Gypsy Fair: All about the people

Dianne Wilson loves her lifestyle of being in the Original Gypsy Fair. Photo/ Andrew Warner

Three years ago Dianne Wilson sold everything to join the Gypsy Fair and has not looked back since.

Originally from Palmerston North, Wilson said every morning it takes her a minute to work out which part of the country she is in because she was on the move so much.

"I sometimes even look out the window and think 'where are you'?" she laughed.

The bubbly woman gave up her passion of hairdressing because of health reasons but said she enjoyed running her accessories shop "The Mad Hatter" because she still got to interact with people and colours.

Last weekend the Gypsy Fair was in Taupo and Wilson gave a woman a free handbag because she knew she was a single mum who deserved to treat herself.

On Saturday at Memorial Park in Tauranga, the same woman found Wilson and gifted her with some flowers to say thank you.

It was moments like these Wilson said made her lifestyle worth it.

"I was a single mum and I remember what it felt like sometimes," she said.

The Original Gypsy Fair organisers Donna and Tony Williamson were busy selling their handmade soap products on Saturday and said they loved coming home to the Bay of Plenty.

The pair were Te Puke locals and joined the Gypsy Fair two years ago after giving up their jobs - Donna was an accountant and Tony was a live wireman.

"We were sick of working to live ... we'll do this for the rest of our lives," said Donna.

The Original Gypsy Fair ran from September 2017 to March 2018 from Orewa right down to Invercargill.