27 April 2016

K Road Open Streets

Big crowds are expected for Open Streets on K Rd this Sunday, 1 May.

Thousands of people will be walking, cycling or catching a bus to K Road for a day of fun at Auckland’s biggest street event of 2016. Auckland’s famous Karangahape Road will be closed to traffic from Ponsonby Rd to Queen St from midday to 7pm.

Live music, dance performances, painting displays and a street market are all on the programme which will take place across six zones up and down K’ Road. The zones include the Art District, Central Park for music and dance as well as West End Park where there will be a five-a-side soccer tournament.

The Auckland Street Choir will sing a mix of pop, soul, blues, R&B and folk. Cabaret impresario Mike Haka and his guests will be entertaining people on a 360 stage and Twice as Nice Markets will be spilling over with crafts, vintage clothing and accessories. There’ll also be plenty of interactive activities for the kids.

Open Streets 2016 is run by Auckland Transport in partnership with the K Road Business Association.

Auckland Transport’s Cycling and Walking manager Kathryn King says Karangahape Rd was chosen for Open Streets 2016 for a number of reasons, “It’s got a vibrant art, music and culture scene; rich heritage and historic buildings; celebrated eateries and bars and a rapidly expanding residential community. It’s also centrally located with great connections to our growing network of cycleways, so we’re encouraging people to cycle or walk.”.

Open Streets is tailor-made for K Road and this Open Streets is home grown says K Rd Business Association's president, Ross Liew. “Our artists, communities and businesses are jumping at the chance to be out on the street, it's been more than 10 years since K Road was closed like this. So far over 60 different groups have put their hand up to be part of this unique event."

Highlights of Open Streets 2016

Join Bike Auckland’s treasure hunt (on your bike) https://www.facebook.com/events/1320507017965691/

Help build your street. Talk to the project team working on plans for the K Rd Streetscape Enhancement and Cycleway

Central Park (between Queen and Pitt Sts) will host music from the street, managed by local venue Neck of the Woodshttps://www.facebook.com/events/584792161686823/

Twice as Nice Market https://www.facebook.com/twiceasnicemarkets

Sign up your team for the Queens of K Road football tournament or watch the fun and games hosted by Caluzzi https://www.facebook.com/events/1306188536062298/

Join artists who help give K Road its edginess - all working and showing on the street including deciphering Aaron McConchie's Shorthand and helping Tanja McMillan paint by numbers. https://www.facebook.com/events/965654606886851/

Merge Cafe, Splice AKL and Lifewise are joining forces to make their own pop-up Op Shop Swap. Winter is coming and you can help by giving your clothes, footwear and blankets to those needing to keep warm.

About Open Streets

Open Streets is an international initiative which temporarily closes a road or area to traffic in order to reclaim it for walking, cycling, playing or socialising. Last year the event was held on Quay St attracting a crowd of around 20,000 and Open Streets K Rd 2016 is expected to be just as popular.

ENDS

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