Street Hop festival bringing vintage flavour to help hospice
A street festival featuring vintage cars, rock ’n’ roll bands and oldschool dancing will help take Nelson back to the good old days of the 1950s and ’60s.
Hardy St will be closed next Sunday, October 28 to host Street Hop, a party that will also double as a fundraiser for the Nelson Tasman Hospice.
‘‘Someone asked me about it last week. I said, ‘Think of Happy Days, the TV series’ – they got it,’’ Uniquely Nelson manager Simon Duffy said.
‘‘It will go ahead rain, hail or shine, but we’ve booked in the sun for the day.’’
Duffy said he hoped up to 4000 people would turn up to the inaugural event, which is a joint initiative between Uniquely Nelson and Morrison Square.
There is space for 120 vintage cars to be displayed, and 70 spots have been taken so far.
Four electric cars for children, including an Audi and Jeep Wrangler, will be available for test drives, and three of the cars will later be auctioned.
A competition is under way to give away the fourth car, a minielectric Lamborghini, and the winner will be announced on the day.
Duffy said the event from 10am to 4pm would be great for the community and bringing people in from out of town. ‘‘It’s supporting local businesses. The shops on Hardy St that are usually closed on a Sunday will be open.’’
Kaiko¯ ura’s annual hop extended to four days this year, with close to 12,000 people attending.
Kaiko¯ura Deputy Mayor Julie Howden said accommodation in the town was booked out, restaurants were packed, and the event was also great for retail.
‘‘On a whole, it very much brings a lot of light into the community.’’
All proceeds raised from the Nelson event will be donated to the Nelson Tasman Hospice, which is relocating and expanding to meet increased demand for its services.
Duffy said the event would be an annual one, and plans were already under way to expand it next year, to two days.
To enter your vintage vehicle in the hop, go to the Uniquely Nelson Facebook page, or download a form from Uniquely Nelson’s website. Registration costs $25, with money going to the hospice.
Entries close on Tuesday, October 23.