Bay Dreams directors Mitch Lowe, from left, Pato Alverez with Ervin McSweeney from Bay Venues. Photo / Andrew Warner
Bay Dreams directors Mitch Lowe, from left, Pato Alverez with Ervin McSweeney from Bay Venues. Photo / Andrew Warner
After many long hours of hard work and preparations, 30,000 people are about to pack out Trustpower Baypark for Tauranga's biggest, single-day event.
Bay Dreams Mount Maunganui is a sell-out January 2 festival held at Baypark featuring hip-hop superstar Cardi B, Sheck Wes, Rich The Kid Shapeshifter, Tash Sultana, StickyFingers, Peking Duk, $uicideboy$, Macky Gee, Pnau, Katchafire and more.
Bay Dreams directors Pato Alvarez and Mitch Lowe were excited to show festivalgoers what this year's festival had to offer.
Alvarez said the line-up includes "some of the biggest names in the world right now" and he, like many people attending the event, was particularly excited about Cardi B. He was grateful that she joined the line-up.
Cardi B performs as part of Electric Holiday Concert in Puerto Rico on December 21. Photo / Getty Images
"I'm looking forward to meeting her and her performance, she's the hottest artist in the world right now," Alvarez said.
He said running such a large-scale event was a lot of long hours and hard work and bringing someone of Cardi B's stature added to that because even more organisation and security was required. He said it was all worth it though, and the whole team was excited.
"You've got to love what you do."
Alvarez said they had about 1000 people working across the whole event.
"It's a lot of management. I'm very thankful that we have a very good team."
Preceding the main event is a pre-party today , with 5000 people expected to attend. A total of 5500 people had booked camping sites at the event for the two days, Alvarez said.
With tens of thousands of people heading to the venue over the two days, Bay Dreams directors Pato Alvarez and Mitch Lowe want people to be safe on the roads and are urging motorists to plan for the expected delays and to follow all signs and directions of traffic management staff.
Alvarez said security would be tight at Bay Dreams. He said organisers wanted everybody to have an enjoyable and safe experience and there would be a zero-tolerance approach to intoxication and bad behaviour.
"We're going to be really strict."
He said they wanted festivalgoers to have plenty of energy and good vibes only so they can enjoy all of the production he says will "blow people's minds".
Bay Dreams Mount Maunganui 2019: It is a strict R18 event with a one-way entry. It runs between 12pm and 10.30pm on January 2 and has four stages with individual themes. There is no parking at or near the site. You can get dropped off near the event or use the bus service. Buses will run from Mount Maunganui, Pāpāmoa, the City Centre and Toi Ohomai's Windermere campus. Those who have camping tickets will have to be out of the campgrounds by 12pm. There are road closures and access to the Te Maunga Transfer Station on Truman Lane will be limited on January 2. All access will be via the Sandhurst Dr interchange.
Bay Dreams set times, January 2, 2019:
Stage: Field of Dreams
9.20pm: Peking Duk 8.15pm: Cardi B 7.20pm: Rich The Kid 6.40pm: Sheck Wes 5.30pm: Sticky Fingers 4.20pm: Tash Sultana 3.10pm: Katchafire 2.10pm: Ladi6 1.20pm: Tayla Parx 12.45pm: Times X Two 12pm: Momentus Stage: Bay Park 9.15pm: Joey Bada$$ 7.55pm: Macky Gee 6.45pm: PNAU 5.35pm: Suicideboy$ 4.40pm: Delta Heavy 3.40pm: Home Brew 2.40pm: Mr Carmack 1.55pm: SWIDT 1.20pm: KWAME 12.45pm: Gold Member 12pm: T1R
Personal cameras and GoPros Hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes Mobile phone and charger Sunblock, sunglasses and hats empty bottles of water Small backpacks, belt bags and hip bags Small blankets Binoculars Chapstick and lip balm Earplugs Eye drops Gum
What not to bring:
Alcohol, drugs or drug paraphernalia Commercial food and drinks Fireworks, explosives or flares Laser Pointers Weapons, items that can be used as weapons or dangerous items that can cause injury Gang Patches Professional cameras, video equipment, drones, audio recording devices Umbrellas bigger than 1m Sealed bottles of water Aerosol products Air Horns Chairs or chilli bins Flyers, giveaways or promotional items Kites, hula hoops, skateboards, scooters or hoverboards Sharpies, Markers or permanent pens Tarps, tents or sleeping bags Hi-Viz vests or jackets that may be confused with security or event staff Toy guns, water guns or slingshots Pets – except seeing eye dogs BBQ or cooking equipment
