Shows a winter warmer

HOLY SMOKES: Fire shows by Highly Flammable will be part of the Winter Nights Winter Lights celebration. Photo/Highly Flammable

It may be a case of lights on, no one home this weekend when Tauranga's newest winter celebration fires up at the waterfront.

The council is hoping people will leave the comfort of their cosy homes, opting instead for the dazzle of lights, lasers, fire and food, creating midwinter vibrancy in the city's heart.

"The idea was to add a light-based event to the existing and fabulous IlluminART in Greerton - to create a winter light weekend in Tauranga. With both events providing a range of activities across the city, as well as both being part of this year's Matariki celebrations," says event delivery co-ordinator for the Tauranga City Council, Luke Schroder.

The light shows will be running every half hour throughout the night. Flying Pictures will be blazing colour through the darkness with a laser show, and one of the country's leading fire performance groups, Highly Flammable, will melt the chill with fiery magic and intrigue.

Organisers have a great deal of support for the event and expect large numbers to attend the two nights. They are not sure however, whether it will be repeated next year.

"At this stage, we are treating Winter Nights, Winter Lights as a one-off event. The inaugural event will help us to determine the desire for an event like this in Tauranga and to identify how an annual winter event could look in the future," said Mr Schroder.

Local businesses have been enthusiastic about the event with some promoting specials for kids during the weekend.

The Winter Lights weekend is part of a Winter Carnival being held in the city from July 15-23. During the period the city will be bustling with dance, music, science, film and performance workshops as well as shows. The aim of the carnival is to "warm up the winter".

Get people of all ages out to some events. Just because it's dark and cold, it doesn't mean you can't go out and have some fun," says Downtown Tauranga events co-ordinator Rose Webb.

Organisers advise Winter Lights, Winter Nights is alcohol free. Stay safe at the event: keep off roads, watch for trains and drive carefully through The Strand, Dive Cres and adjacent streets, as they will all be open.

Parking is free in Tauranga on the weekends on all off-street car parks and parking buildings in the city centre. On-street parking is free on Sundays, and free after 1pm on Saturday.

*Check mytauranga.co.nz/WNWL for further information.

the fine print
What: Winter Nights, Winter Lights: See the city in a new light
Where: Waterfront
When: July 16 & 17, 5pm-10pm
Cost: Free