The Warmest Festival Of The Year
NB:
-registrations for this year will open
on Mother's Day 11th May 2025
https://www.trybooking.com/nz/WTL
The Waimate Winter Folk Festival is a folk music festival held every King’s Birthday Weekend
(to include the first Monday in June). It is a great, homely musical gathering for performers and enjoyers of folk music of all ages and levels of skill, from beginners to seasoned professionals.
Due to the cold climate and remote location, the winter festival attracts a loyal and hardy type who enjoy huddling together around the fire or kitchen table, having a yarn, performing and listening to ballads, tales and tunes and playing (mostly) acoustic instruments. There are many beards and woolly jumpers and much porridge and knitting.
Unlike most music festivals, we don't employ professionals to entertain us, rather we have the opportunity to create our own entertainment (not compulsory!). Pretty much anyone that wants to get on stage can do so at some point over the weekend. Bring an act or a poem prepared as a group or solo and fill a short slot, or devise something with others at the festival.
A great way of getting involved and meeting people is to put your name into the hat to be part of a band for the blind date concert. It's also fine to enjoy the music from the comfort of the audience.
The choir, beginners jam and evening play-arounds are open to everyone.
You are welcome to arrive from 12pm on Friday 30th May and you need to leave by 2pm Monday 2nd June.
If you want to arrange to stay longer - please arrange this directly with Gunns Bush : 027 6880 945 [email protected]
This year's theme - "Six months in a leaky boat"
This year the theme is "Six months in a leaky boat". You can use this theme to inspire song choices and conversations and also as a dress up theme for our Sunday night dinner - think sailors, mermaids, fish, water, storms, ships, plumbing, boats,..... etc etc.
Location - Gunns Bush, Waimate
The Waimate Winter Folk Festival will be held at Gunns Bush Camp.
This rural site has two wings of bunk rooms attached to a central hall and plenty of green space for parking up accommodation vehicles and for camping in tents. There is a shared kitchen and 2 shower / toilet blocks.
Most of the scheduled festival happens in the main hall where we have a log fire for heating.
The bunk rooms have heaters which can be used when the ovens are not on (ie at night).
Waimate is rural town in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is situated inland from the eastern coast of the South Island, 45.7km south of Timaru, 20km north of the Waitaki River and 47.5km north of Oamaru.
There is a row of shops in Waimate town including a supermarket and several cafes.
If the weather is clement there are bush walks to explore, so bring your boots if you are that way inclined www.gunnsbushcamp.co.nz/activities
How to Get There
If travelling north on State Highway One, at the yellow barn, turn left into Waimate.
Turn right onto Queen Street, left onto Parsonage Road, past the Waimate golf course (on your left)
and follow the signs for Gunns Bush Camp / Waimate Hunter Road.
If travelling south on State Highway One Google will give you several options, my preference is:
1) turn inland at the Nosh Cafe ( signs for Waimate / Kurow) and
drive into Waimate town turning right at Parsonage Road and then past the Waimate golf course (on your left)
and follow the signs for Gunns Bush Camp / Waimate Hunter Road.
2) drive all the way south to the yellow barn and turn right to head in to Waimate and then
turn right at Parsonage Road and then past the Waimate golf course (on your left)
and follow the signs for Gunns Bush Camp / Waimate Hunter Road.
How to Register
This year we strongly recommend online registration and payment.
Online registration will be open from May 11th and you will be able to follow this link to register : https://www.trybooking.com/NZ/WTL
There is also a place to message the managers if you have any questions.
Registration includes three nights' bunk accommodation (or camping, for the hardy) and all the activities from Saturday morning to Sunday evening (and the wee hours of Monday).
There are very limited power sites so do not expect to get one:-)
Day passes are also available at $45 per day or $25 for a half-day (free for children 12 years and under).
Food
You need to bring your own food for at least breakfast, lunch and snacks.
There is quite a good kitchen and some crockery and cutlery, bring your own special cup / wine glass etc.
You can also prepare your own evening meals as well but they will be available to purchase when you register for Saturday and Sunday nights. This year we expect to provide Spanakopita (spinach and feta filo) on Saturday night and Indian korma on Sunday night. If you are purchasing meals - please advise of your allergies and food preferences when you book, we will do our best to cater for you.
This year we also hope to have a coffee cart onsite for coffee and snacks.
When You Arrive
On arrival please report to check in with Rachel or another registration volunteer at the desk in the main hall.
If you have booked a bunk then your name will be on one of the bunk room doors.
You can park anywhere that isn't annoying (don't make entrance to the buildings difficult or park anyone in).
Avoid low patches if the ground is soggy.
Friday night is unscheduled - just a chance to gently settle in, meet up with friends, introduce yourself to others, have a kai and a jam if others are keen.
The hall and the kitchen are good places to play (unless it is dinner prep time).
Newcomers / - What to Bring
First timers are advised to plan your trip and intend to arrive in daylight (tricky country roads and very dark when it's dark). There have been tears. Travelling from the north, personally I like to go south almost right to the Waimate turnoff and then drive further inland. It's a longer route than cutting in but fewer decisions in the dark.
