Two days of mid-winter mayhem
Northland’s biggest and most outlandish winter festival returns to Russell this weekend, with two days of fun and competitions culminating in Birdman jump from the end of the town’s wharf.
The festival will take place over two days this year rather than three, starting tomorrow, and will also be less spread out, with most of the action taking place on Cass St, opposite the wharf.
The agenda includes all the regular highlights such as the Drag Race (frock, heels and handbag compulsory), the Fred Dagg Dash (for women dressed as blokes), a spaghetti-eating contest, Corflute boat-building, a wok cook-off and a kids’ beach dig, with new attractions including a pancake flipping contest, a blind taste-testing contest, and street performances by Auckland circus group Highly Flammable.
The Birdman jump is timed for 2pm on Saturday, and one of the organisers, Steph Godsiff, is urging people to come forward. As of Friday just 10 teams, half the maximum, had registered. And while there won’t be a prize for the longest flight this year, the Duke of Marlborough Tavern has put up a spot prize of a luxury weekend at Tapeka.
Go to russellbirdman.co.nz for the full programme or to register a team for the jump.
Fullers is offering a discounted fare during the festival of $16 for two days’ unlimited travel ($8 for children) on the passenger ferry. As many as 5000 people have turned out for previous festivals. It was all downhill last year for Paihia woman Laura Stevenson at last year’s Birdman Festival, in a costume inspired by the ka¯ ka¯ riki which had been returned to the Bay of Islands a month earlier.