---
title: "Clocktower Gardens Events & Tickets, Ashburton"
description: "Discover events at Clocktower Gardens in Ashburton, from free food festivals to Christmas celebrations, with practical parking, access and venue information."
canonical: "https://www.ticketfairy.com/events-in-ashburton--canterbury--nz/clocktower-gardens"
---

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3. [Events in Ashburton, Canterbury](https://www.ticketfairy.com/events-in-ashburton--canterbury--nz)
4. Clocktower Gardens Events

# Events and What’s On at Clocktower Gardens

Find the best [events in Ashburton, Canterbury](https://www.ticketfairy.com/events-in-ashburton--canterbury--nz). This page updates daily to showcase parties, concerts, nightlife, festivals, DJ events, clubs, music festivals, things to do, and much more…

        Search events...                   [![Ashburton Long Lunch *Postponed* flyer](https://www.ticketfairy.com/uploaded/thumbnails/db_file_img_18747_300xauto.jpg)](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event/ashburton-long-lunch-27mar2021)

### [Ashburton Long Lunch \*Postponed\*](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event/ashburton-long-lunch-27mar2021)

12:00 PM, Sat, 27 Mar 2021

Mar

27

Clocktower Gardens

Ashburton

###

### Events and Programming

Clocktower Gardens is the informal name often used for the open civic space surrounding Ashburton’s clock tower in Baring Square East. The official council name is **Baring Square East**; it is classified as a public garden and civic space rather than a conventional concert venue. Its programming is therefore centred on community events, food festivals, family celebrations and occasional outdoor performances rather than a year-round programme of touring artists.

The strongest recurring events are **Light up the Night** and the **Hakatere Noodle Festival**, renamed the **Hakatere Food Festival** for 2026. These events use temporary stages, food stalls, road closures and event infrastructure installed for the occasion. Admission has generally been free, with visitors paying separately for food, drinks or optional activities.

The documented recent programme includes the following:

- **2021:** An Ashburton Long Lunch was promoted for the gardens, with restaurant-created menus and licensed drinks, but the event listing later identified it as postponed. It is useful evidence of the type of special ticketed hospitality event the setting can support, rather than evidence of a successfully completed performance. [ticketfairy.com](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event/ashburton-long-lunch-27mar2021)
- **2022:** Baring Square East hosted a public emergency-preparedness demonstration involving Fire and Emergency, St John, Land Search and Rescue and Civil Defence representatives. It was an educational community gathering rather than a ticketed entertainment event.
- **2023:** The square was undergoing its major redevelopment alongside the new library and civic centre, so the available public record focuses on construction and design rather than a substantial event programme.
- **2024:** The Hakatere Noodle Festival brought around 20 food vendors, global cuisines and live entertainment to the square. Light up the Night returned with food trucks, music, dance, Santa and the lighting of a six-metre Christmas tree. About 7,000 people attended the Christmas event.
- **2025:** The Hakatere Noodle Festival returned with about 20 food and dessert vendors, a family zone, newcomer stories, interactive art and entertainment. Council also began promoting Baring Square East more actively as a location for future markets and public events.
- **2026:** The Hakatere Food Festival is scheduled for 12 September, with live performances, interactive family activities and an expected attendance of up to 5,000 people. Light up the Night is scheduled for 28 November with live music, performances, Santa and the lighting of the town Christmas tree.

Food-truck gatherings have also become part of the square’s character. In 2024, local vendors operated a Friday mini food court near the clock tower, with customers using the gardens as an informal outdoor dining area. The participating operators described the site as picturesque and reported positive customer feedback, although this was a temporary trading arrangement rather than a permanent weekly venue programme.

Visitors should not expect a regular schedule of theatre productions, headline concerts or club nights. The evidence points to a civic events model: free, family-friendly, locally programmed and concentrated around spring, summer and the Christmas period.

### Tickets and Booking

Most events at Clocktower Gardens are free and do not require a ticket. This includes the Hakatere Food Festival and Light up the Night. Food, drinks and some activities are paid for separately on site. The setting does not have a permanent box office, ticket window or venue-controlled seating allocation.

Occasional special events may charge an entry fee or sell meal packages. The 2021 Ashburton Long Lunch listing showed restaurant menus priced at roughly NZ$70–$85 per person, including event-related fees, although that particular event was postponed. Treat this as an example of past special-event pricing, not a current standard price. [ticketfairy.com](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event/ashburton-long-lunch-27mar2021)

For free festivals, arriving early is the best strategy for a good position near the stage, easier food-truck access and less pressure on nearby parking. For events with food vendors, bring a payment method suitable for small local traders and allow extra time for queues. Event details, road closures and any ticket requirements vary by occasion.

