Wao Autumn Harvest Festival 2025

A Weekend of Food, Learning & Inspiration (March 14–16)

Join us for a three-day celebration of learning at this year's Wao Autumn Harvest Festival Showcase, happening March 14–16 at Luggate Memorial Hall, just 10 minutes from Wānaka. The hall will be transformed into a vibrant hub with workshops highlighting local food knowledge, creativity, and deliciousness, alongside the annual Upper Clutha Apple Drive.

Weekend showcase includes:

🔪 Foodie Workshops – Discover how to grow, harvest, prepare, and preserve your own food. Gain hands-on skills like hot and cold smoking or crafting a wild salad with foraged ingredients. Taking place Friday evening, and all day Saturday and Sunday. Due to limited seating, be sure to secure your spot by booking at wao.co.nz. All proceeds from the workshops will fund our newly established Southern Lakes Kai Collective which aims to improve the district’s food system. The workshops are primarily designed for adults, but kids are welcome to come along, and they don’t need a ticket (except for the Namaste garden tour).

🍎 The 9th Apple Drive, brought to you by Local Food Wānaka - Join Local Food Wānaka at the Luggate Hall on Saturday, March 15th, from 10 am to 3 pm for their annual chutney and juice making event! Learn new skills, meet fellow food lovers, and take away a jar of chutney and fresh juice.  $5 entry at the door (cash only). Bring surplus fruit, a sharp knife, a chopping board, small glass jars and 1-2 litre bottles for juice.  If you can't be here for the day, aim to arrive by 1 pm so you can still participate.

The Wao Harvest Festival isn’t just an event – it’s an opportunity to connect with the local food scene, gain new skills, and celebrate everything delicious and homegrown. Come along for a weekend full of fun, food, and community spirit!