Thames Market
The Thames Market is a weekly Saturday market at the top end of Pollen Street in the historic Grahamstown quarter of Thames. It runs every Saturday from 8am to 12pm and is one of the Coromandel’s favourite local markets, a great way to start a weekend in Thames.
What you will find
- Fresh fruit, vegetables, plants and flowers
- Arts, crafts and collectibles
- Fine food
- A friendly community atmosphere in Grahamstown
When and where
The market runs every Saturday, 8am to 12pm, at the top (northern) end of Pollen Street in Grahamstown, around the 700 block. It is an easy walk from the town centre and most accommodation.
For weekly updates and stallholder enquiries, see the Thames Market Facebook page.
Make a morning of it
Pair a market visit with breakfast on Pollen Street, browse the shops in the Thames business directory, and see more of the town’s events and things to do.
Tips for market day
- Arrive early for the best choice; the market finishes at midday.
- Walk on down Pollen Street past the goldrush-era shopfronts covered in our historical Thames guide.
- Staying the weekend? See our 48 hours in Thames itinerary.
How long has the Thames Market been running?
Since 1995. Local paper The Valley Profile reported in September 2025, as the market reached 30 years, that it was opened in Grahamstown by Dianne and Peter McKinnon. Angelika and Peter Poeschl ran it from February 2009 to June 2021, and Jiani Ranay has owned it since June 2021.
The paper put the market at around 45 stalls in the peak of summer and about 30 over winter. "The radio station said it would only last three months. It's still here, 30 years later," Peter McKinnon told the paper.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Market opened in Grahamstown by Dianne and Peter McKinnon |
| 2009 | Angelika and Peter Poeschl take over (February) |
| 2021 | Jiani Ranay becomes the owner (June) |
| 2025 | The market marks 30 years |
Is there a makers market in Thames too?
Yes. The separate Thames Makers Market sells handmade goods, from clothing to collage art, on the last Saturday of each month. Creative Coromandel's event listing gives the times as 9am to 1pm at the Grahamstown Community Hall, 760 Pollen Street, with free entry. It is a short walk from the Saturday market, so on the last Saturday of the month you can visit both. Check the listing before you go, as dates can change.
After the market, many visitors head inland for a walk. The Pinnacles walk starts at the end of the Kauaeranga Valley Road, or try the flat Thames Coastal Walkway along the waterfront.
Sources: The Valley Profile, Market memories (10 September 2025); Creative Coromandel, Thames Makers Market.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Thames Market?
The Thames Market runs every Saturday from 8am to 12pm at the top end of Pollen Street in Grahamstown, Thames.
Where is the Thames Market?
The market is at the top (northern) end of Pollen Street in Grahamstown, around the 700 block, an easy walk from the Thames town centre.
What can I buy at the Thames Market?
Stalls sell fresh fruit and vegetables, plants and flowers, arts, crafts and collectibles, and fine food.