Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to paint the town red - the town being Northland, and the reason for the party, the Rugby World Cup.
The Advocate is committed to keeping everyone informed of what will be happening throughout the Rugby World Cup tournament. It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,
and it will also be a lot of fun.
Paint It Red 2011 is a campaign to ensure our visitors have a great experience. Go to www.northland2011.com and you'll find a raft of ideas on how you can help "Paint It Red".
Why red? The rugby teams playing in Northland are Japan, Canada and Tonga - all "red" teams. Ticket sales are open for the September 14 Canada-versus-Tonga match at the Northland Events Centre, and the September 21, Japan-versus-Tonga match.
Both games are Wednesday matches, so hopefully tourists and fans will arrive early for each, or simply hang around for several days after the first match. On September 10, tourists can experience another of the Rs that New Zealanders love - racing - when the Whangarei Racing Club holds its Fashion Extravaganza at Ruakaka.
After the first match, tourists are expected to head to Russell for an oyster festival, and with any luck will "take the long way round" as they tour the North.
These are events already on the calendar - word is that local rugby clubs are preparing to play host to visitors by offering up their carparks as venues for overnight stays, and an opportunity to sit down and have a beer with locals and enjoy an authentic experience at a local rugby club.
There is also a multitude of business-associated events happening at ground level.
With our coverage and websites such as www.northland2011.com, there's no excuse for not being informed about what's going on in Northland during the 2011 RWC.
With 45 days to go, it's time to grab our metaphorical brush and paints, and start to "Paint It Red".
