Tamati and Kiriona thought of the idea last July when they were discussing non-related business opportunities.
The pair took inspiration from seeing several sports and music festival fusions in the United Kingdom and wanted to try it themselves.
“It was quite a short turnover. We just sat down at a table and said ‘shall we give it a go and see how it goes?’” Tamati said.
They wanted to bring something different to Whanganui that everyone could be part of, she said.
“We want to bring a new life to Whangas that everyone can benefit from, with sporting, music and businesses.”
The festival will open on Thursday with fitness games at River City Boxing Club, before finals at The Zone.
On Friday the indoor netball and sevens rugby events will be held at Springvale Stadium and Te Kura O Kokohuia, respectively.
On the final day of the festival, the Brooklyn Battle Touch Tournament will be played at Springvale Park and volleyball at Jubilee Stadium.
The touch rugby and golf events will contribute to the Brooklyn Love Foundation, which honours Whanganui boy Brooklyn Hati-Bennett, who died of cancer in 2012.
The golf competition will take place at Tawhero Golf Club on January 18, separate from the music dates.
Artists who will perform over the three nights include DJ Mikey J, DJ Raw, Fairbrother and Twofold.
Tamati would like to expand the festival to be more family-oriented in future years, with daytime music for kids and adult music in the evenings.
“There’s been heaps of learning before it’s kicked off. There’s so many different ways that we can make it easier and bigger for the next years coming,” she said.
She hoped the festival would grow to attract people from the central region and around New Zealand in the future.
Tickets are $10 per night and are available from Frank Bar and Eatery, Mint Cafe or The Zone.
Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.
