Remarkable choice when market opens next month

Remarkables Park will officially launch its European-inspired summer weekend market on December 4, with traders advised to register early to guarantee their place.

It will bring the number of markets in the resort to three - with the long-running Queenstown Arts and Crafts Market established on Earnslaw Park every Saturday and the Queenstown Farmers' Market, which will also begin on December 4, located at St Peter's Parish Church grounds in the Queenstown CBD.

Remarkables Park special projects co-ordinator Olivia Porter said the new Saturday morning shopping experience would provide locals and visitors with a place to "browse, shop, enjoy a coffee, or have brunch in a sunny location".

A highlight of the market will be the stall run by Simon Tiefenbach, of Wanaka's Deep Creek Delicatessen.

Mr Tiefenbach won the supreme award at the 2010 Great New Zealand Sausage Competition last week for his pork and fennel gourmet sausage, with his sausages also winning three golds and one silver award.

Ms Porter said the market, which would be housed "in and around a red farm barn", would be running every Saturday from 8am to 1pm until the end of April, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

The market would feature independent artisans, gastronomes, growers, vineyards and farmers selling fresh seasonal produce and locally produced high-quality crafts.

They included 3 Little Rascals, Arrowtown's Bonjour Cafe, Jackson Cupid Coffee Cart, Crisp & Vale, Snag Man, Peonies2U, Dam Good Fruit, Big Fat Cherry Company, Southern Jewels, Gourmet Kitchen, Fresh Fish Brothers, Waitiri Creek, Mayo Homewards, Ngara Nifty Notions, Sarah Ryder Design, Precious Peonies, Simply Crafty Gift Design and Amalka artisan sourdough.

Ms Porter said locally produced sausages, cheese, cured meats, French bread and pastries, free range eggs, cupcakes and locally made Christmas cakes, chocolate brownies, jewellery, kitchen and giftware, wooden toys and "retro" kids' clothing would be on offer.

"It looks set to be a hugely popular Saturday morning event for locals and visitors to the region."

The market would also welcome musicians and buskers looking to provide entertainment, with plenty of opportunities for clubs, schools and not-for-profit organisations to raise funds.

Applications from traders were still being accepted, with vendors able to secure their stalls in advance for 20-week, 10-week or weekly periods.