Youth festival crew spring into action

Blossoms have burst, the lambs have dropped and organising the second annual Spring Fest is well underway.

An evening musical event geared toward Marlborough youth and run by the Marlborough Youth Trust is to once again thrill tweens and teens at the A&P Park.

After last year’s inaugural event proved a smash hit, the festival was set to expand and this year boasting more vendors, stalls and performers.

Former Marlborough Youth Trust Advisory Group (MYTAG) member Parehui Barron will again grace the stage, along with her sister Deborah, a guitar and their smooth harmonies.

‘‘We are really excited. It’s an event our age group really enjoy,’’ Barron said.

Barron was one of the organisers for last year’s event and she said they had a lot of great feedback about the lighting, activities and the music.

‘‘And no drama at the end of it,’’ she said.

Barron had been performing since she was eight years old and started working on her calluses when her older sister brought a small, pink guitar home.

‘‘We were going to learn the piano, but we used to busk in town and you can’t really carry a piano around,’’ Barron said.

‘‘Last year, it didn’t feel like a performance as such. It was just like a jam session on stage.

‘‘We want to get people into it and singing along.’’

Youth worker Rebekah Nafe said the advisory group were the ones who thought up ideas, such as Spring Fest.

‘‘MYTAG’s tell us what the youth around town want and need,’’ Nafe said.

‘‘Spring Fest is all about displaying local talent and giving them the opportunity to stand on a stage in front of hundreds of people.

‘‘We auditioned for the performers a few weeks ago, we had 14 groups audition and 10 of them made it through.’’

The event would feature vendors for food and coffee, competitions, an inflatable obstacle course and, of course, loud music.

Spring Fest is for young adults between the ages of 12 to 24 and would take place at A&P Park from 7pm on October 13. Tickets are $5 each. Pre-purchase tickets from the Marlborough Youth Trust at 6a Arthur St to go in the draw for a $100 voucher from Fresh.

The winner will announced on the night.

‘‘It’s a really cool event to be a part of,’’ Barron said.

‘‘You shouldn’t be scared of something that you haven’t tried, get involved and see what happens.’’ be

Performer Parehui Barron and youth worker Rebekah Nafe holding tickets for the upcoming Spring Fest for Marlborough youth.