Organisers wishing to use the square must apply for an Ashburton District Council event permit when an event is public, uses the space exclusively, includes amplified sound, food vendors, alcohol, structures, amusements or significant numbers of people. Applications generally need to be made at least four weeks ahead, while road-closure requests require at least ten weeks.

### About Clocktower Gardens

Clocktower Gardens is best understood as a landscaped town square, not a purpose-built venue. It occupies Baring Square East in central Ashburton, beside Te Whare Whakatere, the Ashburton Library and Civic Centre. The council describes the area as a civic space featuring seating, amenity planting, water features and the distinctive concrete arbours commonly known as the “whalebones”.

No authoritative source publishes a fixed event capacity, auditorium capacity or standard crowd limit for Clocktower Gardens. There is no permanent grandstand, theatre seating bank or defined VIP area. Crowd size depends on the event layout, temporary stages, food stalls, pedestrian routes, road closures, weather and the safety plan approved for that occasion.

The square’s present identity developed over a long period. It was first surveyed in 1863 and began as a patch of village green. Tall pines and macrocarpa were cleared in 1892, after which ornamental trees and grass continued to shape the space as a gathering place.

The clock itself began life in Ashburton’s former Post Office tower. The Wilson Littlejohn clock was installed there in 1904, but the tower was removed after earthquake concerns and the mechanism was placed in storage. Ashburton Lions Club volunteers restored the clock in the 1970s. A new tower was built in Baring Square East as part of the Ashburton County centennial project, and the clock and chimes were recommissioned on 26 November 1976.

The clock tower was designed by Warren and Mahoney and became one of Ashburton’s defining landmarks. It received a New Zealand Institute of Architects local award in 1978 and an “Enduring Architecture” award in 2004. A seismic upgrade followed the Canterbury earthquakes, strengthening the tower’s concrete structure and belfry.

### Seating and Layout

The gardens have public seating, lawns, paved areas, planted sections, water features and the clock tower as the central visual landmark. Event layouts are temporary, so there is no permanent seating chart or “best seat” in the usual theatre sense.

For live music, the clearest view will normally be from the open lawn facing the temporary stage. Standing near the rear or side can provide a less crowded experience and an easier route to food stalls and exits. Families may prefer the lawn areas, while visitors wanting to appreciate the clock, water feature and architecture should explore the square before the crowd builds.

Blankets are appropriate for many community events, but visitors should check the conditions for each occasion. Temporary chairs, marquees, barriers and food trucks may change the usable layout. The square’s open-air acoustics are affected by surrounding streets, buildings, wind and audience noise. There is no published fixed acoustic specification or installed concert sound system.

### Getting There and Parking

Clocktower Gardens is in Baring Square East, Ashburton, beside East Street and the new civic centre at 2 Baring Square East. It sits in the central business district, within easy walking distance of shops, cafés and other civic facilities.

The redeveloped square includes public angled parking. Council documentation identified 18 public angled bays associated with the new library and civic centre, while surrounding streets have varying time restrictions. Two mobility parks are located outside the neighbouring Methodist church. Always follow the signs in place on the day, particularly during festivals when spaces may be reserved or roads closed.

For longer stays, the West Street car park is the most clearly documented option. Council information lists 142 all-day spaces, 83 three-hour spaces and two mobility spaces. From there, walk through the central Ashburton business area towards East Street and Baring Square East.

Ashburton does not currently have a regular public bus service. The Mid Canterbury Connector offers an on-demand community transport service for people who do not drive or cannot drive, operating Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm with advance booking required. Interregional bus and shuttle services connect Ashburton with larger Canterbury and South Island centres, but the exact stop and timetable should be checked for the date of travel.

For major events, walking or arriving well before the start is preferable to trying to park directly beside the square. Road closures have been used for both the Noodle Festival and Light up the Night, and event traffic can affect the surrounding CBD.

### Inside the Venue

There is no enclosed entrance lobby or standard security checkpoint. Visitors arrive directly into the public square, with event-specific barriers, information points and crowd-management arrangements added when required.

Food and drink provision varies by event. The Hakatere festivals have used around 20 food and dessert vendors, while Light up the Night has included food trucks and nearby café trading. The 2024 Christmas event also provided a waste station and encouraged visitors to bring clean reusable containers.

Restroom provision is event-dependent. Council rules place responsibility on event organisers to provide adequate, clean and well-lit toilet facilities, including accessible facilities where required. Do not assume that casual public amenities will be sufficient for a large festival.

The clock tower provides one of the square’s most unusual features. Its mechanism and illuminated faces are visible as part of the landmark, while LED strip lighting can be changed for campaigns, commemorations and seasonal displays. Council has used orange, purple and multicolour lighting for awareness campaigns and festive periods.

