As part of our 150th anniversary celebrations, the Otago Daily Times is hosting Otago's largest community concert and everyone is invited to join in the fun.
More than 50 singers and dancers - including the cream of Otago's young performers - take the stage in the "Big Night In" at Forsyth Barr Stadium today.
They will be joined by a host of national and international stars, including Tina Cross, Ainslie Allen, Jackie Clarke and Chris Fennessy.
"I can't wait to get on stage," Cross said after rehearsing at the stadium last night.
"It's going to be a very exciting concert to be part of and it's a marvellous way to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Otago Daily Times," she said.
"It's great to be doing something of this calibre in Dunedin. The combination of seasoned performers with young artists makes this concert something very special to be involved in."
The Dunedin City Council has supported the event as the first community concert at the new stadium.
"It's going to be a fantastic concert and I'm really looking forward to it," Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said yesterday.
"It's a real community celebration."
It could become an annual Dunedin concert, similar to community events in other cities, Mr Cull said.
"We haven't made a decision on that yet, but we'll certainly be looking at the possibilities."
The ODT marks its sesquicentennial on Tuesday - 150 years to the day after founders Julius Vogel and William Cutten established the newspaper in 1861.
The "Big Night In" starts at 4.30pm today at the stadium.
A gold coin donation will be collected at the gates to be shared between KidsCan (50%), Dunedin North Lions (10%) and Big Night In Charities Ltd (40%, to offset concert costs).
Gates open at 3pm.
