Just So Festival on the march

‘‘We are all about having a diversity of art forms with music, theatre, fireshows, storytelling and a range of workshops.’’

Just So Festival organiser Kaly Newman is promising a ‘‘diversity of art forms’’ for New Zealand’s first Just So Festival.

A family, arts and camping event, the Just So Festival will take place at the Kaitoke Regional Park, north of Upper Hutt, on February 23-25.

Dedicated to ‘‘children and their families,’’ the Kiwi event is planned to accommodate 3000 festival-goers.

It is a development of an event established in England eight years ago.

Newman said she was very satisfied with the planning ahead of an online release of the festival programme on Wednesday, October 18.

Earlybird tickets were snapped up quickly and more than half the festival’s 750 camping tickets have been sold, Newman said.

The festival also offers singleday tickets.

‘‘I’ve still got a couple of bands to get but really everything is in place.

‘‘We are all about having a diversity of art forms with music, theatre, fire-shows, storytelling and a range of workshops.

Wellington favourites Dancing and Drinking Society will be a headlining band with their New Orleans style swing-blues and Battle-Ska Galactica, a sevenpiece retro blend of Jamaican and Two-Tone ska, will also appear.

The popular clown Fraser Hooper will be performing and taking children’s workshops.

‘‘He’s performed all over the world and adults love him as well as kids,’’ Newman said. ‘‘He’s a big drawcard for us.’’ Other artists include Levity Beet, an ‘‘energetic and inspiring’’ childrens’ songwriter and entertainer, stand-up comic Rachel Callinan, and Moira Wairama, the storyteller, poet and childrens’ book author.

A feature of the festival will be a Tribal Tournament.

Festival goers will be allocated to one of four tribes, and dressed up for a range of competitive challenges. This runs from the festival opening and will finish as the last event on the Sunday evening.

Newman said the planning for the not-for-profit charity event was ‘‘hard work’’, especially with accessing grants.

‘‘I think we will have a lot more success there in our second year because we’ll be well established.’’

The festival is supporting the Birthright and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren charities.

Seejustsofestivalnz.org/