The introduction of an annual country fair that organisers hope will put a small North Otago township "on the map" is still three months away from becoming a reality, but stallholders have already come to the party in droves.
Maheno Country Fair organiser Helen Cooper said she had "ambitious" plans for the inaugural fair, and was hopeful the event would eventually become as popular in the South Island as the Manukau and Martinborough fairs were in the North Island.
Ms Cooper said 40 stallholders had already registered to take part in the fair, which would be held at the Maheno Tavern car park on November 3, and she expected more to come on board in the coming weeks.
"I am really happy, because most of them are local people, which is quite good, but I would like some outside people, too."
She said live music, face-painting and craft stalls had been organised, and local schools had also volunteered to run a creche and food stalls.
"It's going to be an annual thing, hopefully every first Saturday of November."
