Environmental Health 

Food Festivals

What is a Food Festival

Food festivals are events where food operators can sell their products from caravans, carts, stalls or off-site premises.

Timaru’s best known festivals include the Festival of Roses and South Canterbury Hospice Wine & Food Festival.

Anyone wanting to organise such a festival will need to ensure that contact is made with Environmental Health staff well in advance of the event.

Environmental Health Officers can give advice on health requirements to keep food safe including refrigeration, water supply , waste water disposal, toilets.

They can also advise if there are other council staff that you will need to talk to.

Festival Food Stalls

All food for sale must be prepared on registered food premises. Basic preparation can be done on-site on the day subject to the stall meeting the health requirements.

Festival Permit

You must obtain permission from Council’s Environmental Health Unit.

One licence will be issued to cover the entire event and a fee will be charged to cover administration and inspection costs that arise.

Before a licence will be issued, all food vendors must complete and return a Food Stall Application Form                                                                                                     

The organiser will need to ensure all food stall operators return the form within the stipulated time frame (one week before the event).

All details must be completed and described as clearly as possible.

An Environmental Health Officer will contact the operators directly if further information or clarification is required.