Whangamata Summer Festival

Whangamata Summer Festival A locally run community event with markets stalls & free entertainment 27 & 28 December annually & pop up events during the year. It is rather ludicrous! ENJOY!

The Whangamata Summer Festival is a not for profit incorporated society whose aim WAS to provide free concerts on the busy nights of the festive season, helping to provide a focus for families and teenagers. We don't have a website - just facebook. Back in the mid '90s, Whangamata was a right trouble spot - a hot spot where riots and crazy behaviour spurred the local community into action. The pol

ice, council and community got together and the Whangamata Summer Festival was 'born'! Whangamata is such a beautiful place, and the riots caused many locals to be dubious of the safety of the evenings in and around town. The free concerts gave families and the youth a safe and fun environment to listen to bands and have a boogie. Having the music in Williamson Park getting everyone together to celebrate the festive season. The Festival went from strength to strength and boasted quality musicians. Sadly, we no longer do the free concerts in Williamson Park after they were cancelled in favour of ticketed, fenced concerts. The first, run by Corogigs was a flop; there were more people on the outside of the blacked out fences than inside on Dec 31 2017. There was not another NYE concert after that in Williamson Park. Instead Corogigs turned into Coroevents and ran concerts out of town at Joe's Farm. What followed the cancellation of the Festival's free concerts was a Commissioner's Inquiry into the debacle and the council's handling of it all. For the Festival Whanau, it was akin to losing our baby. One that had been growing for 20 years and serving the local Whangamata Community. The Joe's Farm events fizzled out as the organisers had differences in opinions and ended up with lawsuits etc. What an absolute debacle and a sad end to the free community events that had been going for decades in Whangamata. We hope people can see the sad reality of the council being manipulated by greedy capitalists without consulting rate-payers and trying to bulldoze new legislations to provide profits for an elite group of self centred / money orientated individuals. TCDC produced a staff-initiated policy which all but ruins any attempts to hold free community concerts in the very park that was gifted TO the community FOR the community. We could still hold free concerts at the RSA - however in 2021-2022 they were canceled due to covid. We are excited to still hold our Annual Festival with Craft Market days on 27th & 28th December. These are the largest markets in the area and it is awesome to see over 100 stallholders booked in! We still have live musicians onstage throughout the day to entertain you as you peruse the wonderful array of food and craft stalls. Massive thanks to our funders for 2024 - Trust Waikato, Pub Charity, the Whangamata Community Board and the Whangamata Club. Huge thanks also to our Festival supporters: our Market stallholders, our performers, Whangamata Area School; especially Bruce Gibson & Stephen Sweeney, Bunnings Whangamata for Community Support, Tourism Coromandel, Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club, Sharyn Baker, Andy & Sandie Murray and Collins James, Whangamata

It was our aim to make Whangamata a desirable holiday destination, and the Festival has done just that! We look forward to many years of good times! Love from the small yet mighty Whangamata Summer Festival Committee!

We are on!3pm finish!
27/12/2025

We are on!
3pm finish!

Be sure to support Whanga Week which kicks off on Monday 29/12!
23/12/2025

Be sure to support Whanga Week which kicks off on Monday 29/12!

STAGE TIMES FOR 2025!!DEC 27thTwilight Market 2 - 8pm COMMUNITY STAGE2:00 - 2:45pm Adelle & Morgan3:00 - 3:30pm Magic M...
23/12/2025

STAGE TIMES FOR 2025!!

DEC 27th
Twilight Market 2 - 8pm

COMMUNITY STAGE
2:00 - 2:45pm Adelle & Morgan
3:00 - 3:30pm Magic Man
3:45 - 4:45pm Kiri Gilbert
5:00 - 6:15pm Mema Wilda & the Dopamen
6:45 - 7:45pm In The Shallows

DEC 28th
Craft Market 9am - 3pm

COMMUNITY STAGE
9am Matt Howse
10am - 11am Mark & Tracey
11:15am - 12:15pm Kiri Gilbert
12:30 - 1:00pm Magic Man
1:00 - 3:00pm Georgia Lee DJ Alchemy

Come down and support NZ performers on the Community Stage!

We made the list for What to do in Auckland this Summer - and we are a wee drive away from Auckland!But it'll be worth t...
21/12/2025

We made the list for What to do in Auckland this Summer - and we are a wee drive away from Auckland!

But it'll be worth the effort!
Cheers NZ Herald Lifestyle 🙏 nzherald.co.nz
Pop it in your calendars December 27 & 28 Williamson Park.

Live music, food trucks, craft and art stalls. Proceeds to Youth Initiatives in Whangamata.

