The Market Story

THE ARTISANS MARKET

Where we began, where we are and where to from here…

The Artisans Market, previously known as the Artisans Fair Market, is one of the longest standing Arts & Crafts markets in Northland.

The fair started in 2004 at the Rose Gardens on Water Street to give local artists and creators somewhere to display and sell their wares.

With the revitalisation of the town basin, the market was asked to move to Victoria (or John St) Bridge in 2011, when it became the Canopy Bridge, with its Australasian Award winning “canopy”. This enabled the area to become a significant community and entertainment space for activities such as the Artisans Fair, with the idea of attracting both locals & visitors alike.

More recently, Whangarei District Council (WDC) commenced re-developed the Town Basin area, with the ‘jewel in the crown’ being the Hundertwasser Arts Centre and Pūtahi Park, right beside the ‘Victoria Canopy Bridge’. Making way for this redevelopment, The Artisans Market was temporarily moved into The Reyburn House grounds between 2019 and 2021 where it became a garden market for two seasons.

In October 2022, our market returned to The Victoria Canopy Bridge and Pūtahi Park in the Town Basin, enjoying pride of place in front of The Hundertwasser Arts Centre.

Our 2023-24 summer season has now ended. The Artisans Market will return on Labour Weekend, 2024.

The Canopy Night Market

Bringing the community together through a love of food and entertainment…

The Canopy Night Market, originally known as The Gourmet Night Market, was the brain child of its founder Leeann De Vries (Hello Events), who established the concept of a Friday night summer street food market to bring the Whangarei community together and encourage us to enjoy our beautiful location. It was initiated in June 2017 and its first market saw such overwhelming support from the community that the entire market ‘sold out’ within the first hour of opening.

The Canopy Night Market spent its first two seasons on the Victoria Canopy Bridge and, like The Artisans Market, was re-located to The Finlayson Street Carpark next to The Reyburn House grounds in the Town Basin to make way for the construction of the Hundertwasser Arts Centre and the City Park grounds.

Although The Canopy Night Markets location temporarily changed, it’s popularity and the variety and quality of food it provides did not. The market attracted massive crowds of locals and visitors alike, who came together to socialise with friends, while sampling and enjoying some of the best dishes available in Northland.

The Canopy Night Market returned to the Victoria Canopy Bridge in March 2022 where it will continue to provide the Whangarei District with a vibrant street food extravaganza on the doorstep of the Hundertwasser Arts Centre.

Our 2023-24 summer season has now ended. The Canopy Night Market will return on Labour Weekend, 2024.