Winter Lights Festival shines bright despite funding fears
This year’s Geraldine Winter Lights Festival was a roaring success, drawing more spectators than ever, organisers say.
About 2800 people of all ages came to the mid-winter festival this year.
For the first time a professional band, The Soul Agency, was added to the lineup of fire-dancing acts from around the district.
Jill Griffin-Robertson, who organised the event along with Vibrant Lighting owners Sarah Edwards and Tristan King, said the event went off ‘‘without a hitch’’.
King said he was ‘‘pretty happy’’ with how the evening went.
It was ‘‘touch and go’’ as to whether it would go ahead due to funding, but the organisers were able to ‘‘step it up’’ at the last minute with help from the Community Trust of Mid and South Canterbury.
‘‘Everyone seemed to be pretty much into most of the activities.’’
On Friday, a ‘‘Light the Night’’ trail was held around the town. It was great to see everyone have a good time, and especially to see children having fun, GriffinRobertson said.
‘‘It really is the community pulling together to make it happen,’’ Griffin Robertson said.
The Soul Agency had proved a hit with the crowd and got everyone up and dancing. ‘‘The night finished on a real high.’’
Mt Dobson Rd was inaccessible due to snow, but local man Peter Hobbs went out of his way to find a farm with enough snow to be used at the festival.
‘‘I’m really so grateful for all the help.’’
The local Lions Club had also done an incredible job helping with the occasion, GriffinRobertson said.
Griffin-Robertson started the annual event in 2013, but could not organise it last year due to finding full-time work.
She was pleased Edwards and King had been able to help this year, she said. The event also featured a Totally Locally Geraldine Wearable Lights Competition.
‘‘It really is the community pulling together to make it happen . . I’m really so grateful for all the help.’’ Co-organiser Jill Griffin Robertson