From beachside festivals to big city spectacles, here’s how to fill your summer calendar.

Our Annual Festival is three weeks away!Join us at Williamson Park behind the Surf Club Saturday December 27 and Sunday ...
09/12/2025

Our Annual Festival is three weeks away!
Join us at Williamson Park behind the Surf Club Saturday December 27 and Sunday December 28!

Three weeks to go!!Please share, share, SHARE!
06/12/2025

Three weeks to go!!
Please share, share, SHARE!

The countdown is on....Pop it in your calendar, pack up the family and your togs & towels and spend the day at Williamso...
05/12/2025

The countdown is on....

Pop it in your calendar, pack up the family and your togs & towels and spend the day at Williamson Park - December 27 & 28.
No entry fees. No fences.
Just free entertainment from near and far, plus craft market stalls and food trucks.
Huge thanks to the sponsors: Whangamata Club, Pub Charity, Creative NZ, Trust Waikato & The Lion Foundation.
Big shout out to our local supporters: Collins James, Modo Design, Bunnings and TCDC.

BYO shopping bag! See you there 🌞

Stoked to have hit the 100 stall mark for this year's Festival Markets!With just 60 sleeps to go - it is going to be HUG...
27/10/2025

Stoked to have hit the 100 stall mark for this year's Festival Markets!
With just 60 sleeps to go - it is going to be HUGE!

Pop it on your calendar:
Dec. 27 2 - 8pm
Dec. 28 9am - 3pm
Williamson Park, Whangamata.

Pack a bag, bring the family, stay the day - with music, craft, art, tools, food and the Magic Man - there will be something for everyone - FREE for all ages - no fences - just pure holiday magic.

And yes Uncle Dunkle's will be there with their epic hot sauce!

Our Craft Market Early Bird Applications have now closed. The Final Round is open until 15/11/25It is fantastic to see s...
31/08/2025

Our Craft Market Early Bird Applications have now closed.
The Final Round is open until 15/11/25

It is fantastic to see so many of our loyal stallholders planning to be back to support our free community event this year!

Mark it on the calendar and join us for two days of free music, magic and markets!

December 27 2 - 8pm
December 28 9am - 3pm

Williamson Park, Whangamata

Earthwatch Whangamata & our backyard needs your support...
18/08/2025

Earthwatch Whangamata & our backyard needs your support...

We need your statement by Wednesday 20 August 2025

Coromandel Watchdog have been allowed by the Fast Track committee to provide commentary towards the Oceana Gold proposed Wharekirauponga Gold Mine application.

Watchdog has specifically asked Earthwatch to obtain comments from Whangamata locals on how they feel about the potential social impacts. It is absolutely crucial that we voice our concerns - we need to show it's not just about jobs, but about our relationship with the environment.

Think about how mining in Wharekirauponga can potentially impact you and your loved ones, including future generations. This can be:

· Health impacts - e.g. from inferior water quality

· Wellbeing - e.g. poorer ‘nature’ experience as a result of pollution and erosion in our forest

· Local economy - e.g. visitors/tourists put off by mining activity; value of our homes/land.

2. Write up a short description of your concern, including details that will help really bring it to life such as:

· Name locations/areas - e.g. local reserve

· Specify people-related concerns - e.g. grandchildren, allergy/respiratory issues sufferers

· Any environmental impact you feel particularly strong about - e.g. animals, plants, insects, Archey’s frog!

· Include your first name and occupation.

Example:

Kat (Engineer and mum) – “ I take my daughter for nature experiences into the Parakiwai forest which is our beautiful backyard forest. We always hunt for Archey's Frog and feed the eels. The river has one of the best swimming holes on the Coromandel and we head up every week in summer. The last thing we want is blasting and vibration under that forest or risks to the water table and river flow. Mining is short term gain and will provide nothing for our community and will negatively impact our beautiful backyard forest.”

Please just dirext message us by 20 August 2025.

Many thanks,
The Earthwatch Team

Calling out to Musicians! Young, Old & In Between! Solos, Duos, Bands.We are taking expressions of interest from Musicia...
14/07/2025

Calling out to Musicians! Young, Old & In Between!

Solos, Duos, Bands.

We are taking expressions of interest from Musicians who are keen to come and play at the Whangamata Summer Festival 2025.

We have two stages: The Main Community Stage & the Lake Field (Stretch Tent) Stage - pictured with Donny Allan & Dave Marks (20024).

If you'd like to be considered, please email us your details: Bio & photo/s...

[email protected]

Feel free to share this with any musos you think would be interested!

Address

P. O. Box 102
Whangamata
3643

Telephone

+6421606767

Website

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