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!

Willowridge Wanakafest 2009 New sponsors

Willowridge Wanakafest coordinator, Laurel Morrison, is pleased to announce new sponsors for its 2009 festival along with some ambitious plans to involve the local community in a new and extended range of festival activities.

Local property development company, Willowridge Developments Limited has signed a long term sponsorship package for Wanakafest and the event will now been known as Willowridge Wanakafest.

It is great Willowridge has come on board says Laurel, their financial support along with introducing ideas to grow the festival into something even more special is really appreciated.

Willowridge director, Allan Dippie, says he is delighted to not only support the event but also to contribute a hands on role to help market and extend the event both this year and in future years.

“Willowridge Wanakafest is a perfect match for our company … a local event for local people that celebrates all that’s good about living in the Upper Clutha community”.

The second major sponsorship announcement is Stonewood Homes whom will complete the construction of an exciting new home on a landscaped section, in the new subdivision of West Meadows, in time for the festival which is in October this year.

The house and land package, along with a range of other community donated items, will be sold at a Gala Auction on the final day of the festival on October 18th.

Laurel says money raised from the auction will then go towards securing future festivals along with providing funds towards a major community asset which has yet to be decided. “one idea we are looking at includes the possibility of building a water feature at the dinosaur Park and we would love to hear from the community about other projects that they think would be suitable”.

“Because the aim of Wanakafest is to celebrate Wanaka, we decided that the house build and auction funds should go back to the community. This project will ensure Wanakafest has a strong platform to grow from in future years, while at the same time creating something tangible for the community to enjoy”.

Local Stonewood Homes owners, John Herbert and Mark Harry are very excited about the whole project … “Already we have strong support signaled from a range of suppliers prepared to donate materials to the project and our local sub contractors are pleased to come on board and individuals wishing to help complete the home from planting plants to making cups of tea will be welcome to get involved”.

“All sponsors and groups whom help make this project happen will be acknowledged at the community , it’s a real opportunity to get involved and help make a project chosen by the community a reality”.

Laurel concluded “we are delighted to welcome both Willowridge and Stonewood Homes to the new Willowridge Wanakafest and now we have got the ball rolling we hope to announce more Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsorships from a variety of local companies in the near future”.

“We will also soon be able to announce more of the exciting new festival activities we are working on as part of the 2009 festival”.

Great Community Support for Willowridge Wanakafest 2009

Over 50 people turned up at Basecamp last night to support the up and coming Spring Festival, due to be held from October 15-18th this year.

Organiser Laurel Morrison said “I was delighted and encouraged by such a great turn out on a cold mid-week, winters night. There were adventure outfitters, local businesses, trades suppliers and artists! It was a wonderful to see so many people and I think it bodes well for the future of the festival.”

People learnt about the upcoming Willowridge Wanakafest and were encouraged to get involved in any way they can.

They also learnt about plans for the Stonewood Homes House Build Project, which involves raising money for the future of the community festival, and a community project that is to be built during next year’s festival.

Organisers will be seeking ideas from the public for the community project. They are planning to put a plaque on the structure with the names of all who helped with the house build.

John Herbert of Stonewood Homes said “we want a plaque on what ever we build so that all those who help with this project are recognised and so that future generations can see who helped make it happen.”

If people are interested in getting involved with the community festival, they are encouraged to get in touch with festival organiser Laurel Morrison at 443 2273. She is looking for support for event sponsorship, house build supplies, entertainment, prizes or donations and volunteers.

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