Bathing the solstice in light

Noelie Gascuel, from France, and Chia-Li Shen, a Dance Lab performing arts student, rehearse Alize (trade wind in French) for the carnival procession. The costumes, reminiscent of underwater rays, in line with the carnival theme, were made by Rowan Holt. Photo by Jane Dawber.

• Shedding a little light

• Highlights

From small beginnings it has grown to a large spectacle, making a circle of light around the darkened Octagon as the procession is now large enough for its head to link with its tail.

"It's like reclaiming the Octagon for families. It feels really safe," according to Juliet Novena Sorrel, the carnival's creative director.

Her job is to co-ordinate all the design aspects of the many groups taking part in the carnival, to make it look sophisticated but still handmade.

Each year the design aspects are linked by a theme, this year "creatures of the sea".

She remembers the Alexandra Blossom Festival floats with princesses, which as a child seemed as close to fairy tales as you could get in real life.

She wants to re-create that feeling for the children - and adults - who watch the carnival procession.

"It's not fast. It's slow and magical and I think that's where the whole thing of timelessness comes into it.

"We slow time right down and the magic takes over.

"I can see that in children at the carnival now.

"There are rows of little children sitting on the street and older ones standing behind them, then mums and dads standing behind them holding children.

"It's just lined with children and they all have that same look I recognise in their faces, of the awe and magic of it."

Behind the scenes artists and performers have been working long hours creating giant lanterns, the centrepieces of the event, and making costumes for performers.

Some are professionals, but most are community groups.

This year there will be about 70 performers including Songbong Brazilian carnival drumming, African dancing by Korudance, Djembe drumming from Wassa Wassa, traditional French music and dance with a modern twist from Les Belles Vilaines, Alize, performed by dancers from Otago University's innovative Dance Lab, as well as about 800 people who have made lanterns at public workshops leading up to the festival.

More than 7000 spectators are expected.

As the audience grew, doubling for several years in a row, the organisers had to adapt the format, separating the audience from the performers so people could see what was happening.

Now the audience lines the Octagon on both sides of the road, which is closed to traffic, and the performers proceed anticlockwise around the Octagon.