Organiser Chris Greengrass says there will plenty to entertain families both on and off the water.
‘‘We had a big crowd last year and we are expecting a lot more this year. We are promoting it further afield.’’
While she acknowledges Sunday, March 1, is a busy day for the district, with several events happening, Chris says the river carnival is restricted to when the tides are right.
‘‘Our event is reliant on the tides. We are never really going to be able to have a set date because we have to check the tides.
‘‘Hopefully, having lots of events in Waimakariri on the day, it will bring lots people into the district.’’
A car boot sale with a difference is being planned, with all sale items having a water theme, such as fishing rods and watersports equipment.
Applications for a stall can be made on the Kaiapoi River Carnival and Boat Show page on Facebook, with the car boot sale getting under way at 10am in Jones Street.
A 12-metre tall Titanic-themed bouncy castle, sponsored by John Rhind Funeral Directors, will be available for the big kids, while Corcoran French Lawyers is sponsoring a pirate ship bouncy castle for the smaller children.
There will also be ‘‘water walkers’’ and bumper boats to keep children amused, while local watersports clubs and the Kaiapoi Maritime Heritage Trust will have displays on the day.
New and second-hand boats will also be on display, along with examples of the region’s unique boats, ‘‘Waimak flatties’’.
Food trucks will also be onsite and local eateries will be open in case anyone gets hungry.
There will be parking available on former residential red-zone land in Sewell St, with carnival visitors asked not to park in the New World car park, Chris says.
February and March are proving to be busy months for Kaiapoi, with the All Together Kaiapoi Fun Run planned for the following Sunday, March 8.
Tickets for the fun run are $10 for adults and $5 for under-16s. They are on sale at the Kaiapoi iSite. The distances are 5km and 10km, with participants leaving from Murphy Park.
Kaiapoi’s annual Children’s Day event is also being held on Sunday, March 8.
