Lights Festival Switches On This Weekend

Artworks from local students and an internationally renowned artist will feature in this year’s TSB Bank Festival of Lights.

 

The big switch-on in Pukekura Park is this Sunday (19 December), with those attending Christmas in the Bowl able to end their evening with a walk through the park’s illuminations.

“Months of work have gone into preparing this year’s lights installations as well as the schedule of evening entertainment and the Summer Scene programme,” says Acting Manager Events Tricia Logan.

“Every day will be different in the park. People will be able to come along several times during the festival and experience something new.”

This year’s festival has a pirate theme, with people encouraged to dress in pirate costumes on those nights that Captain Featherstone and First Mate Smelly Rodgers make an appearance on the main lake.

The results of an art project through Puke Ariki’s 60 Springs programme is one of the festival’s highlights.

“These three artworks are by students from Highlands Intermediate School – Shania Rona, Lisa Richards and Mitchell Tarrant – who created their pieces out of recyclable materials,” says Ms Logan.

“Shania’s Hovering Dragonflies is the feature piece on Poet’s Bridge while Lisa’s Raupo is sited on the little island near the boat shed bridge, and Mitchell’s Giant Flowers are on the upper lake beyond the boat shed.

“We’re also lucky enough to have three digital projections by artist Tim Gruchy that will grab people’s attention as they wander through the park.”

Festival-goers will also have the chance to create solar-powered art, check out daywear and eveningwear designed to attract butterflies and moths, watch Twilight Movies in the Park, and see the very popular Grimace the Gorilla swing through the trees.

“The best part about this time of year is seeing children and adults enjoying the entertainment together, and rediscovering Pukekura Park as it is lit up as a nighttime wonderland,” says Ms Logan.

The On Stage entertainment programme starts on 26 December and includes a new stage, the ITL Engineering Main Lake Stage (in front of the Tea House on the Lake). Local, national and international performers will entertain for free during the festival, with acts including Anika Moa, The Thomas Oliver Band and Shaun Preston.

Summer Scene’s events include making Maori Kites for Kite Fest, musical tuition with the West Coast School of Rock, tree climbing and a night-time disco.

The TSB Bank Festival of Lights ends on 30 January 2011.