Crowds enjoyed watching live and screen performances and visiting the stalls at the festival. Photo / Lewis Gardener
There may have been an autumn crispness in the Whanganui air but that did not prevent a crowd of around 500 from enjoying Lanterns on the Awa on Saturday. Chronicle photographer Lewis Gardner captured the illuminated riverside action as people gathered beneath the lanterns to enjoy a belated celebration of
the Year of the Ox, which began in February.
Jan McLeod, of the China Friendship Society, joined UCOL campus manager Bronwyn Paul in organising the festival just five weeks ago and said it was testimony to the amount of goodwill in Whanganui that everything came together so well.
"Bronwyn couldn't be there on Saturday but I want to thank her for all the work she did and Kai Teng Lim of INC Creative has done amazing work," McLeod said.
"He contacted GJ Gardner who supplied the LED screen so everyone had a fantastic view of the wonderful performances. The food vendors reported back that they had a good night and were able to feed everyone adequately so it was a brilliant night."
McLeod said The Confucius Institute made a financial contribution via the Confucius classroom at Whanganui High School and a friend in China once again sent beautiful lanterns that were added to collections from previous years.
