Lyttelton comes to the party: Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights June 2010
By Breeze Robertson
Lyttelton was buzzing after the Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights lived up to its promise to bring a sparkle to winter.
“Congratulations Lyttelton for coming to the party. Great turnout, great atmosphere, great participation and great creativity,” festival coordinator Wendy Everyingham from Project Lyttelton said.
Many of the 30 or so events in the 10 day festival, which finished on Sunday 27 June, sold out in advance or were filled to capacity on the day.
Thousands of people took advantage of a fine spell of weather to enjoy the main event – the mask parade, live entertainment and LPC fireworks on Friday 25 June.
Children in masks (made in a festival workshop or at school) followed a samba band from Lyttelton Main School to fill London Street from end to end. MC Cairan Fox, a Science Alive display and the Melt Fire show entertained the crowd, before the spectacular LPC fireworks display lit up the port to the delight of children and adults alike. Live music followed.
A highlight for organizers was the Light Up Lyttelton winner Mrs Fyfe, who won $350 sponsored by Hang Up Entertainment for her efforts in decorating her house with lights. “She didn’t even know there was a competition. When she won, it made her week,” Wendy said.
The economic benefits the festival brought to Lyttelton were secondary to the heightened sense of community, Wendy said. “The festival draws the community closer together.”
The success of the event was due to good organization, sponsor support and community input. “Special thanks to the festival team for all their hard work. A big thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers who ensured the event’s success,” Wendy said.
Festival-goers were encouraged to support Project Lyttelton’s sustainability focus by using public transport and recycling waste where possible.
There was something for everyone in the 2010 Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights, from Ground’s winter feast cooking class to the Swap-O-Rama-Rama clothes swap, the Volcano music quiz, heritage walks, a Harem opening party and even Abbraccia Belly Dance’s seduction workshop.
Tickets were snapped up for The Butler at The Loons on the eve of the production’s London tour, wine writer Jo Burzynska’s Fireside Reds and the Kids in the Community concerts featuring local hip hop, belly dance, circus and Rock School groups. Project Lyttelton’s Speaker Sessions, the Harbour Light’s Mighty Uke evening and Volcano Radio’s varied events were also all well supported.
The Brian Mason Discovery Starlab Dome at the Lyttelton Fire Brigade was a huge success as a new addition to the street party with people turned away from almost all sessions.
Many of those involved in events have had lots of enquiries from festival-goers wanting to know when they will run their next event or class.
The Harbourlight takes a magic carpet ride veering toward the Middle East for this glamorous and exotic party to open the Festival of Lights. With entertainment by Abbraccia Belly Dance and live music from The Eastern, exotic platters of nibbles and fabulous prizes to be won, Harem at the Harbourlight is guaranteed to bring a sparkle to winter.