The Maniototo hosts many events throughout the year so plan your trip around one (or more)! Celebrate our rural way of life at an annual Agricultural & Pastoral Show, enter one of many biking and endurance events, dress in 1920’s costume for our Art Deco Festival or ‘go country’ at the Waipiata Country Ute Muster. Maniototo Curling International hosts many curling events and test your ‘brass’ at the mid winter Brass Monkey motorbike rally in Oturehua.
Maniototo Events Calendar 2010
Maniototo Events Calendar 2011
Maniototo Events Calendar 2012
Maniototo Events Calendar 2013
February
Agricultural & Pastoral Shows
A & P Shows are an intregal event in any rural community. Amongst the traditional horse and sheep events, machinery displays and, always the favourite, the Grand Parade there’s candfloss, a variety of food and retail stalls, and, depending on the weather, a kids ’slippery slide’. A truly rural experience! Check out the Maniototo A & P Association on Facebook.
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Ranfurly’s Art Deco Weekend
Celebrated over the last weekend of February each year. The 2011 Art Deco Festival will be held on the 25th & 26th of February. Dress to impress, wander the markets and food stalls, enjoy a Central Otage wine out on the street and celebrate Ranfurly’s colourful history (more) …
March
The Waipiata Country Ute Muster
Next being held March 19th 2011! The small rural town of Waipiata has not only come to life with the Otago Central Rail Trail but once a year the towns domain fills to overflowing when it hosts The Waipiata Country Ute Muster & Trail Ride. The Trail Ride runs through local, never before ridden, local farmland and has great reviews! Enjoy the evening entertainment, camping, food and beverage, raffles, competitions, tug-o-war, Fear Factor. A must for vehicle enthusiasts with Supreme Ute, Best 4WD, Classic, Best Chicks, Street/Modifed, Peoples Choice … a car rally the whole family will enjoy (more) …
April
Maniototo Markets
On the Saturday of Easter and Labour weekends the Ranfurly Railway Station hosts the Burn 729am Maniototo Markets. From locally grown products, traditional crafts, community raffles and baking to art and sculptures. There could be live music or an auction too! This is a major fundraiser for our local community radio station and supports many community groups. Call (03) 444 9729 to book your stall.
Bards, Ballads & Bulldust
The annual Easter weekend event, Bards, Ballads & Bulldust festival is the only one of its kind in the country, where the emphasis is on the spoken word in the form of bush poetry. Bush balladry has been an integral part of our national heritage since the 1890s, but its profile has remained small, going largely un-noticed and un-recognised until the birth of Bards Ballads & Bulldust …. (more)
May
Duck Shooting Season Opening Weekend
The first weekend of May is the official start to Duck Shooting Season. It is a big weekend in the Maniototo. Maimai’s are created, ponds are fed, decoys put out, committees formed, trophy’s engraved and the hunt for the duck begins. A local tradition and many return from overseas or from around NZ to shoot.
June
Brass Monkey Motorbike Rally
Motorcyclists from all over New Zealand converge on a paddock in the Ida Valley expecting bitterly cold temperatures to attend the annual Brass Monkey Rally. Stand around massive bonfires, keep warm will a wee dram and ‘harden up’ – it’s a weekend out not to be missed. Cold enough to freeze the balls off a ….. (more)
July
Naseby Ice Festival
Held in July (Saturday the 16th in 2011). From 12pm enjoy music, games, indoor and outdoor curling, luging, ice hockey demonstrations & ice skating! Take a ticket in the Maniototo Kindergarten Establishment Committees ‘JAFFA’ race down the infamous luge. Food and beverages are available for purchase and you’ll be guaranteed a great day out (more) …
August
A unique New Zealand Ultramarathon event being held in Central Otago.The 2009 race was a great success, thanks in no small part to the support of our sponsors, and August the 28th 2010 promises to be even better. This year, in the pre-dawn gloom at 6:00AM, runners in the 100km event will leave the start line and head through the forests around Naseby … (more).
All Year Events
Maniototo Curling International
Naseby has an indoor curling facility open to all! Come and ‘Have A Go!’ You’ll be surprise how quickly you will pick it up. Any ability and age are very welcome (wheelchairs too)!
