Midwinter Carnival organiser Paul Smith is looking for new
premises to store lanterns as the present building is being
sold. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
The Dunedin Midwinter Carnival faces a "significant cull"
of lanterns if organisers cannot find new storage premises.
The Vogel St warehouse, where the about 60 lanterns are
stored, is being sold, forcing event organisers to look
elsewhere.
The 11th event was held last weekend, with record numbers of
about 10,000 people attending.
For the past five years, Nigel Brook has allowed his Vogel St
premises to be used free of charge, but is now selling the
building.
Event organiser Paul Smith said having the space for free
"has allowed us to invest more in the festival, which is a
real gift".
"It couldn't have been more ideal. We've been really lucky,"
he said.
Finding new premises would be a challenge.
"We're looking for someone with some space, even rafter space
they're not using."
The Dunedin City Council was also helping the organisers find
alternative storage options.
Council events team leader Marilyn Anderson said Carisbrook
was an option and they were in negotiations about the venue.
Mr Smith said the lanterns took up between 50 and 100sq m of
floor space, depending on the height of a room. The lanterns
need a new home within weeks.
Some of the larger lanterns would be culled if suitable space
could not be found.
- Annabel Reid
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