Pirates capture parade booty

Wanaka's town centre was awash with colour and creativity yesterday evening as a large procession of floats and community groups marched, danced, sailed and skateboarded their way down Ardmore St for the Kahu Youth Wanakafest street parade.

About 2000 spectators lined the pavements at 5.30pm to watch the ninth annual parade, which began a weekend of events on Pembroke Park and the Ardmore St lakefront, including a two-day wine and food festival, which starts at 11am today, and the popular polar plunge and cardboard boat race tomorrow morning.

Wanaka's annual spring carnival has been held since 1984, when it was known as Snowfest and celebrated the end of the ski season.

It was relaunched as Wanakafest in 2003 and in recent years, Kahu Youth has taken on an increasing role in organising the parade and other events.

From the 24 entries in this year's parade, judges Ed Taylor and Aaron Blackledge (19) selected Wanaka Cubs' Pirates of the Caribbean float as the winner of the best-float trophy, donated by the Kahu Youth and Wanakafest trusts and made by Ernie Maluschnig, of Metal Works.

The sold-out Passion4Fashion show launched Wanakafest on Wednesday night, with 400 audience members and 100 volunteer models and crew descending on the trade department of Wanaka Mitre 10. Kingston designer Anna Marie Morris won the Design Pioneers competition.

Chris Kirkham won the Wanakafest Moviefest on Thursday with his short film Greatest American Hero. His prize includes a trip to Weta Digital in Wellington.

Wanakafest closes with the Rugby World Cup final on the big screen at Pembroke Park tomorrow night.

- lucy.ibbotson@odt.co.nz