Craig Read of Whangarei competing at the 137th Waipu Highland Games. Photo / Northern Advocate
Craig Read of Whangarei competing at the 137th Waipu Highland Games. Photo / Northern Advocate
KEY POINTS:
Waipu's annual Highland Games will be held at Caledonian Park on January 1, followed by the inaugural Waipu Celtic Music Festival on January 3, also at Caledonian Park. The festival includes piping
and highland dancing demonstrations. There'll be a Gaelic language
workshop, whisky tasting, several bands, storytellers, food,and a cash bar. It runs 12pm-10.30pm
Mussels and music Port FitzRoy on Great Barrier Island comes alive for The Great FitzRoy
Mussel Festival on January 10. Succulent mussels will be complemented by a variety of seafood, with live music adding to the atmosphere. It runs 10am-1am.
Southern summer The Summerdaze Festival kicks off on New Year's Eve with music and fireworks on the lakefronts in Queenstown and Wanaka. That's followed by a month of free activities and entertainment in the area, including teddy bears' picnics, twilight cinema, Chinese New Year celebrations, and more.
Carnival at Caroline The Caroline Bay Carnival at Timaru offers many free or low-cost events, activities and competitions such as fairground rides, concerts
and train and mini-rig rides. It runs December 26 to January 11.
Under starry skies Black Barn Vineyards in Havelock North holds an outdoor film festival
December 27 to January 6. Nine movies will be screened in the vineyard's
amphitheatre, where patrons can spread a picnic on grassy terraces and sip a glass of wine while watching movies.
Admission is $15, $90 for a season pass, and $45 for a family.
