Timaru Festival of Roses

Celebrate the summer, fun times and flowers at the Timaru Festival of Roses.

The Festival is three days of activities, walks, talks, wines, food, tours, exhibitions and displays, art, theatre and of course plenty of Roses. But it's not all roses - far from it. There are plenty of competitions, shows and activities for the whole family.

Every year thousands of people descend on Timaru for this feast for the senses. Colour and exotic sights, music, enticing aromas, delicious tastes all add to the festive, friendly atmosphere that has been drawing crowds for years.

Our major act is The Soul Agency who will playing the Saturday night food market plus the Sunday Christmas market. The Sport Suzie busking show will be helping keep the crowds entertained on Friday and Saturday night.

New for 2019 include workshops by with gardening and food celebrity, Lynda Hallinan - former NZ Gardener editor, author, broadcaster and mad-keen gardener, Lynda has spent half her life writing about her passion for plants. Lynda will be taking two workshops ‘Homegrown Harvests’ and ‘Fresh flowers & festive flavours’.

We’ll also be running a Floral Photography workshop with Vanessa Hardley, Photographic Artist.

Besides the market stalls, workshops and live entertainment, in the Caroline Bay Hall there are exhibitions from themed Floral Art, the Children's Floral Fantasy (children's botanical art), Rose Society Rose Show, and an exhibition of photographic art. There is also the Baby Buds Photography Exhibition and contest with 100 photos of South Canterbury's most recent additions.

In the gardens the cultural level lifts again with Shakespeare in the Gardens - live Shakespeare set amid the Roses.