Rotorua's premier outdoor concert is moving from its traditional January date next year. Lakeside 2012 will be on Saturday, March 10, six weeks later than usual.
Event director Monty Morrison said the move had been made to avoid clashing with the Big Day Out and as the stage was booked out
for most of the summer due to More FM's Winery Tour, the March date was the next best.
"As Lakeside is a big outdoor show we're limited to the option for the stage," Mr Morrison said. "It has to be a stage that meets OSH requirements and the stage we use is only available for the same weekend we had this year or the beginning of March. I'm not unhappy about it. The weather in January is becoming what weather in December used to be like."
He said the organisers were beavering away already on planning next year's event. An announcement will be made on October 31. The March 10 date coincides with Rotorua hosting the Oceania Mountain Bike Championships. Mr Morrison said it would be a big weekend for the city.
"It will be excellent and it's worked out well for us. We can provide something not only for Rotorua people but for the international visitors."
Rotorua Lakeside Concert Charitable Trust chairman Ian Edward said moving the event to March would also cement its reason for being.
"The concert is set up for local people," he said. "It's about providing something free to every citizen in the region. When we have it in January it does change who you're doing it for."
This year's event was affected by rain but Mr Edward said although the weather may be better in March it wasn't an issue for the performers.
"One thing we discovered at a debriefing with Shane Cortese [the 2011 artistic director], was from their perspective that's part of Lakeside's charm. They do it because it's outside and the elements are a part of it."
