Ideas for a Community Asset.

One of the ideas put forward is an adventure playground at Eely Point.

With the successful sale of the Stonewood Homes House Build House and planning for the 2010 festival underway, we now have plans to turn some of the proceeds into a community asset. The Wanakafest Community Trust is currently deliberating on what to create as a community asset and they would like you, the Wanaka community, to have your say.

During the 2009 Willowridge Wanakafest and associated Stonewood Homes House build some money was attained for the trust through the help and support of local builders and contracters, who gave their time, services, and products at heavily reduced cost or even for free. Subsequently, the festival was a success, the Stonewood homes housebuild house sold for a great price at an auction and so now it is time to give back to the community that gave so much..

It has to be physical… something that we can touch and see, it has to have a wide benefit to the community, it of course has to be based in Wanaka, and we would like to see it have a life expectancy of around 20 years or over”

Some options that have been tabled so far are: an adventure playground at Eely Point, a transportable trailer stage, a band rotunda at Pembroke Park and a water park as part of the dinosaur park at the lake front. The Trust is still settling the exact amount that will be available for the asset, and we are planning on doing additional fundraising to top up what we have raised so far. As a guideline, we are looking for a project around $100,000.

Hurray! A great festival!

Whew! we made it! What a great festival!! Thanks so much to everyone who helped out Here are some pictures from the weekend…

Here come the floats! The fantastic Mitre 10 float all part of the Harcourts Street Parade by Kahu Youth that kicked off the festivities.

Superman! Into the lake at the Radio Wanaka Ray White Polar Plunge! Good thing McGregor’s brought the pies and Kiwi Tubs brought the hot tub!

Just one of the many incredible floating cardboard boats entered in the Kahu Youth Cardboard Boat Race on Saturday!

Here goes Punk the Clown in the Ruby Island Circus.

Agility training for young recyclers as part of the Wanaka Wastebusters Wheelie Bin Races.

One of the higher stacks just toppling down at the Meadowfresh Crate Stack Competition. Thanks to Aspiring Cranes and Wanaka Rock for providing the Cranes and Rock climbing gear.

Passion for Fashion 2009 DVD

Whew! What a great night last night. To a sold out house, local designers, shops, hair stylists, dancers and make-up artists put on a fantastic fashion show!!

Mike, from The Photographers is currently putting together the show DVD. If you would like purchase one of these. Contact Mike enquiries@wanakaphoto.com

Volunteers Needed for Bike Race!

With the festival just around the corner and loads of great events all set to give you a great weekend. There are still a few spaces that need to be filled with willing volunteers for the AWS Legal Urban Downhill Mountain Bike Race!

If you have time on Saturday October 17th from 11:00am – 4:30pm. Please let Laurel know! 443 2273 or info@wanakafest.co.nz

The Race is all set to be a fantastic spectators sport! Get yourself a great spot on the course, a Subway lunch and a beautiful new T-Shirt!!!

Look forward to hearing from you soon

The nearly completed home!

Wow! I was just up the Wanakafest House and it is looking incredible! They have painted all the walls, the kitchen is nearly fitted. It is now fully carpeted, tiles, water is running… even the garage is carpeted! Well done to everyone involved in the project!

Here are some of the latest pictures from today:

This is me in the new “Dream Kitchen” donated by Dream Doors!

Ian Bell installs the front door.

Here is me again… in front of the beautiful new house.

Digger work on the landscaping all sponsored by Nichol Garden Centre. It is looking fantastic!

Wanakafest “Choc-Off”

As a part of our Food, Wine and Chocolate Affair on Sunday October 18th. We are searching for the Best Wanaka Chocolate Dessert! If you have a delicious chocolate speciality dessert, you are invited to to our Choc-off! To enter you need 2 identical desserts one that is prepared for 6 judges and one prepared for auction. The auction will act as your entry and a fundraiser for the future of our community festival!

Categories include: “Best Commercial Chocolate Dessert”, “Best Homemade Chocolate Dessert”, “Most Original Chocolate creation”  and “Best Overall Chocolate Dessert”

Judges will be a combination of 3 pre-selected judges and 3 randomly selected judges from the audience.

