MEDIA RELEASE

2 November 2016

Then and Now: the Wellington Sky Show edition

Make sure you have a prime view of the waterfront this Saturday 5 November for the country’s largest annual fireworks display, the Wellington Sky Show, presented by Wellington City Council, and supported by CentrePort.

There will be food trucks on the waterfront, carnival amusements at Waitangi Park, and a spectacular fireworks display over the harbour. Steve and Kath from The Breeze will broadcast live from the Sky Show from 7pm.

The event is incredibly popular with Wellingtonians of all ages, so make sure you show up early to claim a prime spot and make the most of what’s on offer.

To celebrate our sister city relationship with Canberra, before the Sky Show there will be a free concert featuring Canberra’s soul funk duo MONDECREEN and our very own The Phoenix Foundation thanks to our mates across the ditch! 7pm-8:45pm, Frank Kitts Park.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester says the Sky Show is an iconic event in the city’s calendar. “For families, it’s one of the best nights of the year. It’s a great outing and there’s going to be plenty of entertainment round the waterfront.

“I’m looking forward to seeing tens of thousands of Wellingtonians on our waterfront, looking skyward with amazement.”

Audiences should also make sure they have a good view of the water, as this year’s display will be highlighting the beautiful Wellington harbour.

Designer of PyroStar International, Robert McDermott says a lot has changed since Wellington’s first Sky Show celebration in 1995. From a manual electronic, voice operated system to a state of the art design program complete with computer field controller’s means the fireworks display is synchronised to perfection with the soundtrack.

This year Robert has choreographed the display to a very distinctive local flavour of music, with well-known and emerging Wellington regional artists, including Phoenix Foundation, The Body Electric, Ladyhawke and composer David Downes who also produced the soundtrack.

Robert says: “I consider pyrotechnics is an art form. It is a total designed performance from sight to sound; it speaks volumes with no age limit and to all cultures”

Sky Show audiences can tune in to the soundtrack on the Breeze (94.1 and 98.5FM) or MORE FM (99.7 and 95.3FM) which will be simulcast from 9pm. Use FM radio rather than a streaming programme to avoid delays.

The event is in a liquor ban area and attendees are also reminded that it’s against the law to set off fireworks in a public place – doing so will result in fines.

Carnival attractions will be available all weekend, the food trucks will be there from midday Saturday, the concert will kick off at 7pm and the fireworks display will start at 9pm.

The fireworks will go ahead rain or shine – but may be postponed for high winds, the postponement day is Sunday 6 November at 9pm. For live updates, check Wellington City Council’s Facebook page.

See wellington.govt.nz/skyshow for the traffic management map, and www.metlink.co.nz for live public transport information.

#skyshow16

[ENDS]

© Scoop Media