Food villages offer huge variety

STALLS: Last year's Olive Harvest Festival, Martinborough Square. It's now rebranded as A Midwinter Affair. PHOTO/PETE MONK

A night market with a "European feel" is set to take over Martinborough Square on Saturday, with 85 stalls nestled among trees decorated with fairy lights.

A Midwinter Affair, running for a third year, will showcase an array of food, beverages, arts and crafts, skin care and olive oil, all from the Wairarapa district.

The "rain or shine" event, which was originally part of the Olive Harvest Festival and has been rebranded, is free and family friendly, said Gretchen Saulbrey, one of the organisers.

She said there will be two "food villages", with everything from tapas to take-home preserves and hot chocolates made with vanilla infused olive oil.

There will be four food trucks with a selection of ethnic foods, as well as roasted coffee and mulled wine to warm up icy winter hands.

"Clareville Bakery and The French Baker will be there with lots of nice pastries and Lot Eight Olives will be doing hot chocolates using their vanilla infused oil, which will be decadent."

Food Forest Organics will be doing vegan food and Cambridge Road Estate will be there with their wines and food to match.

Other businesses offering food at the fair include Stewart Island Smoked Salmon, Prodigal Daughter, Cafe Medici & Olivo, and Greytown Butchery.

"We will have a lot of premium food but also simpler, child-friendly food like a sausage sizzle," said Ms Saulbrey.

Craft beer enthusiasts will be able to taste a drop by Peak Brewery and Martinborough Brewery.

"There'll be lots of high quality arts and craft stores and locally made skin products."

Ms Saulbrey said the winter market will be "enchanting", with stretch tents amongst the trees and fairy lights.

"You won't get that in a lot of other markets in New Zealand, it will have a really European feel."

The market will run from 3pm to 7pm on Saturday.

"Come along to eat, enjoy the atmosphere, bring the family along and indulge in some good shopping."

Olive groves in the area will open their doors over the weekend for people to visit.