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The streets of Warkworth will be ablaze with light and colour this Saturday, June 28, when the annual Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights takes place.
Every type of illumination will be switched on and plugged in, from the ever-popular Parade of Lights and Laser Light Show to a light tunnel, disco den and decorated shops.
The fun starts at 3pm with a winter wonderland ‘snow pit’ in the street, plus plenty of children’s rides and amusements, including a giant rainbow slide, maze, teacups and a VW buggy ‘train’.
Festivalgoers can also boogie on down on the flashing disco floor in the Old Masonic Hall, get a UV glow-in-the-dark on in the blacklight tent or try out a decadent design with luminous facepainting and temporary tattoos – at the very least, young recipients should be easy to spot in the crowd when it gets dark.
There will also be a wide range of food trucks on-site, local bars and restaurants will be open and there will be live music on the wharf with popular young covers band Rumpus Machine and others.
At 6pm, the ITM Parade of Lights will set off, featuring trucks, cars, bikes and individuals festooned with lights of every kind making their way down the main street.
Organisers are encouraging as many people as possible to join in the procession and want to hear from businesses, schools, community groups, families or individuals keen to get creative, dress up and decorate themselves and their floats or vehicles using as many lights as possible.
There will be prizes awarded afterwards for the best business, school, individual and crowd favourite, thanks to ITM and Aqua Works.
At 8pm, the always popular laser light show will fill the skies with a pumping display of music and light beams of every colour to round the day’s activities off.
Local businesses are being encouraged join in the fun and help the town look its illuminated best by lighting up their premises – judges will be out and about after dark to find a worthy winner of a $500 Mitre 10 Mega gift card.
There is also a prize for the person who posts a photo of a lit-up local business to Facebook that subsequently gets the most likes.
Main organisers Murray Chapman and Brent Harbour said they were grateful to the many volunteers and sponsors who make the event possible, including Warkworth ITM, Harcourts Cooper & Co Rodney, Stonewood Homes Rodney, Withers & Co, Warkworth Toyota, Fairview Rodney, ITSS Engineering, McDonald’s Warkworth, BedsRus Warkworth, Hire Works Warkworth, Absolute Scaffolding and Mason Containers.
To register for the Parade of Lights, become a sponsor or volunteer: contact Murray Chapman on 027 496 6550, Ines Roberts on 021 442 493 or email info@mahulightfestival.nz.
Festival info: Visit https://mahulightfestival.co.nz/ or Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights on Facebook
Road closures
Several Warkworth roads will be temporarily closed to traffic before and during the Festival of Lights, so drivers and visitors are encouraged to plan ahead for access and parking.
Anyone needing access or special parking should email mahulightfestival@gmail.com as early as possible.
Kapanui and Wharf Streets, plus riverside carpark – closed to traffic from 11pm, Friday, June 27 to 11pm, Saturday, June 28
Baxter Street, from Neville Street to Percy Street – closed from 6am to 11pm, Saturday, June 28
Queen Street, from Mill Lane to Neville Street – closed from 5pm to 7.30pm, Saturday, June 28
