Festival returns with new attractions

The Harcourts Outdoor Ice Rink at the Village Green will be a popular part of Fire and Ice. Photo/File

Rotorua's Fire & Ice Festival is returning for a third year and this time there's no Luminite but instead a fire walk and polar plunge.

The midwinter festival opens on June 26 and runs until July 27.

Events & Venues events manager Martin Croft said they hoped to find a place for Luminite in the major events calendar and that it could possibly run over several days.

The main feature of the festival is the Harcourts Outdoor Ice Rink on the Village Green but there will also be events staged around the inner city, including Tutanekai St, Eat Streat, the Village Green and lower lakefront area.

The Radio Network's The Hits 97.5FM has joined Rotorua District Council and Rotorua Trust, as naming rights sponsor for the festival.

Events and Venues' major events co-ordinator Jason Cameron said there were new events to keep the festival exciting.

"Festival activities will create a real buzz of excitement in around the city, complementing the Harcourts Outdoor Ice Rink and providing opportunities for inner city retail and hospitality businesses." Events & Venues is working with a number of local charity groups to raise awareness of their work, and to help them fundraise through some dynamic initiatives.

"These will be very different to the traditional cake stall and sausage sizzle we're all used to," Mr Cameron said.

The Hits Fire & Ice Festival will feature a dozen or more key events including the all new Ignite Rotorua Lantern Festival & Fire & Lights showcase on Saturday, July 26. The Rotorua Fire Walk & Polar Plunge and Mountain to the Green events are on Saturday, July 12.

Also returning is the outdoor film night on Friday, July 4, Blaze Night with bonfire, fire performers, fireworks and laser light show on Saturday, July 12 and a Mid-Winter Christmas at the Rotorua Night Market on Thursday, July 17.