Huge crowds expected at Riverton Harvest Festival

The Riverton Harvest Festival is not just for old hippies any more, with a growing number of younger people attending the event.

Festival organiser Robert Guyton said the event now in its eighth year had a growing popularity with a younger audience.

‘‘The trend has been towards people in their 20s coming along to the festival, which we find surprising.’’

Guyton was expecting more than 3000 people to turn out to the two-day festival held at the Aparima College Hall this weekend.

This year guests include NZ Gardener magazine editor-at-large Lynda Hallinan and Waiheke-based storyteller and raconteur Tanya Batt.

There would be numerous stalls and exhibitors, music, food and workshops held in the college classrooms, Guyton said.

The festival featured on the TV show Country Calendar last year and already as a result workshop bookings were way up, he said.

‘‘It’s shaping up to be a marvellous festival.’’

On Saturday night there will be a pot luck harvest feast and the champion of the harvest competition.

Those hoping to be champion of the harvest would have to compete in a wacky variety of unique tasks, Guyton said.

Entry to the festival is by way of a gold coin.

Just down the road on Sunday the public have the chance to see New Zealand’s only working flax mill operating.

The Templeton Flax Mill Heritage Museum at Otaitai Beach will open it’s doors to the public from 1am to 4pm.

Templeton Flax Milling Heritage Trust chairman Vaughan Templeton said people would get to see all the machinery running and what the finished product looks like.

The milling of native flax began soon after Europeans arrived in New Zealand, with the fibre used to make ropes for sailing ships, Templeton said.

Flax fibre remained one of New Zealand’s largest exports until 1890, when it began to decline due to rising labour costs, he said.

‘‘At its peak there were 70 flax mills in Southland.’’ Last year about 300 people attended the open day, Templeton said.

Entry is $5 per person, with schoolaged children entry free.

PHOTO: JOHN HAWKINS/FAIRFAX NZ 632227981 Hollie Guyton, Phoebe Balle and Chrissy Hamill get ready for Riverton Heritage Harvest Festival this weekend.