Crowds brave cold to go market

Hundreds flocked to the Olive Harvest Festival's night market in Martinborough's town square on Saturday night, despite the chilly evening.

Around 65 stallholders, featuring jewellery, arts, crafts and clothing, nestled in under three marquees.

The market was a crowd-pleaser for both Festival ticket holders, who had enjoyed olive-themed lunches and grove tours, and locals and tourists looking for New Zealand crafts.

Briskest trade was possibly for the mulled wine, offered by Micro Wine Bar's stall.

Organiser Sue McLeary said the Festival, which carried on into Sunday, had gone really well.

"We have had nothing but praise from all the people who went to the lunches at the six venues," she said. The market opened at 4.30pm and by 5pm was crowded. "We didn't think we'd have this many people here [at the market] quite so early."

Ms McLeary told the Times-Age last week that she hoped this would become an annual event "at a normally quiet time of year".