New market pledges Christmas cheer

CHRISTMAS IS COMING: Jason Reid, organiser of A Very Wairarapa Christmas market in Carterton.

A Christmas shopping extravaganza is planned for Carterton.

The first A Very Wairarapa Christmas market at the Carterton Events Centre on Sunday, December 13 will be bringing Christmas cheer to the town with shopping, food, gifts and the spirit of generosity.

Organisers of the Martinborough Vintage Spring Fair and the owners of Zeep Organics Jason and Shona Reid are behind the new market, which is also a fundraiser for the Wairarapa Women's Refuge.

Mr Reid said donating the proceeds from the fair to the refuge was his wife's idea. "We are really just trying to raise funds because my wife is really interested in giving to those in need at Christmas time. We are just wanting to make their Christmas a little bit easier.

"This is our way of giving something to them . . . for us the markets are just about giving a bit back to community groups and other people."

There will be a variety of stallholders from around the country, selling handmade jewellery, clothing, Christmas gifts and decorations, and more.

Mr Reid said the market would offer shoppers something "a little bit different".

"We are going to make it a real Christmas market driven for the community. We've got quite a few stallholders. So there will be things that aren't normally seen in Wairarapa.

"It's going to be unique because the stallholders will be from everywhere."

The Carterton Events Centre will be decorated for the occasion and community groups will be taking part, offering cake stalls and a sausage sizzle.

Funds from the raffle will go to the refuge and there will be a Christmas tree where people can place gifts for refuge families.

There will be plenty of stuff for the kids, with Santa in attendance and face-painting on offer, Mr Reid said. The market starts at 10.30am and it is envisaged people will drop in to the Christmas market after the weekly Farmers' Market.