NEWS RELEASE from Leisure Active

24 June 2008

Celebrate winter with a bang at the Petone Winter Carnival!

Gasp in amazement as the annual fireworks extravaganza brightens the Petone Foreshore, with technicolour sky rockets and crowd-dazzling explosions. Enjoy the talent of the E Tu Awakairangi Hutt Public Art Trust artists, as they sculpt combustible materials into extravagant fire sculptures and then set them alight as the sky darkens. Set your teeth a-chatterin’ with a dip in Wellington Harbour’s icy waters, along with a score of other madly-dressed hardy souls. The Petone Winter Carnival is a full day’s entertainment, with plenty of fun and laughter for the whole family!

This year’s event, scheduled for Saturday, 19 July, starts at 2pm and finishes with the Pelorus Trust Fireshow from Petone Wharf at 7.30pm. The display, set to a musical accompaniment simulcast on Classic Hits 90FM, is visible around Wellington Harbour and promises to be a theatrical spectacular of epic proportions. Designed by an international artist, the show is sure to be big, loud and brimming with excitement. While the fireworks can be seen from anywhere around Wellington Harbour, the best views are to be had along the Petone Foreshow, from Seaview through to the Korokoro Gateway.

The day begins with the Mitre 10 MEGA Petone Polar Plunge at 2.30pm, with prizes for the most outrageous and colourful costume. Last year’s outfits included a replica of Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup super-maxi, the odd pair of pyjamas and one entrant packaged entirely in bubble-wrap. Imagination is the key! Entry is by gold coin donation, with all proceeds to Wesley Community Action.

Bring the children and join them in learning trapeze, juggling and unicycling skills at the Chills Circus Workshop or take the opportunity to leave your creative mark on the Petone Foreshore with Chalk It! – a community pavement art creation. Watch artist Marc Barnes create his own pavement chalk-work especially for the Petone Winter Carnival and join in the fun of hour-long hand-drumming workshops.

There will be plenty of buskers and food stalls dotted along the Petone Foreshow too, with entertainment provided by internationally renowned pranksters Mr Fungus and Chris Devious. Pop into the Petone Settlers Museum and browse through 40 of the best images snapped by The Dominion Post photographers as part of the Making the Cut exhibition. Learn a little about their techniques and then try them out for yourself by entering A Cold Snap – a competition to reward the best digital photograph of the day as judged by The Dominion Post editorial team.

Later in the evening, enjoy Chris Devious’ Meltfire performance – a high energy fire and acrobatics show – and the Thrills Circus Performances from Awkward Productions, featuring some of New Zealand’s most talented circus artists. From 6pm, the E Tu artists will set the sculptures alight that they have spent the day preparing, decorating the Petone Foreshore with flaming works of art and providing a scrumptious entrée for the main fare – the Pelorus Trust Fireshow!

The Petone Winter Carnival, Saturday, 19 July is proudly sponsored by Pelorus Trust, Classic Hits 90FM, Mitre 10 MEGA Petone, and organised by Hutt City Council’s Leisure Active Business Unit.

For further information on the Carnival visit www.wintercarnival.co.nz.

ENDS

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