The Christchurch Farmers' Market has been running since 2004, making it one of Canterbury's original food markets. Every Saturday, it sets up in the open-air grounds of the historic Riccarton House & Bush, beside the Avon River, winding past the 1856 Homestead and gardens towards the 1.8 hectare protected native bush 'Putaringamotu'.
On market day, Canterbury's local producers and artisans set up stalls offering baking, fresh seasonal vegetables and fruit, cheesemongers, delis and butchers, patisseries, olive oil, hand-made breakfast and lunch food, and fresh organic coffee from Hummingbird Roaster, who have supported the market since it began. The market has been voted 'Best Public Event' for two years running, and the organisers describe it as helping nurture small food businesses from start-up through to established local icons.
Behind the scenes, market workers arrive from 6am to set up stalls, with stallholders arriving from 7am to prepare their offerings before official trading begins. Visitors can wander the stalls, relax under the shade of a protected tree or along the Avon riverbank, and enjoy live music as part of the market's atmosphere. The market grounds are also home to a restaurant and venue at Riccarton House.
The Christchurch Farmers' Market welcomes new stallholder applications and shares updates through its blog, newsletter, and social channels including Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
The Christchurch Farmers' Market has been a Saturday fixture since 2004, making it one of Canterbury's original food markets. Set in the open-air grounds of the historic Riccarton House & Bush, the market has grown from a local gathering into one of Christchurch's well-known weekend attractions.
The market winds itself beside the Avon River, under trees that are around 100 years old, following past the 1856 Homestead and gardens towards the 1.8 hectare protected native bush known as 'Putaringamotu'. It's a setting that gives the market its distinct character — as much a walk through history as a shopping trip. Riccarton House also hosts a restaurant and venue on the same grounds.
Every Saturday, Canterbury's local producers and artisans bring their goods to the market: fresh seasonal vegetables and fruit, cheesemongers, delis and butchers, patisseries, olive oil, and a range of hand-made breakfast and lunch food. Fresh organic coffee comes courtesy of Hummingbird Roaster, who have been the market's coffee partner since it started, keeping stallholders — and shoppers — fuelled throughout the morning.
Among the market's traders featured on its blog are Sassy Salt Lady, Ali's Lemons, and I've Been Pickled, part of a wider community the market describes as nurturing small food businesses from start-up through to established local icons.
Behind the scenes, the market day starts early. Market workers arrive from 6am to set up stalls, with stallholders following from around 7am to lay out their products — organic vegetables and sourdough baguettes, delicate cakes arranged with care. The coffee station starts serving stallholders from 8am, and once the market officially opens, trading runs through the morning before stalls pack down around midday and the Riccarton grounds return to their usual quiet, ready for the next Saturday.
Beyond the stalls, the market is a place to gather with family and friends, wander at a leisurely pace, and relax under a shaded tree or along the Avon riverbank while listening to live music. It's this atmosphere, alongside the quality of its stallholders, that helped the market get voted 'Best Public Event' two years running.
The Christchurch Farmers' Market shares recipes inspired by its vendors through a recipe library, available online and at the market's info stall on Saturdays. Updates, trader stories and market news are shared through the market's blog, and the market can also be followed on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. A newsletter is available for those who want to stay up to date, and the market welcomes applications from prospective stallholders looking to join the Saturday line-up.