Festival date uncertainty vexing

A PROPOSAL to change the date of this year’s Alexandra Blossom Festival has met with further mixed reaction as some people ask why the idea has been suggested only six months out from the festival.

On Tuesday the blossom festival committee posted on its Facebook page about a ‘‘dilemma’’ over the date, and the possibility of moving it from September 23 to September 30.

The festival is usually held on the fourth weekend in September, but this year that date, September 23, is the date of the general election. It is also usually held on the first weekend of the school holidays, but this year the holidays do not begin until September 30.

Most feedback on the Facebook post said September 30 was a good idea, but some posts said it was too late to consider changing the date.

One post, from the organisers of the Port Chalmers Seafood Festival, said they had chosen September 30 for their event after consulting blossom festival organisers so as to avoid a clash of dates.

The Otago Daily Times was also contacted by a woman from Timaru, who had organised transport, accommodation and meals for a group of 50 travelling for September 23.

The Otago Daily Times asked former festival chairwoman Clair Higginson why the proposal was only being put to people now. School terms are set more than a year in advance and the date for the election was set on February 1.

Ms Higginson said that when the election was announced, the festival committee felt the decision on the date should be made by the new, incoming committee.

New chairwoman Sharleen StirlingLindsay said the committee had decided to consult the community before deciding on the date. It would listen to everyone, and ‘‘endeavour to make the right decision’’. That would be announced early next week, she said.

pam.jones@odt.co.nz