Passion 4 Fashion set for success

This years Passion 4 Fashion is gaining momentum and looking like it will be a spectacular event!

The show has attracted backing from successful local businesses Edgewater Resort and Wanaka Pharmacy who are the major sponsors of this years show. Leigh Stock and Aaron Heath have joined forces to support this show and the festival to ensure that it is a night to remember!

Wanakafest Event organiser Laurel Morrison says, the progress that this show has seen this year is all down to Kasha Szot.  Kasha is the Local Wanaka Owner/Operator of K-Dance Studios. She also runs and co-ordinated the local modelling agency and has been working with her models to co-ordinate the show. Kasha has taken this spectacular show under her wings and is turning it into an event to be respected nation wide! She has  gained the assistance of Gena Bagley-Konia as a proffessional make up artist for the show and the two of them have managed to attract  support by  International Make-up Brand Revlon. With Revlon on board, this is a fantastic opportunity for the growth of Wanakafest, as well as the Passion for Fashion show.

Kasha has attracted many local shops and designers and is excited about the momentum that the show is gaining. One this is sure, this is one night not to be missed!

Tahuna Breaks Free Live Concert Confirmed!

Be prepared to have your socks blown off at this years Willowridge Wanakafest grand opening! Floats, Lanterns, Music and a special FREE Concert by Tahuna Breaks has us lined up for a great night!! Thank you BASE for bringing them here for us!! Mark Friday October 16th in your calendar now!

Bundle up warm get a good spot along Ardmore street on Friday Night. The Party kicks of with the annual Harcourts Street Parade brought to you by Kahu Youth. Kahu Youth is working hard to make sure this parade  spectacular and has insisted that all floats be decorated, have lights and music! Following the Street Parade, local Wanaka band LATE eightyeight takes the stage at the lake front. And finally, The streets of Lake Wanaka will be rocked by a Free Outdoor Concert by Tahuna Breaks!  There will be food and drinks at the lake and it will be a great night out. For those of you just warming up… continue the party at Mint Bar after the show with a full Tahuna Breaks Show!

Volunteers make Willowridge Wanakafest go round

Wanakafest is all about bringing our community together, celebrating this incredible place we are lucky enough to call home and having fun!

As you may have heard… the resurrection of Wanakafest is underway and now it is your opportunity to be involved in this fantastic event.

So many people have come forward to offer their services to the Stonewood House Build Project and as you read this, building work is underway. The slab was poured last week, frames are now up and builders are on site. To see who’s helped so far check out our sponsor’s page.

As you may have heard, the house will be auctioned during the festival among other items, and the proceeds will be put forward to a particular community project, which will be chosen by you, the community.

As amazing as these events sound, they can’t run without further community support.

“We need volunteers. We need them for various events and a wide range of activities. This is a great event and really fun to be involved in.” says the manager of the event Laurel Morrison.

If you would like to volunteer, it’s easy. Click here to download the registration form. Otherwise, if you prefer, pop into Mainly Tramping up-stairs in Spencer House Mall. There you can pick up a paper copy of the registration form. Once you’ve filled it in either drop it back to Mainly Tramping or pop it in the post.

“One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.”

Chinese proverb.

Willowridge Wanakafest’s Bright New Look Website

Welcome to the Brand New Willowridge Wanakafest website! Thanks so much to Jon Clamp at MacStudio for sponsoring this new site! We now have a fresh new face to show the world! The best thing about our new website is how easy it is to update you on what is happening with the festival. On the front page, I will keep posting new stories as the festival evolves, events are confirmed and people come on board to help. Keep checking back to see what is new and happening at the festival this year!

If you would like to be involved click this link. Once you have downloaded the form, print it out, fill it in and either drop it off at Mainly Tramping, Scan and email it back to info@wanakafest.co.nz or post it to PO Box 274 Wanaka. Look forward to meeting you soon!

Thanks again Jon for a great new website!

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