The magical Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights returns next month with its mix of stunning light shows, dancing and delicious food stalls, bringing fun and excitement to a chilly winter.
The Parade of Lights kicks the show off on Saturday, July 9, with floats festooned in lights.
Organiser Murray Chapman says anyone can join the parade and he encourages everyone to get creative – light up the pushchair or the car and have some fun.
Meeting at the Paper Plus carpark at 5pm, the parade will start at 6pm, travelling down Queen Street and around the roundabout at the bottom of Neville Street.
The Warkworth Wharf area will be open for business from 3pm and humming with food trucks, rides and live bands running through until 10pm.
On July 23, for phase two of the festival, winter will be welcomed with open arms as snow machines bring a bit of alpine winter magic to the town.
Baxter Street will be closed for much of the morning for preparations, then the street fun starts at 3pm and will go through until 9pm. There will be plenty to keep the kids happy with carnival amusements including real snow, as well as food trucks.
New attractions this year include a Star Wars lights float, Star Wars laser light battle, glow in the dark mini golf and a virtual reality gaming arena. A disco light floor will also turn the Old Masonic Hall into a free rave.
The thrilling laser light show will start at 6pm. There will be plenty of opportunity to experience this with the show running for 15 minutes every half hour until 9pm.
The festival is run by volunteers and while Covid caused a break in 2020, it has been running since 2018, getting more ambitious each year.
Businesses in the town are encouraged to put up light displays in their windows during the month.
The festival ran during the school holidays last year, when around 6000 children, and the young-at-heart, enjoyed the spectacle.
The festival receives an annual grant of $5000 from the Rodney Local Board, with sponsorship from local businesses funding the remainder of the $50,000 tab.
