Vintage Weekend 2026 is set to fill Whanganui's streets with live music, retro attractions and everything vintage on Wellington Anniversary Weekend. Photo / Michael Davis
Vintage Weekend 2026 is set to fill Whanganui's streets with live music, retro attractions and everything vintage on Wellington Anniversary Weekend. Photo / Michael Davis
It’s almost time to break out the petticoats and newsboy caps in Whanganui.
Vintage Weekend 2026 runs from Friday, January 16, to Monday, January 19, over Wellington Anniversary Weekend.
“If there’s any weekend that Whanganui as a whole kind of gets together and does something, it’s Vintage Weekend,” WhanganuiVintage Weekend Trust event manager Fergus Reid said.
There will be a mix of new events, popular classics and some returning favourites, including Plumber Dan’s Soapbox Derby.
“Whether you’re a kid who wants to go for a ride on a mini traction engine or someone who’s interested in vintage valve radios to go to the Radio Museum, there’s just something for everyone,” Reid said.
Trustee Keith Smith said the majority of events and things to see were free.
Whanganui Vintage Weekend 2026 Trust members (from left) Rory Smith, Keith Smith, Bruce Jellyman and Fergus Reid. Photo / Erin Smith
The weekend was made possible by the Whanganui community, along with funding from Whanganui District Council, donations, sponsors and volunteers. This year’s principal sponsor is Property Brokers, joined by Whanganui businesses and other New Zealand sponsors.
“The wider Whanganui community are the people who put their hands up to put each of these events on,” Reid said.
The emphasis on community support had grown as council funding had reduced in recent years, he said.
“Sustainability of the event is getting tricky.”
The trust has launched a donations page on the Vintage Weekend website and will have opportunities for donations throughout the weekend.
“There’s a real kind of happy, joyful community vibe,” trust chairman Bruce Jellyman said.
New attractions this year will include exhibitions at Space Studio & Gallery, Ministry of Works Vintage Art Jumble, a cake picnic hosted by Frosty Moons, vintage-inspired drinks at the Laneway Cocktail Club at new bar The Distillery, and a presentation at Whanganui Regional Museum on the impact of Mary Quant on the history of global fashion.
Events start on the Friday with exhibitions, vintage museums and guided tours across the city, including a trip on the paddle-steamer Waimarie with tunes from musician Andrew London (on Friday and Saturday).
Friday will end with a vintage-themed party at Porridge Watson featuring live music by Damn Raucous Brass and best vintage dress prizes.
Festivities will be in full swing on Saturday with the Mainstreet Caboodle filling Whanganui’s town centre with street performances, a vintage toy market, classic vehicles, food and three stages featuring live music.
The Caboodle will have a professional stage for the live music, as opposed to the back of a truck used in previous years, “which is a big kind of upgrade,” Reid said.
The weekly Whanganui River Markets will embrace the retro theme with more than 150 stalls.
Wheels on Victoria will showcase classic and vintage automobiles from all decades across two blocks of Victoria Ave, and the Wanganui Royal Enfield Riders Club celebrates the Percy Coleman 100 Year Exhibition with a motorbike display on Guyton St.
Visitors can take a trip on vintage steam trains departing from Steam Wanganui Yard in Taupō Quay on Saturday and Sunday.
The 1800s “Skunk” steam locomotive, which was lifted from the sands at South Mole last October after being buried for more than 75 years, will be on display at SteamRail Wanganui Inc.
On Sunday, the day gets underway with the Burma Rally, with 70-100 vintage cars setting off from Cornmarket Reserve.
The Whanganui Vintage Fair is on from 9.30am to 4pm at Springvale Stadium.
The Wanganui Aero Club will fill the sky with vintage and ex-military planes during its open day at Whanganui Airport from 10am to 4pm.
