Agfest, the West Coast's biggest event, is coming to the Greymouth Aerodrome again this April 12-13.

The event had previously been held in Spring due to Covid restrictions, but was now back at its traditional time of Autumn, which farmers have welcomed, event co-owner Andy Thompson says.

"Farmers and contractors prefer the autumn date due to time availability, and the weather is more settled at this time of year," Thompson said.

The biennial event, which is in its seventh year, sees around 15,000 visitors through its gates over the two days.

Thompson said the event caters for both rural and townspeople, with a good mixture of both attending.

"It's a rural event, but we do have a large non-rural crowd that comes along, so we make sure we have something that will interest them."

Sturgeon Amusements will provide fairground rides for children, and there will be retail stands and a vast selection of food sites and entertainment.

The hotly-contested Creative Gumboot competition is back, with entries closing at 9 am on Friday, April 12, and judging on Saturday, April 13.

Thompson describes Agfest as "like an A&P show, but without the animals".

"We want townspeople just to walk around and sample what a rural field day is all about."

For farmers, there will be all the usual trade sites and opportunities to network and connect.

"The rural population come to do their purchasing and research.

"There are a lot of products sold, but also a lot of rural professionals providing information to the rural community as well."

Attendees and exhibitors come from all over the South Island, with the event boosting the Greymouth economy.

"It's a big event for the local economy for that week. Several hundred exhibitors from all over the South Island come in over the two days, and then we get all the people coming to the event.

"So accommodation and bars are full."

Agfest supports a charity each year, and this year, the event has aligned with Rānui House and the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust.

Rānui House provides accommodation and support to patients and their families who are visiting Christchurch for medical treatments such as chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, heart surgery, high-risk pregnancies, neonatal care and kidney transplants.

Bone Marrow Trust chief executive Mandy Kennedy said the trust was excited to be a charity partner of Agfest.

"We serve families from all over the South Island at Rānui House, and approximately a third of them come from the West Coast.

"We are opening a new house, Rānui Apartments, later this year because we are full virtually all of the time.

"We would like to use the funds that we have raised at Agfest to put towards our new house so that we can serve more families from the West Coast in the future."

Funds for the charity will be raised at Agfest through a tug-of-war, charity auction and donations at the gate.

by Claire Inkson