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The Colours of Southern Lake Taupō will shine bright this Easter

Monday 2 April 2012, 1:25PM

By Taupo District Council

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Turangi Colours Fest - Chainsaw Art in 2011
Turangi Colours Fest - Chainsaw Art in 2011 Credit: Taupo District Council

Turangi is the place to be this Easter weekend with the second annual Turangi Colours Art and Food Festival set to take place. This unique and interactive event showcases the best of locally and regionally produced arts, cuisine and entertainment.

Visitors are encouraged to be inspired and get involved in this colourful celebration, with a wide range of food as well as many talented artists and interactive workshops. The festival centres on the Turangi town centre on Easter Saturday, with satellite events on Saturday night, Sunday and the following Wednesday.

On Easter Saturday there is a market day in the Turangi Town Centre with a huge range of content including art galleries, chainsaw carving, live music and street theatre, cheese making, art and craft workshops and a local food market featuring traditional Māori Wanaga.

A major strength of this festival is that people can get involved, rather than just observe, with many interactive workshops. Festival organiser Anja Hambach says it is about giving it a go. “We want people to try this stuff out for themselves and have a truly memorable experience.”

The festival caters for the whole family with plenty of activities for children. There is a giant pumpkin display and ‘Big Leaf Dig’ at the market day on Saturday, and a Pool Party at the Genesis Energy Turangi Aquatic Centre on Easter Sunday. There is also a ‘Kid’s Fish Out Day’ on the following Wednesday, 11 April, at the Tongariro National Trout Centre.

Food lovers will be able to try the finest local delicacies at the gala dinner at the Tongariro Lodge on Saturday night, which features local food and wines and celebrity guest, master chef Richard Till. Tickets for the dinner are available from Turangi i-Site or through the website, www.turangi.org

The festival was born in 2011 from the locals’ desire to celebrate the strengths of Southern Lake Taupō and is aptly named after Turangi’s beautiful and vibrant autumn foliage. “We want people to come and see Turangi's true colours - our art, our food and our people,” says Ms Hambach.

Included in the festival line up is a very rare chance to visit the underground Rangipo Power Station, which has already proved very popular as visitors get an up close look at one of the foundational industries of Turangi. “Unfortunately the tour has already sold out, so anyone that missed out will have to get in quick next year.”

For more information about the Turangi Colours Art & Food Festival, to purchase tickets for the gala dinner or to find out how to become involved in the festival, visit www.turangi.org