Welcome to Summer Festival

Book a mini-marquee at a Summer Festival event this summer.

We'd love to have your comments so we can make the events even better next year.

You may not be a true racing aficionado – but after your first experience of a Summer Festival Racing event you will definitely be planning more. The whole day is reminiscent of those great Kiwi family days at A & P shows or the local rodeo we all used to love when children. Summer Festival race days are an adventure for the whole family but there are a few little pointers we thought would help other parents looking to make the most of a fabulously informal family day at the races. So here’s our Top Ten Tips for a great family day out.

Top 10 tips for Summer Festival racedays Top 10 Summer Festival Tips

1) Prepare for the weather, check the forecast and make sure you take the appropriate clothes for the conditions. Apply sunscreen before you head to the course and have lots handy so you can top up during the day. Those portable sun shelters and/or sun umbrellas are a good idea too for a bit of shade as the day progresses (perfect for a little afternoon nap). And don’t forget the binoculars!

2) If you are going as a group with another family or two, forget taking all the equipment with you and explore the option of purchasing a raceday hospitality package. Mini marquees are available at most courses, are hassle free and you don’t have to turn up early to get the best spot on track! It’s all there for you, ready and waiting. But you will have to book one of these in advance. Go to Mini marquee webpage.

3) Leading up to the day check to see what entertainment is going to be available at the course. This will certainly help to get the kids keen. Face painting, bouncy castles or even a magician will keep the younger members of the party entertained at those times when the interest in everything else waned a bit. Knowing what is happening in advance will really help to build the excitement (as long as the parents can stand it…).

4) When you first arrive on course (and if you have decided not to take a hospitality package) find your base for the day and set up. Better to arrive early if you want the best spot track side or to be closest to the fun stuff!

5) Once you are set-up take the kids for a wander around the course. Summer Festival races have some of the most picturesque racecourses in the country. Familiarise yourself with where to find the important racing areas like the parade ring, birdcage and tote windows, and the even more important children’s entertainment area, local food and refreshments sales and of course coffee!

6) Introduce the children to the horses. Tell them all about horse racing while watching the horses in the parade ring, the jockeys and drivers in the birdcage (find out in advance why its called the birdcage though, as you won’t want to be caught out on that one…) and the horses running onto the track. Once they start racing get them to listen to the thundering sounds of the horses hooves and see if they can feel the earth shake as they run by.

7) Get involved with every race. Have each member of your party select a horse and see who comes in first. Choose by numbers, colours or names. Keep a tally for the day to see who picks the most winners! Have a prize for the champion ‘picker’. However, don’t forget in all the excitement to send an adult away to place some real bets.

8) Have a ball trying all the local food and refreshments. Cheeses and whitebait fritters are just some of the tasty delicacies you may find at a Summer Festival raceday, along with local wines, beers or orchard fresh fruit juices. The kids will get hungry and thirsty so make sure you have plenty of options for them during the day and keep the SpringFresh water bottles handy.

9) Bring the day to a close with your very own boot party on-course. Get the portable BBQ roaring or the food hamper out and reminisce about the day. This is a good time to present some prizes, like for the best picker, the best pie or sandwich maker, magic trick – whatever – make some up as you go (just make sure you have enough prizes). The kids love it (as do the adults).

10)Don’t worry about entertainment for the trip home. With painted faces and a full day of fresh air and activity eyes are closed as soon as the engine starts!! The last question will be when can we do this all again? (And the next day show them how they can turn your household broom into a champion race horse with the addition of just a piece of string……).