Waiheke’s Christmas Festival will take a new direction this year.
Te Ara o te Kirihimete: the Path of Christmas, promises to be a unique Waiheke celebration for people of all ages.
Based in and around Oneroa, the event will include a festive programme of stories, music, theatre, art, craft, cinema and much more.
The Christmas festival will take place on November 30 at multiple venues in and around Oneroa. The community will be invited to spend the afternoon walking from one experience to another at their leisure.
Event organiser Tanya Batt says, “people of all ages will be invited to explore the diverse and rich traditions associated with Christmas, the festive season and summer on our motu.”
Each year, Waiheke Local Board funds a community-led event to celebrate Christmas. The local board has decided that closing the main street of Oneroa for a parade was becoming increasingly expensive and complex.
Last year half the budget for the volunteer-run event went towards funding a professional traffic management plan, which is legally required to close a road.
This year, the local board has decided to try a new approach which supports its priorities around community participation and sustainability, but still includes Christmas traditions like carols and, of course, a chance to visit Santa.
The programme will start from 4pm and will involve Alison Park, the Sustainability Centre, Waiheke Cinema, Artworks Theatre, Waiheke Library, Oneroa shops, and Oneroa Beach. The event finale starts at St Peter's Church at 8pm.
Further details will be confirmed closer to the time.