Bring warm clothes, hats, hotties, bedding, pillows and food to cater for yourselves.
Bring your knitting, your instruments, your song ideas, poems, music stands, chocolate and chord charts,
maybe a log of wood or some newspaper for the fire.
Expect to hunker down for the weekend, sometimes it is very cold, sometimes quite mild.
We will have eftpos for purchases but it is good to bring cash for raffles and CD purchases and the coffee cart.
Jumper leads for your vehicle (!)
If the weather has been dry - a bush walk may be possible so bring your jacket and boots.
The Sunday night dinner and concert is a dress up affair and many bring extra snacks,
nibbles and decorations to dress their table and add to the festive atmosphere.
LED tea light candles are nice but please don't bring real candles inside.
This year's theme is "Six months in a leaky boat" which you can interpret in any inclusive way you want.
Re dogs: not everyone is a dog lover. Ideally, do not bring your dog. Absolutely do not bring your dog into the buildings, even if it is the best dog in the world. Keep it on a leash you can control or inside your accommodation if you are outside, so it cannot interact with other festival goers without their consent. If you are properly "self contained", the owners of Gunn's Bush may have an area where you could park and allow your dog more freedom - please ask Gunns Bush directly : 027 6880 945 [email protected] https://www.gunnsbushcamp.co.nz
If travelling north on State Highway One, at the yellow barn, turn left into Waimate.
Turn right onto Queen Street, left onto Parsonage Road, past the Waimate golf course (on your left)
and follow the signs for Gunns Bush Camp / Waimate Hunter Road.
If travelling south on State Highway One Google will give you several options, my preference is:
1) turn inland at the Nosh Cafe ( signs for Waimate / Kurow) and
drive into Waimate town turning right at Parsonage Road and then past the Waimate golf course (on your left)
and follow the signs for Gunns Bush Camp / Waimate Hunter Road.
2) drive all the way south to the yellow barn and turn right to head in to Waimate and then
turn right at Parsonage Road and then past the Waimate golf course (on your left)
and follow the signs for Gunns Bush Camp / Waimate Hunter Road.
How to Register
This year we strongly recommend online registration and payment.
Online registration will be open from May 11th and you will be able to follow this link to register : https://www.trybooking.com/NZ/WTL
There is also a place to message the managers if you have any questions.
Registration includes three nights' bunk accommodation (or camping, for the hardy) and all the activities from Saturday morning to Sunday evening (and the wee hours of Monday).
There are very limited power sites so do not expect to get one:-)
Day passes are also available at $45 per day or $25 for a half-day (free for children 12 years and under).
Food
You need to bring your own food for at least breakfast, lunch and snacks.
There is quite a good kitchen and some crockery and cutlery, bring your own special cup / wine glass etc.
You can also prepare your own evening meals as well but they will be available to purchase when you register for Saturday and Sunday nights. This year we expect to provide Spanakopita (spinach and feta filo) on Saturday night and Indian korma on Sunday night. If you are purchasing meals - please advise of your allergies and food preferences when you book, we will do our best to cater for you.
This year we also hope to have a coffee cart onsite for coffee and snacks.
When You Arrive
On arrival please report to check in with Rachel or another registration volunteer at the desk in the main hall.
If you have booked a bunk then your name will be on one of the bunk room doors.
You can park anywhere that isn't annoying (don't make entrance to the buildings difficult or park anyone in).
Avoid low patches if the ground is soggy.
Friday night is unscheduled - just a chance to gently settle in, meet up with friends, introduce yourself to others, have a kai and a jam if others are keen.
The hall and the kitchen are good places to play (unless it is dinner prep time).
Newcomers / - What to Bring
First timers are advised to plan your trip and intend to arrive in daylight (tricky country roads and very dark when it's dark). There have been tears. Travelling from the north, personally I like to go south almost right to the Waimate turnoff and then drive further inland. It's a longer route than cutting in but fewer decisions in the dark.
Bring warm clothes, hats, hotties, bedding, pillows and food to cater for yourselves.
Bring your knitting, your instruments, your song ideas, poems, music stands, chocolate and chord charts,
maybe a log of wood or some newspaper for the fire.
Expect to hunker down for the weekend, sometimes it is very cold, sometimes quite mild.
We will have eftpos for purchases but it is good to bring cash for raffles and CD purchases and the coffee cart.
Jumper leads for your vehicle (!)
If the weather has been dry - a bush walk may be possible so bring your jacket and boots.
The Sunday night dinner and concert is a dress up affair and many bring extra snacks,
nibbles and decorations to dress their table and add to the festive atmosphere.
LED tea light candles are nice but please don't bring real candles inside.
This year's theme is "Six months in a leaky boat" which you can interpret in any inclusive way you want.
Re dogs: not everyone is a dog lover. Ideally, do not bring your dog. Absolutely do not bring your dog into the buildings, even if it is the best dog in the world. Keep it on a leash you can control or inside your accommodation if you are outside, so it cannot interact with other festival goers without their consent. If you are properly "self contained", the owners of Gunn's Bush may have an area where you could park and allow your dog more freedom - please ask Gunns Bush directly : 027 6880 945 [email protected] https://www.gunnsbushcamp.co.nz
