Walk the Fan Trail to Eden Park double-header

Walk the Fan Trail to Eden Park double-header

Auckland’s renowned Fan Trail will be operating from Ponsonby for the massive Black Ferns and All Blacks double-header at Eden Park on Saturday 25 August.

Join thousands of fellow fans on a fun-filled 2.3km walking route packed with free, live entertainment and lots of activities, like street theatre, face-painting, roaming street performers, DJs and street art being created live, come rain or shine.

The Fan Trail will operate from 4pm, starting at Western Park on Ponsonby Rd, just steps away from the area’s many cafes, restaurants and bars, where fans can grab a bite to eat before or after the game.

Two teams of street artists will work on murals at the start, middle and end of the Fan Trail. Taking the trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup theme, the murals will pay homage to the native flora, fauna and indigenous culture of Australia and Aotearoa.

Experienced street artists Amiria Puia-Taylor (The People Weaver) and Pomare Joseph Puia-Taylor (Taystemaker) will team up with Whitecliffe College art student Te Ara Minhinnick and emerging street and hip hop artist – and Grey Lynn local – Diggy Dupé to create the murals positioned at Western Park, Bond St and Walters Rd.

Fan Trail producer Torise Flay says the murals will be the perfect backdrops for fans to get selfies in support of their teams.

“Amiria and Tay will be using the tukana/teina model of pairing established and emerging artists together to create urban contemporary art. People can watch the artists at work on the large-scale murals and fans can pose with on the way to the game, becoming part of the art that reflects their team’s origins.”

En route entertainment includes DJs, the Royal NZ Navy Band, the Auckland Gospel Choir, barbershop singers, Highly Flammable light dancers and other street performers.

Viv Rosenberg, General Manager, Ponsonby Business Association says Ponsonby is very excited to host the Fan Trail this month.

“We’re known as Auckland’s hippest strip for good reason and our bars, restaurants and cafes are looking forward to celebrating a great night with you all both before and after the game at Eden Park. With more than 120 venues along Ponsonby Road, it’s the ideal place to start and end your night. See you on the Strip!”

Allow an hour or more (no less than 30 minutes) to walk the route so you can enjoy the free entertainment and activities along the way.

© Scoop Media