Move of Caboodle stage will give businesses boost
When Whanganui’s Thain Building was destroyed by fire in 2019, it had a devastating effect on businesses in the bridge block of Victoria Ave so Mainstreet and Bayleys want to give them a boost this weekend.
“We want to give back to the fantastic businesses at that end of the avenue,” Mainstreet Whanganui promotions manager Kelly Scarrow said.
“That is why we are moving the Mainstage to the bridge block for the Bayleys Whanganui Vintage Weekend Caboodle on Saturday.”
The stage will be situated outside the Vic Bar at 7 Victoria Ave and there will be live entertainment provided by local performers on the stage from 12pm until 12am.
“We are a locally owned business and we have had record numbers of sales this year post-Covid so we also want to give back to the community and support other local businesses,” Bayleys co-owner Knud Bukholt said.
“My co-owner John Bartley and I have both been here for a very long time and we want to celebrate Whanganui along with the community during this fantastic street party.”
Jo Franks of Bayleys said it is a great time to invite colleagues from the regions to visit Whanganui.
“We are hoping to see our team from Bayleys Ruapehu here for the weekend. It is a great time to enjoy the main street and appreciate Whanganui’s uniqueness.”
Mainstreet Whanganui’s liaison and design co-ordinator Geoff Follet said visitors serve to remind locals of things we take for granted.
“You see people taking photos of things that are ordinary to us,” he said.
“I saw people crowding around a red phone box and taking photos of each other and they told me they had never seen one before.
“Our ordinary is their extraordinary and it is easy to forget that when you live here.”
Follet said the businesses at that end of Victoria Ave were also affected by floods in 2015 and now they have been adversely affected by Covid-19 restrictions this year so extending the Caboodle celebrations on Saturday will help shine a light on what they offer.
“There are some fantastic bars and eateries in the block so we hope plenty of people will be sampling their fare while they enjoy the entertainment.” The Mainstage has been in Ridgway St for the past five years and the Rutland Stage will still be offering entertainment there on Saturday.
There will also be entertainment provided on the Majestic Stage in the square from 10am until 4pm starting with a kapa haka performance from Te Taikura o Te Awa and the group will also lead the performances on the Mainstage at noon.
“We have so much great local talent in Whanganui from kapa haka to a pipe band, brass bands, a ukulele orchestra to blues and rock and roll,” Scarrow said.
“There is no need to bring out of town performers in because we have it all right here.”
To see the full Bayleys Whanganui Vintage Weekend programme visit whanganuivintageweekend.nz