Nelson Arts Festival set to be best ever

Nelson Arts Festival set to be best ever - Media Release

It’s been a long winter and Nelson is ready to party. The annual Nelson Arts Festival, now in it’s 15th year, bursts onto the streets next week (Oct 16) with the Port Nelson Masked Parade, the curtain raiser to 12 days of theatre, music, dance and community events.

Nelson City Council Festival Producer Sophie Kelly says presales of tickets have hit record levels.

“There’s a real air of excitement about the festival,” she said. “It could be a reaction to winter and its grim economic news or maybe it’s just the fantastic programme we have put together!”

Ms Kelly said organisers had never before had to add extra shows to deal with the demand, as they have done this year for contemporary dance work Flicker, and for the ‘what if?’ drama of New Zealand under French rule, Le Sud.

The festival opens with the Joe Bennett circus comedy hit, The Butler, back in Nelson for a second season after sell-out shows last year. Another return slot is Queensland’s quirky Kransky Sisters – back on the road with some reworked standards, deadpan humour and instruments created from something found in the shed. International stars include bluegrass king Tim O’Brien and Belgian chanteuse Michele Van Hautem.

Ms Kelly said as a council produced event, the Nelson Arts Festival offered more community shows and free events than other regional festivals.

“The masked parade is followed by a carnivale in the city centre, we have school performances on stage at the Church Steps all week in Westpac Red Square and we wind up on Labour Day Monday with the Family Finale – complete with Pet Art Wear and the launch of Nelson’s own ukulele orchestra.”

The Nelson Arts Festival runs from October 15 – 27. Tickets at Everyman (03 548 3083) or online at nelsonartsfestival.co.nz. The festival is the only regional arts festival to be held annually and is produced by the Nelson City Council as a celebration for locals and an added attraction for visitors.

[Update: Port Nelson Masked Parade wet weather plan

A decision will be made at midday Friday on postponement.

If the Parade has to be postponed it moves to same time (5.30pm) on Saturday.

The More FM Carnivale does not have a rain day – it would be cancelled if the weather is too wet for it to go ahead on Friday.

However, light rain is not going to stop us and we have our fingers crossed, and our team working, on the usual great night out in the city centre on Friday. ]

ENDS

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