Florence Sorrel (12), of Dunedin, practises her stilt
walking in Queens Gardens yesterday while preparing for the
Dunedin Midwinter Carnival on Saturday. Photo by Rebecca
Ryan.
Lights in the Octagon will be turned off at 5.30pm on
Saturday and night creatures will crawl through the heart of
the city in Dunedin's Midwinter Carnival.
This year's procession will feature lanterns representing
Matariki, a star cluster signalling the Maori new year. They
will form the front of the parade.
Behind them will be a Manawa kapa haka roopu performance and
a swarm of hundreds of colourful and brightly-lit insect
lanterns in the shape of moths, weta, worms and owls - the
night creatures that are the parade's theme.
Carnival artistic director Juliet Novena Sorrel was pleased
to have the presence of a kapa haka group for the first time.
"It is the beginning of a new relationship that will give us
a really nice connection to the area."
Ms Sorrel said she hoped more than 10,000 people would turn
out for the event.
"It just keeps getting bigger. It's a little bit scary for
us, but we are prepared for it."
Live entertainment from Mama Yeva, more than 12 food stalls
and dozens of dancers, drummers, stilt walkers and costumed
participants will also feature.
Ms Sorrel said the carnival brought a "real drop of
positivity" into winter. "It is a remedy for those dull
wintery blues."
- Rebecca Ryan
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