Daffodil Festival
Last updated: 18 Aug, 2025 03:50pm
Sunday 14 September
The Carterton Daffodil Festival is back for 2025.
Everyone’s favourite attractions, from the iconic daffodils, to the heritage train excursion, the High Street market, and street performers will be back in action attracting over 10,000 visitors to the district.
This is one of the town’s biggest days with community groups and businesses coming together to ensure the town is at its most beautiful.
Book a Stall
Heritage Train
Middle Run Daffodils
Entertainment
Wai Art Show
The Library
Book a stall
Over 140 stalls booked already!
Explore delicious food trucks and local eateries offering a range of treats – from gourmet ice cream to wood-fired pizza. Bring your appetite!
Be part of the buzzing street market. Sell crafts, goods or promote your group. Spaces fill fast – apply now to be part of this colourful day.
For more information about the market stalls at the Daffodil Festival you will need to contact market organisers Grant or Heather Smith directly.
For more information about the market stalls at the Daffodil Festival you will need to contact market organisers Grant or Heather Smith directly.
Please email smithspread@xtra.co.nz and they will add you to their list. Communication will go out to all stallholders from the end of May 2025.
Heritage Train
Ride the Daffodil Festival Flyer (Carterton–Masterton) with new one-way options and fun layovers! Travel in vintage style with Steam Inc.
Book now: https://steaminc.org.nz/book-train-trip/daffodil-festival-flyer/
Choose between:
Option 1 – Travel between Carterton & Masterton in both directions on our heritage train. Approx. 1hr 30min layover at Masterton Station
Option 2 – Travel by train from Carterton to Masterton, and then immediately jump on a Shuttle Bus back to Carterton to explore the Daffodil Festival. Train departs Carterton at 10:30 and bus departs Masterton at 11:15am approx
Option 3 – Travel by train from Masterton to Carterton, explore the Carterton Daffodil Festival, and then travel by bus back to Masterton. Train departs Masterton at 1pm and bus departs Carterton Train Station at 3:15pm approx.
Middle Run Daffodils
Wander through the golden daffodils at Middle Run. Access is by free bus only – no private vehicles permitted. Pick-your-own, bunches are $5 with proceeds going to Plunket and Wellington Free Ambulance.
Entertainment
Enjoy music, dance, and live acts throughout the day. From main stage performances to roving entertainers, there’s something for the whole whānau.
Wairarapa Art Show
Visit the Wai Art Sale at the Events Centre and browse a wide variety of art by talented local artists. A must-see stop for art lovers and collectors.
The Library
We are excited to announce that, as part of the Carterton Daffodil Festival, Carterton Library will be open from 9.30am-4.00pm on Sunday 14 September. There will be simple crafts for kids, a display from the Wairarapa Herb Society, and a free talk from Aratoi about our collaborative POP-UP museum. You will also be able to join the library, borrow books, magazines, and DVDs, or simply enjoy the space and take a break from festival activities.
Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori also begins on September 14th. To celebrate this special anniversary, we invite you to come in and browse or borrow from our Māori Collection and pick up a flyer – listing 50 of our resources to help you on your te reo journey.
