A Matariki Light path in Kaiapoi in July will give visitors a magical experience and offer heaps of fun and entertainment.

The path will join other events that will light up the town, the Kaiapoi River, and the night sky.

Reality Bites in partnership with Event Hire Show Management are presenting a two-night Matariki in Kaiapoi celebration, with the Kaiapoi Lights festival at Cochrane Park, alongside the Kaiapoi River, taking place over four evenings, wrapped around the Matariki event.

The festivities kick off with Kaiapoi Lights on July 8 with light installations casting a magical spell over the area. It will run until July Saturday, July 11.

The light path is just a three minute walk to the Matariki celebration in Norman Kirk Park on Friday and Saturday evenings, July 10 and 11.

Event organiser Karl Howarth says the last Matariki event was one of the biggest events in North Canterbury with an estimated crowd of around 15,000.

He says as it involved setting up a lot of gear at considerable cost, so it made sense to extend the celebration over two evenings to better cater for visitors to enjoy the event.

However, there will only be one fireworks display on Friday evening.

The Kaiapoi Light festival will shine over four nights, easing congestion as it too was attended by a huge crowd on the Friday evening in the past, and more evenings meant more people could attend it and enjoy.

Karl says there will be kai and market vendors, live music and performers, plus a fun filled fairground. He is ‘‘chuffed’’ the ‘‘amazing duo’’ Dillastrate, will performing.

They take the main stage prior to the 7pm Fireworks display on Friday.

“The event will be about bringing people together for kai, kanikani Momac, waiata, fun and the fireworks,” he says.

The Matariki celebration is free, while there will be a $10 charge per person to the Kaiapoi Lights festival.

Karl says sales open soon and there will be family passes also available. Keep an eye out for the Kaiapoi LIght website.

  • The Matariki celebration is from 4pm with the fireworks scheduled for 7pm. On Saturday, July 11 it will run from noon until 9pm.
  • Kaiapoi Lights will run from 5pm to 7pm on Wednesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 9, and from 5pm to 9pm, Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11.