Remarkables Market season is upon us once more (cries of “hallelujah” from parents) and this year we see it celebrate its ten year birthday!. The big red barn on Hawthorne Avenue grows up!
Ten years of divine croissants, good strong coffee, communities coming together to chat, hug and laugh, groceries bought for the week, gifts sought, music played, smiles a plenty.
Remarkables Market has been setting up it’s stalls for the past ten years and waking up early with them have been Jackson Cupid Coffee Cart, Bacon Butty Bloke, Peonies 2U (Jil Leydon Peonies), The Barn, Heritage Preserves, Oreti Nursery, Gibbston Valley Cheese, Melt Candles, Stewart Island Smoked Salmon, Wine Country Creations and Zamora – The Meat Preachers.
I’m so proud to have been along for the ride and also writing about them for the past four years. Have a read of past blog posts here and here, here and here!
This year they celebrate with more stalls for you to peruse, get your local shopping, buy gifts for everyone and the new recycled playground, all ready for action. An almighty upgrade sees more activities to keep the wee ones entertained while you sip on your morning latte and bacon butty.
But there’s also a few new amazing additions at this years Remarkables Market as they become the first market to ban single use cups. Take away mugs will be used instead; coffee drinkers utilising the coffee stand (which has been in place for few years) or ceramic cups from the coffee stalls and the juicers using glass jars for their drinks. This is another step in their voyage to becoming zero waste.
Hot food vendors will also be moving towards using home compostable plates and utensils and then they are put into the markets compost bin (sitting alongside food scraps, coffee grinds and juice pulp).
Single use plastic bags are also gone utilising boomerang bags (borrow and then chuck them in the boxes located around Queenstown to return) and jute bags for sale. Reminding you lovely lot to remember to stick your reusable tote bags everywhere because a) you will be filling them with fresh goods and presents for yourself for your loved ones and b) you’ll forget them. Ama right?
I am proud as punch to see how the Remarkables Market has grown from it’s small roots ten years ago to a fully fledged community hub. The people of this town were always at the forefront of the kaupapa/ principle for Remarkables Market. Always thinking about how everyone living here, visiting here and working it out here could come together every Saturday 9-2pm. Everyone can hang out, take it all in (and stuff as many croissants in their tums as possible. It’s ALL about the croissants) and know that every Saturday until April the Remarkables Market will be there from 9am til 2pm. Smiling, ready and waiting with it’s arms outstretched.
Remarkables Market
October 2019 to April 2020
9am – 2pm every Saturday
I absolutely love working with Remarkables Market and am proud to share them with you. I think you’ll love them that’s why I’ve written about them.
I love your Blog JANE. As A local I have been going to the market for Saturday morning coffee, chat and Veges and more since it started. As of last summer I put my brave pants on and this is Mrs Sew & Sew’s second season as a stall holder. I am totally about recycling and love the market’s recycling initiative. It’s fun to be part of and a wonderful Saturday catch up.