A party in west Auckland

Whau Pacific Festival will run August 25-28 in west Auckland.

West Auckland is going to come alive with the Whau Pacific Festival this month.

The four-day gala runs from August 25-28 and includes several free events across New Lynn and Avondale.

Organised by the Deahne and Malcolm Lakatani of the Creative Souls Project, the festival promises to showcase the creativity of young artists from west Auckland.

‘‘We have worked very hard to make the entire festival zero waste,’’ Deahne Lakatani says.

She adds that the organisers have ‘‘gone out of the way’’ to make the project environmentally friendly.

‘‘It is a chance to celebrate food, art and music.’’

The events cater to people of all ages from pre-schoolers to seniors.

The festival includes Pacific song sessions for children under five at Avondale, Blockhouse Bay and New Lynn libraries.

Culinary arts take centre stage on the evening of Thursday August 25 with a cooking class and tasting session.

At Avondale Intermediate the Palangi Wives Club is going to give attendees an opportunity to learn two traditional pacific dishes including raw fish and a dish of the chef’s choice. A young chef is set to host a Pacific fusion tasting session at Ecomatters in New Lynn. With a pacific twist on urban cuisine it should make for an appetising experience. Attendees are also going to get hints and tips on growing the best ingredients for scrumptious pacific dishes.

Those interested in crafts from the Islands can learn it from the aunties at a workshop that is set to run at Glenavon Primary. Go to whaupacificfestival.co.nz/ events.html for details.