### Nearby Amenities

The square is surrounded by Ashburton’s central shops, cafés and civic buildings. Te Whare Whakatere contains the Ashburton Library, community meeting spaces, a performance space, maker facilities, a learning lab and an audio-visual studio. The library also provides free internet access and runs regular community programmes, although these are indoor activities rather than Clocktower Gardens events.

One Ninety Nine café has traded directly beside the square and has extended its hours for at least some major events. Temporary food courts and food trucks are common during festivals, so visitors often treat the gardens as both an event space and an outdoor dining area.

For evening events, arrive early enough to eat before the busiest part of the programme. Afterward, central Ashburton is compact, but visitors should arrange their own late-night taxi or designated-driver plan because there is no regular local bus network.

### What Makes This Venue Special

The appeal of Clocktower Gardens comes from the combination of civic history and informal outdoor use. The working clock, the chimes, the water feature, the surviving concrete arbours and the surrounding planting give the space a recognisable local identity that a temporary festival site would not have.

The restored clock is particularly important to Ashburton. It links the present-day square with the former Post Office, the town’s earthquake history and the volunteer work that brought the mechanism back into public life. The square also retains the John Grigg memorial, commemorating the Longbeach pioneer and frozen-meat and dairy-export entrepreneur.

The 2023 redevelopment retained key historic elements while adding a paved civic plaza, a one-way road, angle parking, new planting and better connections to the library and civic centre. The design brief specifically allowed for future event power and lighting, showing that public programming was part of the redevelopment rather than an afterthought.

Its cultural importance is most visible during the Hakatere festivals. Food from Filipino, Indian, Nepalese, Pacific, South American and other communities is presented alongside newcomer stories, family activities and live entertainment. Council describes the event as a way to strengthen belonging and recognise the contribution of newcomers to Mid Canterbury’s social and economic life.

### Visitor Tips and Information

Clocktower Gardens is an outdoor civic space, so dress for Canterbury weather rather than for a theatre. Bring sun protection during daytime events and warm layers for spring or evening celebrations. Wet-weather arrangements are event-specific; Council does not automatically provide an indoor alternative for outdoor bookings.

There is no published venue-wide bag policy, dress code, photography restriction or age restriction. Individual organisers may introduce conditions for alcohol, food, commercial photography, temporary structures or licensed areas. Check the event information before arrival rather than assuming that rules from one festival apply to another.

Visitors using wheelchairs or mobility aids should plan around the event layout, since temporary stalls, stages and crowds can change the easiest route. Mobility parking is available in the surrounding area, and the adjacent library and civic centre has been described as wheelchair accessible. However, a separate comprehensive accessibility audit for the gardens themselves has not been published.

For event organisers, the important practical requirements include an event permit, a site plan, risk and safety documentation, traffic management where roads or pedestrian routes are affected, food permits where applicable, special licensing for alcohol and suitable toilet provision. Only essential vehicles may remain in the event area, and pedestrian access must be maintained.

### Frequently Asked Questions

#### Is Clocktower Gardens the official name of the venue?

No. The formal council name is Baring Square East. “Clocktower Gardens” is an informal or listing-site name referring to the landscaped civic space around Ashburton’s clock tower. When travelling, searching for Baring Square East or 2 Baring Square East will give the clearest location for events beside the library and civic centre.

#### What kind of events are held at Clocktower Gardens?

The venue is mainly used for free community festivals, multicultural food events, Christmas celebrations, family activities, public exhibitions and occasional live entertainment. It is not programmed like a theatre or indoor concert hall. The most established events are the Hakatere Food Festival and Light up the Night, with additional markets and temporary food-truck gatherings appearing from time to time.

#### Are events at Clocktower Gardens usually free?

Yes. The major documented events have offered free admission, including the Hakatere Noodle Festival, the renamed Hakatere Food Festival and Light up the Night. Visitors normally pay vendors directly for meals, desserts and drinks. A separate ticketed lunch was promoted in 2021, showing that special hospitality events are possible, but it was postponed rather than becoming a standard recurring ticketed programme.

#### Does Clocktower Gardens have a permanent stage?

No permanent stage is documented. Major events bring in temporary staging, sound equipment, barriers, food stalls and lighting. The redevelopment allowed for future event power and lighting, which improves the square’s usefulness, but the technical equipment is supplied and configured for each event. Production quality, stage size and amplification therefore vary between organisers.

#### What is the capacity of Clocktower Gardens?

No official fixed capacity is published. The usable crowd area changes according to the event plan, temporary structures, food vendors, pedestrian routes, road closures and safety requirements. It should not be compared with a 500-seat auditorium. Organisers must submit site and safety information, and the approved layout determines the practical attendance limit for each event.

