Throughout the
Weekend
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Bookseller Stalls
in the Marquee
Saturday & Sunday 9am–5pm
Marquee outside Anzac Hall
​
Booksellers of second-hand, self-published and antiquarian books from around New Zealand fill up the Booksellers' Marquee outside the Anzac Hall over the Festival to offer you exquisite moments of fossicking for your future reading pleasure.
Mini Fell Engine
is on Track
Saturday & Sunday
10am–2pm, Clifford Square
(weather permitting)
​
Interest in miniature trains is huge and world-wide. Discover the joy of riding the rail on a mini-reproduction of an historic Fell engine – great fun for adults and children alike. Then pop over the road to the Fell Engine Museum and see the last remaining Fell engine in the world. Expand your understanding of this fascinating piece of our history by talking to like-minded enthusiasts. The museum is located on the corner of State Highway 2 and Lyon Street in the centre of Featherston.
Joy of Tea
and Books
Saturday 10am–4pm
Mrs Hope's Second Chance Emporium window
​
Come explore the Book-themed window displays created by Beverley McNally.
Booktown
Buskers
Saturday & Sunday
Various locations
(We'll post up a schedule below closer to the weekend)
We’ll have buskers to entertain you. They're playing for the love of it, so if you like what you hear why not give them some koha – preferably cash. There’ll be music for everyone from folk, bluegrass and waiata to classics, jazz and blues. If you arrive by train there's likely to be a welcome from the South Wairarapa Pipe Band.
Featherston
Saturday Market
Saturday 9am–12.30pm
33 Fitzherbert St
​
Featherston Market runs every Saturday, rain or shine, from 7:30am to nearly 2pm, providing fresh produce, fine food producers, innovative creators and much more. Take in the great atmosphere, amazing food and community spirit. You’ll find the market at 33 Fitzherbert Street, through the gates at the back of the Lang's carpark, beside The Baker.
Paint a Mural at
The Bakehouse
All weekend
The Bakehouse, 4 Wakefields St
​
The outline of a large mural painting has been outlined on a wall at The Bakehouse just off Fitzherbert St and 30 metres up Wakefields Street. Give us a hand to enliven it with colour!
Country
Tea & Cakes
Saturday 9.30am–3.30pm
Sunday 9am–11.30am
Supper Room, Anzac Hall Complex
​
Our tea room in the Anzac Hall is a vital element of the magic that is the Featherston Booktown Festival. All the food is lovingly handmade and served by a group of local volunteers who've supported the Festival in this wonderful way since the very beginning. Their club sandwiches, cheese scones, cupcakes and slices are legendary.
Pop-Up Aratoi
Museum
Saturday 9.30am-12pm
Featherston Library
​
Masterton's main Art Gallery will be putting in a 'pop-up' appearance on Saturday morning along at the Featherston Library.
Featherston Vinyl Club at the Waimarie
Sunday 4.30pm–late. Free.
Waimarie Eatery and Bar.
​
Finish off the Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival 2025, listening to a few records being spun by our local Vinyl aficionados - with a well-earned pint, pizza and your own pile of books to thumb through.