New faces add colour
Nearly 3000 crafted masks will take to the Nelson streets in tonight’s Masked Parade and Carnivale.
‘‘The city will come alive,’’ said Nelson Arts Festival director Charlie Unwin.
The parade, with the theme Weird and Wonderful, will begin at 5.30pm and wrap up the 24th Nelson Arts Festival.
The annual spectacle was moved from its usual earlier date to after the festival this year, due to the Labour Weekend and the school holidays. While the weather looked promising for tonight, Unwin said rain would see the parade postponed to Sunday at 5.30pm, while the Carnivale would be cancelled.
From school groups and families to businesses and community groups, the parade was open to anyone and everyone, Unwin said. It will morph into the street Carnivale, which should wrap up around 10pm.
Unwin said music, food stalls and street performances as well as a dedicated youth-friendly zone and local bars and restaurants would ensure there was something for all age groups.
The ferris wheel and Hardy Street Maimai of Bass would be back this year. A silent disco – where participants listen to music through headphones – was something new to look forward to, he said.
In this year’s parade, a new award for preschool groups has joined the other categories, including the Kim Merry Supreme Award for the overall winner.