More than twenty-five premium cider producers will congregate at Founders Heritage Park in Nelson to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the New Zealand Cider Festival! Happening on November 1 from 12 PM onwards, barrels will roll and taps will flow with over 100 cider varieties winched from some of the region’s finest cider makers. Tickets to NZ Cider Festival 2025 are available on Ticket Fairy.
Along with the assortment of ciders, you’ll find local beer, meads, brandy wine, cider cocktails, live music, a range of food trucks (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free selections), and cider workshops hosted by leading experts in the field.
Attendees aged 18 years and above are welcome to sip, savor, and quench their thirst with offerings from top cider producers, including Zeffer, Hairy Horse Cider, Old Mout Cider, Orchard Thieves, Morningcider, Old Cider Mill, The Mussel Inn, Elemental Cider, Bohemian Cider, Peckham’s Cider, and Undisturbed Meadery, to name a few.
Masterclasses and workshops take shape in sessions such as Common Food, Uncommon Cider by Yvonne Lorkin (Drinks Editor, Dish Magazine), John Powell (Director at Cider Apples NZ), as well as Mead: The Modern Elixir with Sam Callander of Undisturbed Meadery.
As for the musical accompaniment, the New Zealand Cider festival will pour out performances from five-piece cover band Summer’s Sons, folk and blues singer Lachie Hayes, Nelson’s festival favorite DJ Tunesifter, 17-year-old R&B sensation Imani-J, and indie rock crew Coast Arcade.
Auckland-based rockers Coast Arcade join the line-up as part of their The Home Run Tour, in support of their self-titled debut album, which arrives on October 17. Meanwhile, Imani-J takes to the stage fresh off the release of her four-track EP ‘EXPECATIONS.’
Imani-J is fired up and looking forward to making her return to Cider Fest. She told us, “I honestly can’t wait to play at Cider Fest this year! What makes it extra special is that I actually performed here when I was just 15. Since then, I’ve evolved so much as an artist, and I’m super excited to showcase my new sound and the new music I’ve been working on!”
The rising Afrobeat and R&B artist is set to deliver a high-energy performance on stage. “It means a lot to return to this festival — it’s such a fun and vibrant celebration, and I feel lucky to be part of such a great lineup again.”
Imani-J also gave us a glimpse into what attendees can expect from her performance. She shared, ”My upcoming set will be a mixture of songs from my debut EP ‘EXPECTATIONS’, some covers, and even some brand-new music I’ve been working on. I’m an Afrobeats and R&B artist, so I hope everyone’s ready to dance with me.”
Southland-born musician and gifted storyteller Lachie Hayes shared his excitement with us ahead of the show. “Our performance is a completely authentic and sometimes wild ride through country, rock, and blues. We aim always to deliver an exciting time and leave people feeling as though they have had an experience,” said Hayes. “It means a great deal to us to be performing at the festival, as it is the first time some of us have performed in that part of the country before. We are really looking forward to it.“
Lachie Hayes and his traveling band dart to Nelson as part of a run of shows supporting his debut 11-track album, ‘Subsatellite.’
We also heard from DJ Tunesifter, who brings his over 25 years of experience behind the decks. He is penciled in to perform two distinctive sets at the festival, one to open the festival mainstage and the other a vinyl-only special.
“I love playing at festivals, especially opening sets. I get to set the scene as people walk in and get started on tasting amazing ciders on a great sound system,” expressed DJ Tunesifter. “My upcoming sets will take people on a journey through music they know and love, alongside hidden gems they’re about to discover.”
On the vinyl session, Tunesifter remarked, “In this age of streaming and audience requests, I’m thrilled to offer something different—asking the people to trust the DJ and let me make magic with just two crates of carefully selected vinyl. There’s something special about the commitment of vinyl DJing that creates its own energy and surprises.”
“Performing at Cider Fest represents the perfect fusion of my passions—great music, supporting local artisans and a great sound system (with the proven Marchfest organizers at the helm). There’s something choice about watching people discover both incredible ciders and incredible music simultaneously. It’s about creating moments where the setting, the drinks, and the soundtrack align perfectly,” stated Tunesifter to wrap up our exchange.
The New Zealand Cider Festival is supported by the Nelson Events Marketing & Development Programme, which is funded by the Nelson City Council. Early bird tickets to this family-friendly event are sold out. Entry is free for those under 18 when accompanied by a paying adult.
Grab your tickets to The New Zealand Cider Festival in Nelson at Founders Heritage Park via Ticket Fairy
For more information, head on to https://www.nzciderfestival.com/
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