Big night planned to welcome newyear

Two parties set to turn on the fun

New Year’s Eve events in Marlborough are expected to draw double the crowds of last year, thanks to a good weather forecast and a strong lineup of musicians, the events organiser says.

Go Marlborough event organiser Duncan MacKenzie said both the Blenheim event, a country music show in Market Place, and the fireworks display and live music in Picton were a popular formula.

Rain and strong winds last year meant only about 4000 people had turned up at the Picton event and 2000 went to the concert in central Blenheim.

‘‘We’re hoping for at least twice those numbers this year,’’ Mr MacKenzie said.

‘‘The forecast is better than last year – it’s supposed to be 25 degrees [Celsius], according to MetService.’’

The country music event in Blenheim kicks off at 8pm and features Richard McCallum, Matt McNeilly, Angie Cook, Amelia Richards, Vicki Downs and Laura Lowe, with the Big Iron Country Showband.

In Picton, about $10,000 of fireworks will be let off at the foreshore at midnight by pyrotechnician Kelvin Holdaway.

Mr Holdaway has managed to source smiley-face shell fireworks he had never seen used in the South Island. Four people will help him for the 10-minute show.

‘‘It’s quite a mission,’’ Mr Hold- away said. ‘‘There will definitely be no black holes in the sky, that’s for sure. I don’t like those.’’

The Chilli Dogs and other Marlborough entertainers will be playing on the Picton foreshore from 8pm.

Mr MacKenzie said there was no public transport organised from Blenheim to Picton, so peo- ple should leave enough time to get there. Car parks were usually full by 5pm and the trip would take at least 45 minutes because of the amount of traffic on the road.

Armourguard security teams would patrol the Blenheim and Picton sites all night, with the Picton volunteer fire brigade also on call in Picton.