The summer event season is set to hit high gear with the return of Whanganui Vintage Weekend.

This year’s edition, held over Wellington Anniversary weekend, features 35 official events but Vintage Weekend Trust chairman Bruce Jellyman said there was “a myriad of extras” on offer.

“Stuff just seems to turn up and it still amazes me,” he said.

“The shape of it still looks similar but there are some really cool add-ons, and pre existing events are finding interesting ways to keep themselves interesting.”

He said for the first time in years, Steam Incorporated would bring a steam locomotive - Ja1271 - to the event.

“Getting a train here is not easy to do and it would be amazing if people supported it.

“They are doing a whole bunch of different trips − some across town and some out beyond Kai Iwi.”

Other events include the Mainstreet Caboodle (music over three stages, street performers through the CBD, a vintage toy market, food, fashion and classic cars), a street party on Drews Ave, markets featuring over 150 stalls, and the Wanganui Aero Club open day.

“There’s also the retro bike ride, which is kind of new,” Jellyman said.

“You get your old vintage banger out of the garage and off you go.

“The whole weekend is a quirky old thing.”

He said the soapbox derby down Drews Ave was “having a year off” but would return in the future.

Major sponsors are the Whanganui District Council, Property Brokers and Mainstreet Whanganui.

The council put in $27,500, slightly less than in 2024 ($30,000).

Jellyman said funding was hard to come by this year and it would be a major challenge for the event’s viability in the future.

“That wouldn’t be unusual, I presume, for most events,” he said.

“We’re always working on it. If anyone out there has a pot of money, that would be great.”

Bruce Jellyman in action during the 2021 Whanganui Vintage Weekend. Photo / Supplied

Last year, an estimated 29,000 people attended events across the weekend - 5000 of whom were from out of town.

Around $4.9 million was generated, the most since Vintage Weekend began in 2012.

Jellyman said what had been created over the years with the funding available was “outstanding”.

“There are a lot of supporters and without them, none of this would happen,” he said.

“It costs money to just organise the programme, let alone putting anything on.”

He said accommodation was always a challenge over the weekend but the variety on offer was increasing.

Camping will be available at Whanganui Intermediate School through the All Points Camping Club and the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association will set up the Whanganui Racecourse for the weekend.

“We have done a lot of PR between here and Wellington,” Jellyman said.

“People down to Levin can go on a day trip but Wellington down-towners will be looking for accommodation.

“We need to make sure what we have is chocka.”

Whanganui bus services will be free on January 18 and January 20, with the high-frequency Te Ngaru The Tide route operating every 20 minutes from 7am to 7pm, then hourly until 11pm.

Jellyman said there were other vintage celebrations in New Zealand “but nothing like this”.

“It’s bananas and it’s really a whole community thing.

“Young families turn up and you see mums and dads and children all having a big dance in the street together.

“That’s the kind of thing those kids will always remember.”

Whanganui Vintage Weekend kicks off with a performance by Damn Raucous Brass at Porridge Watson on Friday, January 17.

As of Monday afternoon Metservice is predicting daytime highs of between 26C and 28C from Friday to Sunday, with a few showers expected on Sunday.

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.