Abby France and Catherine Bygate are the dynamic duo behind the iconic Hanmer Springs Fete – and now they are taking their success a step further with their inaugural Wānaka Fete. We talk to them about the inspiration behind these incredible events and the who, what, how of pulling a fete together.

What inspired you to start your own fete?
We met years ago while studying at Lincoln University. In 2019, when a large event was moved, taking visitors away from Hanmer Springs Village during a weekend where it had previously thrived, we recognised a unique opportunity to bring an event back to the area. With our backgrounds in marketing and small business, we were eager to create a premier fete that would benefit local businesses and provide them with the economic boost of hosting a significant event. We were excited to create a business together and both love a challenge so we set to work! Our goal was to build a big family atmosphere that includes our stallholders and the Hanmer Springs community.

Tell us a little bit about behind the scenes.
We are it! We juggle young families and other work commitments around fete preparations. The week leading up to it doesn’t include a lot of sleep, but lots of coffee and endless hours spent onsite and on the phone. We endeavour to pay attention to the small details as well the big-ticket items to ensure a smoothly run event for both stallholders and visitors. We are also eternally grateful to our incredible family, friends and the amazing locals who help us make it all happen!

What made you decide to expand to Wānaka?
Why not! We wanted to embrace an opportunity in picturesque Wānaka, and we saw the perfect setting for an event destined to captivate. With Abby’s deep local roots guiding us, the Wānaka Fete promises a celebration of community and creativity. Our decision to expand here was fuelled by a vision to bring something truly special to this remarkable town.

What can visitors expect to see this year?
As both events lead into Christmas, we invite visitors to enjoy a day of browsing stalls filled with artisan crafts, gourmet treats and local delicacies – ideal for festive shopping with friends. Both locations offer stunning backdrops and limitless possibilities to fill the entire weekend, so that’s exactly what we are encouraging people to do.

Regardless of whether people are travelling to join us or they are lucky enough to call one of these alpine towns home, we want our events to be the perfect excuse to get a group together and make a weekend of it.

How do you ensure each year is different?
We want each year to be fresh and exciting so we meticulously curate new stallholders, prioritising diversity and innovation. We don’t guarantee stalls from previous years, always seeking new points of interest to enhance our guests’ experience. Continuous improvement drives us to innovate and elevate what we offer, ensuring every visit is memorable.

What is next for these fetes?
Our focus is on continuous improvement and expanding our reach to new visitors … imagine chartered planes from Sydney and Melbourne coming into Christchurch and Queenstown for the occasion!

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us at Hanmer Springs, and are humbled to see so many wanting to join us in Wānaka. We are looking forward to welcoming new guests to both events this year and are working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure we have seamlessly run events with fantastic crowds.

Our ambition is for these fetes to be celebrated as the premier shopping events of the South Island.

Get your tickets
Across two sensational locations, the Hanmer Springs and Wānaka Fetes are a delightful celebration of artisanal producers, delectable cuisine and first-class shopping.

Bringing together talented artisans and passionate food vendors from across Aotearoa, enjoy discovering a diverse collection of handcrafted goods, local delicacies and unique products.

With live music adding a joyful rhythm to the air, it is guaranteed to be a bustling atmosphere filled with laughter and conversation, so gather your friends and we will see you there!

Hanmer Springs Fete
10 am – 4 pm, 2 November
Queen Mary Hospital Grounds, Hanmer Springs
hanmerspringsfete.co.nz

Wānaka Fete
10 am – 4 pm, 30 November
Wānaka Showgrounds, Wānaka
wanakafete.co.nz