Sarau Festival

The hunt for a Sarau Festival Mascot is on! For all artists and creators (or would-be artists or creators) in the region, of any age. We are looking for a mascot for our festival. The competition is to design and manufacture a quirky mascot, that is of course blackcurrant related. The mighty mascots...

Our 2013 Guest chef:  Mark Mehalski – now at the wonderful Jellyfish Cafe and Bar on the Mapua wharf. Returning to New Zealand after 20 years honing his craft in London, Valencia, Tel Aviv and Sydney, Mark has a passion for produce-driven, rustic food he describes as “decidedly Antipodean with...

Registration for the 2013 Sarau Festival is now open for Stall Holders. If you are interested in having in a Stall at the event on 3rd February 2013, download the registration application and get it back to us as soon as you can. You can email your form to Mike at the address on the form. Don’t...

Only a few days left to go: Important information: CYCLE RIDERS:  We are still accepting registrations for both the Mountain Bike race and the Gentle Cycle ride, but do need you to register urgently!  Unless you do so we can’t make adequate preparations.  

This year at Sarau Festival Top of The South Cheesemakers are delighted to host Martin and Sarah Aspinwall of Canterbury Cheesemongers who are going to share with us: “The Lowdown on Cheeses”. Upper Moutere’s own Neudorf Dairy in conjunction with MeadowCroft and Wangapeka Cheese Ltd...

Introducing…Jim Grierson – President of the International Blackcurrant Association. We are honoured to have Jim Grierson coming to the 2012 Sarau Festival. Jim has been working with the NZ Blackcurrant industry as a Crop Advisor (Agronomist) for 30 years. He is also an advisor to growers...

Hello fellow “cassisarians” and friends of the beautiful blackcurrant. Our website this month features an article about the pioneering research being done by Dr Abdul Molan of Massey University and also gives details of (what we think is) the world’s only Blackcurrant Festival being held in January,...

In addition to our ever-popular baking, preserving and juice/wine competitions (entries by 4.30pm please), we are proud to introduce two brand new competitions to turn the heat up at Sarau Festival this year! GARDEN SCULPTURE COMPETITION  Create something interesting, funky, or downright artistic!...

You can partake in a 2 hour stone carving workshop at Sarau Festival commencing at 4pm, cost $15 per person.  To secure a place please phone Tutor Sharyn Tasker on 03 5433880 by Thursday 27th January.  Sharyn is an experienced artist and stone carver and an example of her outstanding work can be seen...

Holiday season may well be fast-approaching but there is a lot going on behind the scenes for the best Sarau Festival ever in January 2011! If you are keen to be involved and make the most of this fantastic day as a spectator, volunteer or other, read on! So, what can you do? Start creating your entries...