Heritage festival offers reflections on city’s rich past
Nelson Heritage Week is turning its focus on community led events this year, rebranding it the Nelson Heritage Festival.
Nelson City Council chair of the community services committee Gaile Noonan said over 40 events are planned over three weeks.
‘‘This year we have partnered with organisations and community groups who will be running events with the support of council to make it a true festival.’’
She said in the new format, the council was offering support to people wanting to run their own events to celebrate Nelson’s heritage.
The events will be held at heritage facilities and homes, art galleries, museums and in heritage precincts.
Highlights include the Nelson Heritage Homes Tour on April 14, a primary school dress up competition during the week of April 9 to 13, the Anzac Fair at Founders Heritage Park on April 22 and the Past Mayors Cemetery Tour on April 14 and 15.
The Heritage Homes Tour includes tours of eight heritagelisted homes in Nelson, organised by the Nelson Cancer Society as a fundraiser.
Other events include a curators’ talk series at Nelson Provincial Museum, a talk about the history of the boys of St Mary’s Orphanage at Broadgreen Historic House and tea tasting at Isel House.
The festival begins next Monday with a powhiri at the Whakatu Marae, followed by a tour of the marae.