My Account
Waipu is the place to go for some good old-fashioned family fun and games over the long weekend, when the annual Easter Carnival returns to Caledonian Park on Saturday, April 8.
The event is organised by Waipu Primary School as its main fundraiser for the year, and organisers promise something fun for everyone, from rides and races to food and face painting.
Animal lovers will be well catered for, with a petting zoo and pony rides, and there will be live entertainment all day. There will also be tractor rides, bouncy castles, sideshows and games, plus market stalls, auctions and quick fire raffles. Gaming fans can get involved in some interactive virtual reality activity, frustrated parents or teachers can vent a few feelings at the Smash Alley crockery stall, or for something a little more cultured, try the Art Zone.
There will be a wide range of food on offer to suit all tastes and budgets, including spit-roast lamb sandwiches, pitta breads, a sausage sizzle, fried bread, burgers, hot dogs and chips, plus morning tea treats, ice cream, candy floss and baking.
All proceeds will be going to the primary school, which has a roll of around 240 students.
“Proceeds from past carnivals have helped fund the school multipurpose hall, scooter and bike track, bike shed, adventure playground, the new sandpit area and surrounds, new computers for the computer room, plants and trees for the school property, sports equipment, iPads and other resources for all the classrooms, swimming pool upgrades, and literacy programmes,” an organiser said.
“In 2023, we will be fundraising for additions to our school hall, including seating and staging.”
The Easter Carnival has been running since 2010, when the school decided to replace a number of small fundraisers throughout the year with one major event. It proved a success from the start and is now a major event for the Waipu community, as well as the school. Organisers are hoping for a big turnout this year, after the event was forced to take a break due to covid in 2022.
The Easter Carnival runs from 9am to 2pm at Waipu’s Caledonian Park. Entry by koha, bring cash and no dogs allowed.
Info: Visit www.facebook.com/WaipuCarnival or www.waipucarnival.com
