Bigger winter festival event
It’s back, and it’s better and bigger.
The Taupo¯ Winter Festival is returning for 2017— with some new shows, some old favourites with a twist and plenty to see and do.
One of the most obvious changes at this stage is that the festival has changed its name to the Malcolm Flowers Insurances Taupo¯ Winter Festival in a nod to its new major sponsor, local business Malcolm Flowers Insurances.
The festival will run over four days in the middle of the July school holidays and the aim is to provide a family-friendly event that both caters for the local community but also brings visitors to Taupo¯.
The support of Malcolm Flowers Insurances means the festival has been able to put on more shows that it couldn’t otherwise, says festival director Nicola Carter.
“Having amajor sponsor means we can provide the sort of programme that we want to be able to offer the wider Taupo community.
“Malcolm’s really communityminded and the family values of his business aligned to the family values of our festival,” Nicola said.
“However, we do still have a couple of smaller sponsorship opportunities available if other businesses are keen to be involved,” she said.
All up, there are more than 20 events during the Taupo¯ Winter Festival and that will include five ticketed shows, one of which will be a family matinée show.
“Some of the feedback from last year was that families would really love a daytime show, so that’s something new for this year.”
While most of the programme is under wraps until its official launch in May, it’s been revealed that there will be 11 family-fun activities at this year’s festival, and 2016 favourites the ice slide and the free pancake breakfast will be among them.
The Rewind Taupo¯ in Film screenings, featuring films of old Taupo¯, will return, although this year’s compilation will be different from last year’s, and there will be an exhibition of the films entered into the Battle of the Mountains local film challenge for young people.
The light trail will also be making an appearance, but this year’s version will be completely different from the Unison Light Trail that has graced the Tongariro South Domain three times already.
This year’s will feature light art installations from international award-winning light artists, and the more sponsors the festival can attract, the more light art installations it will be able to fund.
Malcolm Flowers, managing director of Malcolm Flowers Insurances, says during his 57 years in Taupo¯, the town has been very supportive of him and his business, and the sponsorships and charity work he does for the town is about showing his appreciation.
The Malcolm Flowers Insurances Taupo¯ Winter Festival is presented by the One Taupo¯ Trust, a charitable trust which aims to support local families with sick children who have to travel for medical treatment.