#### Does Clocktower Gardens have reserved seating?

There is no permanent reserved seating plan, grandstand or documented VIP section. The square provides ordinary public seating, lawns and paved areas. Festivals may add temporary chairs, tables or seating zones, while other events may be designed for standing or picnic blankets. Arriving early gives visitors the best choice of position and easier access to facilities.

#### Can I bring a picnic blanket?

Picnic blankets are suitable for many of the square’s family and seasonal events, particularly celebrations designed around lawns and outdoor dining. Conditions may change if a specific event uses most of the space for stalls, temporary flooring or controlled pedestrian routes. Keep pathways, entrances and emergency access clear, and follow instructions from event staff.

#### Where is Clocktower Gardens located?

It is in Baring Square East in central Ashburton, beside East Street and the Te Whare Whakatere library and civic centre. The civic-centre address is 2 Baring Square East, Ashburton. The clock tower is the most recognisable landmark, so visitors arriving in the CBD should be able to identify the square easily.

#### Is parking available at the gardens?

Yes, public angled parking was provided as part of the square redevelopment, and additional time-restricted parking is available on nearby streets. Council documentation also identifies longer-stay parking at the West Street car park. During festivals, nearby spaces may be affected by road closures, reserved mobility parking or event operations, so arriving early is advisable.

#### Is parking free near Clocktower Gardens?

Some nearby street parking and the West Street car park have been documented as free but time restricted. Conditions vary by street and can change for special events. Read the signs carefully, particularly for time limits and mobility spaces. Do not assume that every central Ashburton parking area has the same rules or operating hours.

#### Is there public transport to Clocktower Gardens?

Ashburton does not currently have a regular local public bus service. The Mid Canterbury Connector provides on-demand community transport for people who do not drive, generally operating on weekdays between 9am and 4.30pm with advance booking. Interregional buses and shuttles serve Ashburton, but their stops and timetables should be confirmed for the travel date.

#### Are there accessible facilities?

Mobility parking is available in the surrounding area, including spaces near the Methodist church, and the neighbouring library and civic centre has been described as wheelchair accessible. The gardens are an outdoor public space whose accessibility can be affected by temporary event equipment. Event organisers are responsible for providing suitable accessible toilets and maintaining clear pedestrian access.

#### Does the venue have toilets?

Toilet arrangements depend on the event. Council event guidance makes organisers responsible for providing enough clean, stocked and well-lit facilities, including accessible toilets where required. Major events may use nearby civic facilities or temporary toilets. Visitors should check the event layout on arrival rather than assuming that casual public toilets will meet the needs of a large crowd.

#### Can alcohol be bought or brought to an event?

Alcohol rules are event-specific. Public events where alcohol is supplied or sold require the appropriate special licence, and BYO alcohol is not automatically allowed at public events. A past Long Lunch operated under a special licence and prohibited BYO. Unless an event clearly states otherwise, visitors should not assume that alcohol may be brought into the square.

#### What happens if it rains?

Clocktower Gardens has no permanent indoor event hall, so weather arrangements vary. Council guidance states that it does not provide an automatic wet-weather alternative for outdoor bookings, and late marquee installation may not be possible. Check the individual event’s updates before travelling, especially for outdoor stages, food trucks and family activities.

#### Can organisers hire Clocktower Gardens?

Use of the public square for an organised event requires council approval in circumstances such as public attendance, exclusive use, amplified sound, food vendors, alcohol, structures, amusements or traffic disruption. Applications generally require a site map, safety information and risk documentation. Road closures require longer lead times, and food, alcohol and temporary structures may need separate approvals.

#### Why is the clock tower historically important?

The clock was installed in Ashburton’s former Post Office tower in 1904 and later stored after earthquake concerns led to the tower’s removal. Ashburton Lions Club volunteers restored the mechanism in the 1970s, and it was installed in the present Warren and Mahoney tower in Baring Square East in 1976. The tower remains a major town symbol.

#### What are the “whalebones” in the gardens?

The “whalebones” are the informal local name for the surviving concrete arbours in Baring Square East. They are retained as a distinctive vertical feature of the square and form part of its architectural identity. The redevelopment kept these elements alongside the clock tower, water feature, planting and public seating rather than replacing the area with a completely new plaza.

#### What is planned for 2026 and beyond?

The Hakatere Food Festival is scheduled for 12 September 2026, replacing the former Noodle Festival name while retaining its multicultural food, family and live-performance focus. Light up the Night is scheduled for 28 November 2026. Council has also identified Baring Square East as a suitable location for future events, markets and celebrations of different sizes.

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