Vintage Weekend is setting the pace

Dressed to impress at Saturday's launch of Wanganui's Vintage Weekend are, from left, Doreen Hardy, Sally Jane Smith, Kyle Dalton, Ian Chamberlain, Bruce Jellyman, Peter Hardy, Keith Turner, Ed Boyd and Elise Goodge. PHOTO/ BEVAN CONLEY

Wanganui's Vintage Weekend is 15 years ahead of every similar show in New Zealand.

That was the bold statement by Ed Boyd as January's three-day extravaganza was officially launched at the Whanganui Regional Museum on Saturday.

And Mr Boyd - a vintage car connoisseur and Tramways Trust board member - said he included Hawke's Bay's much-vaunted art deco weekend in that claim.

He and museum external relations officer Kyle Dalton have unveiled the programme for the January 17-19 anniversary weekend.

Events include the city's largest street carnival on Saturday, January 17, with outdoor movie screening; the Riverside Festival on January 18; the Wanganui Vintage Car Club's Burma Rally; a Great Gatsby summer ball; an outdoor banquet in Victoria Avenue; a garden tour; kart racing in the soapbox derby; tram rides; vintage car rides; and river cruises.

Whanganui MP Chester Borrows also spoke at the launch of what will be the city's third Vintage Weekend.

He recalled how he had brought ambassadors and other members of the diplomatic community up from Wellington to Wanganui.

"They come here and they are blown away by it - they love it to bits," he said.

He planned to bring more guests up for the January event and, recalling last week's celebration of 100 years since the opening of the Dublin Street Bridge, said: "We seem to be going through a purple patch of pride in Wanganui."

Among the offers around the Vintage Weekend is a Vintage VIP pass, available at $15 from the i-Site, which will entitle the holder to a range of discounts and benefits over the weekend.