Every town needs arts festival
Music fans have plenty to choose from ranging from a night with the Hamilton Big Band through to Gilbert and Sullivan and the Parisian chic trio French Toast with a repertoire of authentic French chansons.
Regular favourites the burlesque, Mother and Daughter High Tea, Fashion over a Teacup and Petcha Culture night are still a part of the festival.
Retailers have been encouraged to be involved with a Black Friday theme, and the Main Street Carnival and Art Market should see festival goers satisfied.
This year the Cambridge Edition will also be running a short-film competition, open to senior students at Cambridge High School and St Peter’s School Cambridge.
The young film-makers will be challenged to produce a short film using just their smartphones or tablets, with a focus on script writing the key.
The main prize for the winning team will be a workshop with Jonathan Nickerson who is the creative director of Milk and Honey Media.
McKenzie, reflecting on the past 10 years, said every town needed an art festival.
‘‘With the town dominated by sporting achievement, Cambridge has a lot of talented people in other areas.’’
The Autumn Festival, he said, wasn’t primarily set up to attract people to the district, ‘‘but it does’’.
‘‘It was to provide performers with a platform in which to showcase their talents to an audience, and for the audience to see the ability.
‘‘I think we achieve both goals. Who knows, some small child may go onto greatness inspired by one of the events they attended at this year’s festival.’’
The Cambridge Autumn Festival, April 7-15, visit the wesbite cambridgeautumnfestival.co.nz for programme updates.