Hastings City Night Market returns

Hastings City Night Market returns for Winter Matariki celebrations

The Hastings City Night Market is back for a one-off winter market to celebrate the Matariki festival on Wednesday 17th June. The Hastings City Mall will come alive from 5 until 8pm with numerous diverse street food trucks, free entertainment and arts and crafts.

The rising of the star constellation known as Matariki is an important time in the Māori calendar. It heralds in the Māori New Year, which is a time to connect with, and give thanks to the land, sea and sky. It is also a time for the community to come together and acknowledge the year gone by, as well celebrating and preparing for the year ahead involving the sharing of food, rituals, entertainment, hospitality and knowledge. The Night Market will be an ideal start to the celebrations, and one all the family and community can enjoy together.

The evening’s entertainment will come in the form of ever popular covers band Generator, on stage from 5.30 til 8pm. This five-piece rock show will have you dancing all night with songs you know all the words to. The Karamu High School choir will also be performing from 5-5.30pm. The market will be also be a chance to see the new CBD lighting in all its glory and there will be free glow sticks for the kids to add the fun.

Whatever your taste in food you will find the market a gastronomical delight with something for everyone from nachos to paella, Asian and Indian influenced food, pizza and amazing ice cream. Wandering from stall to stall until you find something that takes your fancy is half the fun. The locally made arts and crafts hidden amongst the food stalls are also popular with market goers; there’s always something unique to be found.

Susan McDade from the Hastings City Business Association, who organise the event, said “We are very excited to be back for this mid-winter Night Market celebrating the wonderful Kiwi festival of Matariki. If last year’s market is anything to go by, it will be a strong draw card for all the family to wrap up warm and get together with their community for an evening of free fun and entertainment. The event really brightens up winter when we all tend to hibernate a bit. We are expecting a busy night!”

The market will open at 5pm on Wednesday 17th June in Hastings City Mall, by the fountain.

ENDS

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