Whanganui's Lights on bikes and opening of revamped Drews Ave.
Whanganui's Drews Ave looked more like something from a fantasy novel than a central city street on Friday evening, as hundreds lit up the night with brightly coloured costumes and bicycles.
Lights on Bikes and Drews Avenue Street Party organisers said more than 1000 people turned out for the event,with support from the Whanganui District Council and Whanganui & Partners ensuring the event could go ahead.
Towering over the party-goers were large glaring mushrooms and hair-raising ghosts, with the odd hula-hooping dancer and flame slinger thrown in the mix.
The Lights on Bikes and Drews Avenue Street Party events took place in Whanganui on Friday night, with hundreds turning out for the celebrations. Photo / Bevan Conley
The event was a community affair, with a large number of volunteers on hand to help put together and pack down the event, as well as ensuring safety on the night.
Many local businesses were present, with Drews Ave bar Porridge Watson selling gourmet hot dogs and sausages for kids, while other food stalls sold the likes of pizza, burgers and donuts.
There was plenty of music, with street performers making their own tunes as well as a performance by local band Hot Potato one of the highlights of the evening.
There were a number of art installations on display at the event, including inflatable mushrooms and hanging lanterns. Photo / John Smart
Organiser Shanti Sibbing, contracted by the council to put on the event, said feedback so far had been positive, with growing calls to make the event a guaranteed annual tradition.
"The feedback has been pretty incredible, we've been getting lots of messages through saying how well it went," Sibbing said.
Zivan May and father William were all dressed up in well-lit attire for the occasion. Photo / Bevan Conley
"We had the first Lights on Bikes event in 2018, and then we had a second event in 2019. The council decided to do it again this year, and the numbers grew even more. We're looking to make it an annual occasion."
This year the event coincided with the opening of the new Drews Ave street art, designed by Whanganui artists Cecelia Kumeroa and Jodi Clark.
Lucy Wilson was half of fire-spinning duo Spark and Flare. Photo / John Smart
The art installation on the road is part of the council's town centre regeneration project, and is 90 per cent funded by Waka Kotahi/NZTA.
"It was really nice working with town centre regeneration and the Drews Ave project," Sibbing said.
"The installation transformed the road into such a beautiful space, and it was great to be able to incorporate that into the event."
Overall, the event went off without a hitch, with Sibbing hoping its continued success would keep it alive in Whanganui.
A large number of children took part in the parade, with bright lights and colour the aim of the game. Photo / B Hooper
"Each year we get more and more people coming, and that means people spending more time on making their costumes and decorating their bikes.
"It really does become quite a spectacle, and it's awesome to see the community out there enjoying it. "
