It’s all on at Motueka
Motueka seems like the place to be this weekend.
Activities kick off tomorrow evening with the Motueka Christmas Night Market and New World Starlight Christmas Parade.
More than 40 stalls are expected at the night market, to be held at Decks Reserve car park from 5pm to 9pm.
As well as food stalls offering a range of dinner options including Indian curries, pizza, sushi, wraps and dumplings, market goers will be able to buy gifts from a range of stalls stocked with locally made goods.
It’s the second year of the night market, which is organised by Motueka Playcentre as a fundraiser.
‘‘The weather [forecast] looks stunning,’’ said playcentre parent Pip Duncan. ‘‘With the Salvation Army Band playing Christmas carols from 5.30pm, it will be really festive.’’
Father Christmas is due to make an appearance when the popular annual Santa parade travels along High St from 7pm to 8pm.
There will be an early start for some people on Sunday when a new exhibition at Motueka District Museum is opened with a blessing from 4.30am. Mai i Hawaiki – Te Ahi Ka Roa traces the journey of local iwi from their ancestral homeland to Motueka.
The exhibition is due to run for six months at the museum.
Later on Sunday, the annual Motueka A&P show day gets under way at Marchwood Park. Organiser Mary Wilson said ‘‘wearable creations’’ was a new event this year. A couple of for- mer WOW winners would be judging the entries.
‘‘It’s very open,’’ Wilson said. ‘‘They [entrants] can use any materials they like.’’
Making a comeback this year was the homemade beer and wine competition, which would be judged alongside the other produce and livestock sections.
Wilson said there was plenty of entertainment and activities planned including the Twisty Twinz, Flossie the balloon lady, Santa’s grotto and sideshow amusements.
Entry was set at $5 a person with children in car seats, including booster seats, free. Show goers were urged to arrive via Queen Victoria St where parking would be available.
‘‘It’s a nice, friendly event,’’ Wilson said. ‘‘It’s a cruisy kind of show.’’