The Akaroa French Festival 6-8 October 2023! The Biggest Akaroa Event 2023! Full of the best of what is happening in Akaroa! Find out what is happening PLUS other Akaroa activities right here!

Akaroa French Festival Starts Friday 6th October: 5pm to 9pm: Le Premier Soir du Festival! Our Grand Opening Night! 

5pm: Powhiri and Welcome

5:30pm-9pm: Akaroa Night Market, Live Music, Bars and Silent Disco

Don’t miss the Start of the Akaroa French Fest!

Enjoy a special Friday night out, with the official opening followed by live music and lights, surrounded by food and wine vendors and stalls at the famous Akaroa Night Market!

Held at the Akaroa Recreation Ground.

Saturday 7th, October 2023: Landing show, Descendants parade, Market, Cabaret

8:30am-10:00am: Landing

Join in the action at the Akaroa French Festival landing street theatre and the traditional Landing Celebration of French and German passengers from the Comte de Paris who arrived in 1840 to start new lives, followed by the Comte de Paris descendants proudly marching in the Street.

10am-10:45am: Parade

From the Akaroa Main Beach along Rue Lavaud to the Akaroa Recreation Ground.

Calling all Comte de Paris descendants to march and remember our forebears (I’ll be there, with the Eighth Generation!).

9:30am-3pm: Heritage Marquee

Akaroa French Festival’s hub is at the Akaroa Recreational Ground relax and enjoy the heritage and entertainment with The Heritage Marquee and French Market stalls.

The Heritage Marquee Family-friendly variety acts are on the Heritage Marquee stages all day! Banks Peninsula Geopark Sam Hampton will be talking as will Marie Haley of The Seventh Generation Tours giving a history talk about the Big History of Akaroa.

9:30am-6:30pm: French Market

The French Market – Le Marché Français More stalls than ever! FREE Family Fun Day! Featuring local artisan food and wine, free family fun games to entertain, and live music on The Festival Rotunda all day. Lots of things for the kids to do from free French traditional games, a petting zoo and of course a bouncy castle!

Le Cafe Monet Definitely check out our fantastique, brand new French Cafe – tables and chairs, sun flowers and gingham tablecloths.The Festival Troubadours and an accordion play will rove in and out to entertain.  Have your portrait drawn by an artist from the Arts Council! 

7:00pm: Grand Marquee at the Akaroa Recreation Ground

CLICK HERE for Tickets: eventfinda.co.nz/2023/Akaroa-French-Festival-Le-Cabaret

The Lady Killers, Gypsy Jazz, The Wellington Sea Shanty Society, Burlesque, Le Can Can, Le Mullet Man MC

Don’t miss out on this exclusive ticketed adult event, it’s the Party of the French Festival! The Biggest and Best Akaroa Festival!

Sunday 8th October 2023

1:00pm-2:00pm Le Cirque du Croissant!

In the Big Top Heritage Tent at the Akaroa Recreation Ground. Tickets are $10 + fees CLICK HERE for tickets from Eventfinda.co.nz

10:30am to 3:30pm: Vintage Market

On the Akaroa Recreation Ground Time to relax at the Akaroa French Festival 2023, unwind from an amazing weekend with the French inspired Le Broccante a antiques and collectables fair plus car boot sale and food stalls, again at the Akaroa Recreation Ground. 

Le Bubbly Breakfast in Cafe Monet The perfect Sunday morning solutions to the night before – French bubbles, bacon and hot croissants! Served all day alongside our specialised French food options.

Antiques and Collectables Fair – Le Brocante A French inspired antiques and collectables fair. Share those treasures from the attic and come hunting!

The Festival Market By popular demand! Our visitors wanted more, so here it is – a second day of our fantastique market. Our food and local wine vendors. Kid-Centric bands play on the Festival Rotunda. Let’s showcase our young people and our local community musicians who will play all day on The Festival Rotunda. 

Akaroa French Festival Parking:

Free parking is available around the streets of Akaroa village, but limited by the main beach and waterfront. Please don’t drink and drive.

Accomodation:

Beaufort House Akaroa are offering a Akaroa French Festival Special:

2 night’s accommodation & breakfast Special Offer Normally $975.00 – ‘French Festival Special’ $850.00

A complimentary bottle of French Bubbles – to enjoy at your leisure!

The BEST things to do in Akaroa While You are HERE!

Watch out for the Rumoured Akaroa French Film Festival at Ethels Cinema.

French Akaroa – All You Need to Know

Comte de Paris – Find out More about the Original European Settlers

While in Akaroa – Absorb New Zealand’s Remarkable History

Takapūneke – Akaroa’s Newest Attraction

Akaroa French Festival Authentic History Tour

Authentic heritage tour from a seventh generation French descendant are still operating over the Akaroa French Festival weekend 6-8 October and are the real thing! Book now.

Learn about Maori history, first contact, European settlement, the Treaty of Waitangi, the ‘race for Akaroa’, the French settlement and my amazing ancestors stories. Connect to Akaroa in a way that you never will have before, explore the conservation projects and breathtaking scenery that will leave you with hope for the future and inspiration right now. *ALL reviews are 5 star! There is nothing else like it.

This tour will take you to four of the most important landmarks in New Zealand, telling the full incredible history of New Zealand from the very first Polynesian explorers and settlers, the first Maori interactions with European settlers and the bloody massacre by Te Rauparaha at Takapuneke that bought the first Brittish resident to New Zealand. The United Tribes Declaration of Independence and the signing of The Treaty of Waitangi on the shores of Akaroa Harbours and the Race for Akaroa. 

Learn about the French settlement by a descendant who’s ancestor was here pre-Treaty and bought in the Napoleon Willow. Make a meaningful connection to the familiar place of Akaroa by enjoying homemade afternoon tea in one of the most beautiful parks in the world. Learn from a conservation ecologist the destruction and then protection of the native landscapes of Banks Peninsula, visiting Hinewai Reserve and the Wildside conservation project. 

Be inspired with a vision for the seventh generation into the future and leave feeling a deep sense of hope and connection to beautiful Akaroa. All in one incredible three hour tour! “Possibly the best tour, ever, anywhere”.