Alberton’s market day – on the second Sunday of the month from November to April, excluding January – has quickly become a prized feature of the local events calendar. Picture: David Allison
The Alberton Market Day has quickly become one of the highlights on the Mt Albert event calendar – and a start to round two is just 10 days away.
Working on the premise that perhaps you can have too much of a good thing, Alberton opens its grounds to market day on just five Sundays through the late spring, summer and early autumn.
The event, which opens on November 12 (10am-2pm), draws people from across the city and has become hugely popular, drawing as many as 1300 people.
Alberton manager Rendell McIntosh said: “We concentrate on offering specialty produce and handmade items in a beautiful setting alongside the lovely old farmhouse and accompanied with entertainment and a pop-up tea room.”
There’s no entry fee to the Bayleys-supported event and a range of food stalls gives a great atmosphere as live music wafts through the grounds. Entry to the house and its 18 rooms is reduced to $8 on market days.
Up for grabs on November 12 are Babick’s gourmet sausages, ViaVio Italian cheese, wood-fired Turkish bread from Zekis, cured meats from The Lady Butcher, Czech sauerkraut from ZeLi and organic vegetables from Mt Albert’s own Sanctuary Community Garden.
Nancy from Zino’s returns with her jams, and Christmas tart baker Gloria will also be back. There’ill be smoked salt, oils, nuts and Forty Thieves nut butters, and sweet treats from the Little French Pastry. Even four-legged family members will be catered for, thanks to Daisy’s Doggie Deli.
As well as flowers and handmade items, artisan food vendors Ginza Takoyaki, Guerrilla Grill, Sabores Argentinian, Mister Gelato, Living Juice and the WISE Collective will be on site.
At this month’s market, learn all about urban chicken keeping from homeopathic vet Barbara Stumbles in a free workshop at 11am. The kids can pat visiting lambs care of John Lockington and David Lyon, supervised by Mt Albert Grammar School agriculture students.
To make the market days a success, Alberton depends on volunteers to help stall holders carry items from their cars to their position in the grounds – and back again. If you able-bodied and can help (from 7.45am-9am, and 2pm-3pm), please call Rendell or Francesca on 846 7367.
This season’s market days will be held on November 12, December 10, February 11, March 11 and April 8. For extra detail, ring Rendell or email alberton@heritage.org.nz
Mt Albert photographer David Allison captured these images at one of last summer’s market days. The weather wasn’t always kind that day, but his pictures give the flavour of a great Mt Albert family day out.
