Field Days’ favourites for the non-farmer
It’s not all seed drills and tractors at the Central Districts Field Days.
Rest assured, there are a ton of fun things to do and see for the whole family, even if you’re a ‘townie’.
The Manawatu Standard has done the rounds and recommends these sites for the Saturday crowd.
1. Cuisine tent
Prepare the tastebuds because the Cuisine of Central Districts marquee is offering visitors the chance to get up and close with some of the best food in the lower North Island.
There are a few new faces in the marquee this year including Ebony Coffee Roasters and Chris Dunn from Deli Hawke’s Bay with his artisan small goods.
There are also some familiar faces such as Pohangina Valley’s Cartwheel Creamery and Feilding’s Common Ancestor Brewery, which is offering hand-crafted boutique ales.
Who doesn’t like taste-testing?
2. Vintage motors
While you can’t hand the kids a beer, they will be fascinated by the vintage motors display. Take a ride back to the good ol’ days where steam engines were just coming in and farm machinery was a little different to what we know it to be now.
To keep things authentic, staff are kicking them into life, with many having to be crank-started the old fashioned way.
3. Retail therapy
The event boasts plenty of quirky stalls. For the dads, they can check out the latest tools, lawn mowers and gadgets to keep the backyard in top shape this winter.
4. Sky high aerobatics
If you’re having withdrawals following the Air Tattoo at Ohakea a month ago, then head down to Manfeild on Saturday for round two.
All eyes will be on the RNZAF aerobatics team, the Black Falcons, as they light up the sky in the afternoon.
5. Jump in a digger
Children have the chance to be tutored by skilled drivers on how to operate ‘Gerald the Giraffe’, a 1.7-tonne Hitachi mini digger.