Light All Night was all right
Arabella and Harper Downs donned matching outfits to celebrate the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 at New Plymouth’s newest New Year’s Eve party.
The girls and their family travelled from Stratford to ring in the New Year at Pukekura Park’s Hatchery Lawn on Monday night and dance to one of their favourite bands – The Slacks.
‘‘It’s a nice atmosphere and a good place to bring the kids,’’ mum Dayna said.
‘‘I’m a teacher and the kids sing Big Aroha, which The Slacks play. So we thought they would be cool to come and see.’’
The Downs were among hundreds of New Year’s Eve revellers who flooded into the park for the Light All Night event.
By 7pm the Hatchery Lawn was jammed with families and friends watching live bands and eating their picnic dinners.
Entertainment included a silent disco, glow in the dark lawn bowls, a children’s scavenger hunt, an early countdown for the kids and performances by The Slacks, Ed Pool and Dtomp.
Meeta Vallabh described the event as being a ‘‘cool night’’ with lots of activities that her family enjoyed.
‘‘We stopped by the ringing bells before going home for a snooze. Was a big night and colourful one,’’ she said.
The New Plymouth District Council, which organised the sixhour event, was happy with how its first NYE event had gone and was already hoping to be able to do the same again next year.
‘‘NPDC is absolutely delighted with the positive reaction to the family-friendly New Year’s Eve event,’’ chief operating officer Kelvin Wright said in a written statement. ‘‘There was a fantastic atmosphere as people of all ages attended the TSB Festival of Lights with many staying until midnight to see in the New Year with family and friends.
‘‘We’ll look into making this a regular part of our Festival programme.’’