The Founders Book Fair is a nine-day celebration of second-hand gems, packed with bargains and brimming with character.
From fiction to cookbooks, history to art, and everything in between, this massive sale has something for everyone. You’ll also find DVDs, vinyl records, puzzles, and games—perfect for collectors, browsers, and bargain hunters alike.
The fair is spread across Founders Heritage Park, with the main event based in the Energy Centre and a dedicated children’s section in the Granary Hall. Book sections include fiction, non-fiction, biography, prose, history, travel, cooking, gardening, wellness, art, photography, and plenty more surprises.
Open daily from 10am to 4.30pm, this is the kind of event you come prepared for. Bring bags, boxes, suitcases—anything you can to haul home your literary loot.
The concept of the Founders Book Fair was sparked by local writer Amy Brooke, who was dismayed by the lack of second-hand bookshops in Nelson and even more shocked that many unwanted books were ending up in landfills. Alongside her friend Shona Banks, she organised the very first book fair on 25 June 1988, with two simple goals: to recycle good books and raise funds for the park.
It was an instant hit.
Now, with the support of hundreds of dedicated volunteers, the Founders Book Fair has grown into one of New Zealand’s largest. Held every year over King’s Birthday Weekend, it draws thousands of book lovers from near and far, all on the hunt for a good read and a great deal.
