ILT Stadium Southland is hosting its very first own indoor markets event this weekend, designed to support local businesses and bring some buzz back into Invercargill post lockdown. 

Eighty-six businesses from around Southland and Otago will be selling their products in one giant indoor market, called ‘Love Local’, set up across three netball courts at the stadium.

ILT Stadium Southland General manager Nigel Skelt said the Love Local market was a great opportunity for the community to have a fun day out, enjoy some food and live music and ultimately – shop and support local. 

Ninety-nine stalls in total have been set up with an array of local options on offer from food, clothing, arts, crafts, car accessories and plants. 

The Love Local market idea was thought up by the stadium management team during lockdown after the popular crafts show – Southern Crafts Market – which is usually held in the July school holidays at ILT Stadium Southland, was cancelled due to uncertainty around COVID-19 restrictions.

ILT Stadium Southland Programme and Events manager Alex Morrison-Bailey said the idea was to “fill the gap” that the Southern Crafts Market left, and create a fun event that would support local businesses while at the same time bring more business back into the stadium. 

She said they were blown away with the positive response from local businesses. 

“When we first released [the Love Local spots] it filled up quickly. It was initially only meant to be 55 stalls across two netball courts, but we ended up extending it to 99 stalls to fit everyone in.”

ILT Stadium Southland programme and events manager Alex Morrison-Bailey is excited to be bringing a focus on local businesses back to the stadium this weekend in the first such event post lockdown. PHOTO: Lucy Henry

Lisa and Craig Wadsworth own local clothing brand Wadzee Fashion Design and are running a stall at Love Local this weekend. 

Mrs Wadsworth said it was “really cool,” to have the opportunity to be selling their garments at the market as they had missed being able to connect with their customers face to face after operating totally online during lockdown. 

Entry to Love Local is free and the market will run from 10am to 4pm on today and tomorrow (July 11 and 12).