest local acts, this craft beer festival in the middle of city brings a real fizz to the weekend.
With the park only three blocks from the central city, easily walkable from central bars, clubs and restaurants, spend a day sipping on NZ’s finest ales and kick on after dark.
Event details
- Date: 30 January 2027
- Where: Hagley Park, Christchurch
- Cost: From $49.90 + booking fee
Food festivals outside of Christchurch city
SCOFF
The South Canterbury Outstanding Food Festivals is a collection of events, pop-ups and festivals in South Canterbury – the food basket of the country – famous for its cheese, grains, berries, meat and beverage.
This year, over 35 eateries participate across the Timaru, Mackenzie and Waimate districts as they create a special dish or drink highlighting locally-produced or manufactured items. Check out the extensive list of townships, districts and regions participating in this year’s events.
Event details
French Fest
The Akaroa French Festival is a biennial event celebrating the unique culture and heritage of New Zealand’s only French settlement in the harbourside hamlet of Akaroa.
The festival commences on the Friday evening with the official opening. This is followed by Le Marché de Nuit– the Night Market, where fabulous food and wine vendors, live music and dancing entertain party-goers.
Celebrating all things French and the region, the seaside village springs to life with local food and wine vendors, a host of ticketed shows, performances, reenactments, music and fares. This slice of culture is just the ticket seeking the extraordinary.
Event details
- Date: 9-11 October 2026
- Where: Akaroa Recreation Ground
- Cost: $20, under 16's free
The North Course
The North Course is a month-long event celebrates the region’s incredible food and drink scene. 18 local favourite cafés and restaurants across Waimakariri and Hurunui this year are serving up exclusive ‘North Course’ dishes, each created with local ingredients and some paired with North Canterbury beverages
All about celebrating the amazing food and drink we have right here in North Canterbury. It’s a great way to shine a light on our local producers and the provenance of their ingredients, and encourages our cafés and restaurants to keep using local on the menu not just during November but all year round.
Experience The North Course this November and taste exclusive dishes, rate your favourites and celebrate a month full of North Canterbury flavour.
Event details
- Date: November 2026
- Where: Waimakariri district
- Cost: Prices vary
North Canterbury Wine & Food Fest
Autumn is a fantastic for growers and producers and the North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival is an iconic celebration of the region’s finest flavours, set against the stunning backdrop of Glenmark Domain. Waipara is a wine growing region that punches well above its weight, and the other foods and produce from the region is simply superb.
Enjoy a day of wine tasting, gourmet food, live music, and laid-back country charm, brought to life by the passionate growers, makers, and chefs who call North Canterbury place home.
This weekend should be on any festival goer’s calendar. It’s an incredible showcase at the best time of year, a ripper of a location and has incredible fare on offer. From pioneering producers, to wild and foraged food offerings, this festival never disappoints.
For those looking for the best on offer, make your festival day unforgettable and indulge in a premium festival experience featuring a refreshing welcome drink on arrival, prime views of the main stage, and exclusive wine tastings personally curated by local winemakers in the Loula Lounge.
Event details
- Date: 13 March 2027
- Where: Glenmark Reserve, Waipara
- Cost: From $47 + booking fee, Under 18's free
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