activities • arts & craft

Festivals and Events to Spice up every Season

Over lazy summer days entertainment is in abundance!
When you’re not wining and dining, sailing or in a national park…catch the region during the Nelson Arts Festival in October with national and international acts. Hot on its heels comes the Sealord Summer Festival, with many events including the vibrant Kite Festival in January. Summer continues with the annual Opera in The Park in February.

Even in winter the region sizzles with the Nelson School of Music’s popular Winter Festival programme.

arts & crafts to see & do

Take me to the Arts & Crafts listings!!

Art and workshop pass
Meet artists, visit their workshops and participate in creating your own art! Learn glass bead making or ceramics! A highly memorable experience is assured when interactive fun is at your fingertips.

Studio and gallery tours
An iconic Nelson region experience. At your leisure visit galleries, workshops and art studios. A highly visual and creative journey taking in urban gallery spaces to beautiful, secluded workshops where artists work and play. Collect art along the way.

Art in its own place
Painters, sculptors, ceramic artists, jewellers and more … live and create throughout the region. Meeting the artist who painted the picture or the winemaker who crafted the vintage is one of Nelson’s unique experiences. Start by buying Nelson’s cultural explorer’s guide, The Nelson Guide Book – ‘Art in Its Own Place’, from good bookstores and the Nelson i-SITE Visitor Centre, and follow the art trails through picturesque countryside.

World of Wearableart and Collectable Cars Museum
The WOW® phenomenon is now an internationally celebrated event. Amazing wearable works of art are on display in Nelson at the World of WearableArt™ and Classic Cars Museum. The combination of incredible garments with classic cars in one museum is a unique experience.

Artisan markets
It’s worth getting up early in Nelson on a Saturday morning to catch the bustle of the Saturday market. Here locals stock up on fresh produce and collectors are spoilt for choice: from wooden platters and local olive oil to colourful ceramics. Further afield, Motueka hosts a relaxed Sunday market, and Takaka has a Saturday market.

Coastal creativity
Follow the Coastal Highway from Nelson, through Richmond to Motueka for a smorgasbord of cuisine and creativity. From art glass, dried flowers, candles, sculpture, painting, ceramics, vineyards, cafes and so much more, this is an essential adventure!