Excitement is building for the annual Ashburton Market Day this Monday.
Organiser Carol Johns said the town’s centre along East St, closed to traffic, would be bustling as more than 100 stallholders had registered from near and far.
‘‘It’s full. We’ve got a waiting list.’’ Johns said.
Wares will include clothing, artworks, candles and fragrances, furniture, plants, jewellery, handcrafted goods and children’s toys. About 20 will be food vendors, and there will service groups with stalls.
The event is traditionally held in September on South Canterbury Anniversary Day, the same day Ashburton’s iconic week-long Bookarama opens in the Sports Hall, Tancred St.
Bookarama organisers are also preparing for a busy day, leading in to the week in which they hope to raise even more from sales than last year’s record takings of $67,000.
The MetService long-range forecast is for a balmy 19 degrees, and partly cloudy with light winds.
Johns said about one third of stallholders were from Mid Canterbury; others were from as far afield as Nelson, Blenheim and Dunedin.
About 20 were newcomers.
‘‘Which is fantastic, there will be something different for people to see, lots of different food this year as well.
‘‘It’s just quality, a good chance for people to go Christmas shopping.’’
Johns said despite ‘‘a couple of niggles’’, the majority of Ashburton businesses had been supportive, as had the district council.
‘‘It happens every year, and it brings thousands of people to the town.’’
Last year about 7000 attended.
‘‘I’ve got carloads of people coming from Christchurch, Leeston, Southbridge, West Melton. They’re already contacting me, they’re excited to come.’’
* Ashburton Market Day, East St (between Havelock and Moore Sts) Monday, 9am to about 4pm. Ashburton Bookarama at the Sports Hall, Tancred St, opens 8am on Monday.
