Founders Annual Book Fair

A nine-day event with a huge variety of second-hand books, DVDs, vinyl records, puzzles and games for sale at bargain prices.

A nine-day event with a huge variety of second-hand books, DVDs, vinyl records, puzzles and games for sale at bargain prices. This massive Book Fair is based in the Energy Centre, with an entire children's books section located in the Granary Hall. Book sections include fiction, non-fiction, biography, prose, history, travel, cooking, gardening, wellness, art, photography, and more.
Bring suitcases, bags, boxes - anything you can to load up your finds.

Open from 10am - 4.30pm every day.

The concept of the Founders Book Fair originated with Amy Brooke who was frustrated by the lack of used book shops in Nelson and shocked to discover so many unwanted books ended up as landfill. Together with friend Shona Banks, Amy organised the first book fair on 25 June 1988.  Its' objective was firstly to recycle books and secondly to raise funds for the park. 

The fair was such a success that it has become an annual event and with the help of hundreds of volunteers it has grown to be one of New Zealand's largest book fairs running for nine days each year starting on King's Birthday Weekend.  Each year there are thousands of great quality books to choose from.