Rotorua's GLO Festival is all over for another year, and it's once again proven that locals will get out and support events that are well thought-out and family-friendly.
Especially when they're free.
Let's face it, Christmas is a busy and expensive time of the year and, by the time that'sover, many families just don't have the money or energy for expensive New Year's entertainment.
Organisers say this year's festival, the third in its current guise, attracted the biggest crowd yet over the three days. With just one big event per day, it's not a jam-packed schedule, but it doesn't need to be.
It had it all - dragons on the big screen, a dancing boyband and, of course, the traditional fireworks.
Having the earlier display at around 9.15pm on New Year's Eve was a great idea, allowing kids (and those adults who also struggle to stay awake until midnight) the chance to join in the celebrations. Judging by the way revellers on Eat Streat rushed to the Village Green when the bangs started, the fireworks were appreciated by the big kids as much as the young ones.
The lakefront and CBD area was abuzz with locals, international and domestic tourists, all having a great time, with smart phones recording the festivities to no doubt be shared around the world.
And it's great to see police reporting very little trouble around town - just 12 arrests by 1.30am which was apparently not much different to an average Friday night. So well done to GLO organisers and all involved in ringing in the new year in style. May it be a sign of good things to come in 2015.
