It’s the last week of November and permission has been granted for Christmas preparations to move into gear around the district.

First up this week is the lighting of the Christmas Tree at the Dinsosaur Park on Friday (November 28) from 6-8pm.

It will be a fun family evening, where people are invited to bring picnic blankets and wear festive attire. It features a show of local talent, including school groups and the famous Singing Santa.

The Wānaka Fete is next up on Saturday (November 29, 10am-4pm) at the A&P Showgrounds, offering a day of shopping from artisanal producers. 

Santa’s Grotto - the annual magical Christmas wonderland - will be open at the Wānaka Community Hub from Saturday. Check the Christmas section in the Wānaka App for opening times.

Lake Hāwea is also offering its annual Christmas Wonderland, which will be open from Wednesday December 3 through until Sunday December 14. Tickets are required, and the display is also open to groups on request.

This is also the season for markets, which start this week with Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College’s (MAC) annual year 8 sustainable market this Thursday (November 27, from 4pm-6pm), above the MAC library.

Budding young entrepreneurs will launch products and services they developed during their ‘Mind Your Own Business’ social science unit, with 50 percent of all profits donated to Wānaka Search and Rescue.

Next week the Aspiring Village Christmas Market will take place (Friday December 5, from 10am-1.30pm).

Wānaka’s Christmas Tree will be lit up from this Friday. PHOTO: Supplied

The market is an opportunity for locals to stock up for Christmas with art, books, ceramics, plants, Christmas cakes, food, gifts and more. 

Food for Love is holding a Christmas bake sale of homemade treats on Saturday December 6 at New World Wānaka, from 9am. 

Every Christmas cake, cookie, gingerbread house, slice, cake and treat is made by Food for Love’s volunteers to help raise funds for the charity. Anyone keen to donate home baking can email [email protected] for more information.

The Gather Market will take place on Sunday December 7 from 10am-4pm at the Lake Hāwea Camp, offering the opportunity to support small-scale local businesses and shop consciously for Christmas.

Also on Sunday December 7 is the Hāwea Christmas in the Park from 4pm-8pm at Peter Fraser Park.

There will be fun for the kids, carol singing, wine tasting, and a visit from Santa.

Find the details of festive season events - including ways to give back - in the Christmas section of the Wānaka App.