The Kerikeri Business Association expects 4000 Northlanders to join the street party, 1000 people from elsewhere in New Zealand and 100 overseas tourists. An estimated 600 people would stay up to three nights in paid accommodation.
Association chairman Jason Vokes said the party's main purpose was to give the runners a chance to wind down and a reason to spend an extra night in Kerikeri, instead of heading home straight after the Saturday afternoon prizegiving.
Food and beverage coordinator Sheila Lavender said 14 newcomers among this year's 30 food stalls and 13 wine and craft beer stalls would lend a different flavour to previous years.
Craft beer was particularly strong this year, as was the range of food with everything from fudge and blueberry ice cream to whitebait and spare ribs.
Since it was founded in 2009 by a group of B&B owners the street party had become an iconic event in its own right, with some people travelling to Kerikeri just for the evening festivities.
Even cafes and restaurants which didn't take part in the party did well because of the extra numbers in town, she said.
New traders this year include Rob Harrell of Phat House Brewery in Waipapa, who will be pouring four craft beers and has been preparing for the party since last year.
"We're really looking forward to it. We always go as punters so it will be good fun getting a bit more involved. It's also a good chance to get business name out."
A new option alongside this year's half marathon is the Ray White 5km Run/Walk, including a pram/buggy section, which will start at Marsden Estate Winery on Wiroa Rd, where participants will weave through the vines before joining the final downhill stretch of the half marathon course. About 300 have registered for the new event.
■ The 28th Kerikeri Half Marathon will start in Okaihau at 7.25am for race chairs, 7.30am runners and 8am walkers, with prizegiving about 12.30pm at Kerikeri Domain. One lane of Kerikeri Rd will be closed in the morning with traffic exiting town required to use the Heritage Bypass and Waipapa Rd instead; Cobham Rd will remained closed until 1pm. The Old Packhouse Market will open as usual, however. In the evening Kerikeri Rd will be closed between Homestead Rd and Fairway Drive for the street party, which runs from 5-9pm (free entry). Festivities will continue afterwards at venues around town.
Cool but windy conditions expected
Runners in Saturday's Kerikeri Half Marathon can look forward to good conditions in terms of temperature with cloudy skies and the odd shower - but those hoping to smash long-standing records won't be happy with the forecast of strong southeasterly winds. MetService meteorologist April Clark a low would skirt Northland on Saturday, bringing overcast skies and occasional light rain. Less favourable for runners would be the easterly headwind shifting during the day to a southeasterly gusting to gale force near the coast. The outlook for boaties was not promising with a 1m easterly swell rising to a 3m southeasterly during Saturday and easing to 2.5m on Sunday.
