Summer Arts Festival Coming To Hamilton Gardens

Summer arts festival coming to hamilton gardens

A $10,000 SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust grant will assist in the staging of the Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival next month. The annual ten-day festival will be held from 18 - 27 February 2005. The festival will take place in the beautifully themed gardens located on Cobham drive in Hamilton.

It is expected that there will be 32 different acts, with more than 70 performances over the 10 festival days. A wide variety of performances will feature, from Visual Arts and Theatre, Japanese Drummers and an Irish band to modern and traditional Indian entertainment. There will also be a Wine Festival and a new Readers and Writers section. The major concerts will include 'New York, New York', with Tim Beveridge, a 17 piece big band, plus the world-renowned Polynesian band Te Vaka.

David McCathie, Organising Committee, Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival says, "A number of local volunteer organisations will be performing and taking part this year. We're very proud of the talent and entertainment that we have got lined up. The SKYCITY trust's support is greatly appreciated and we're looking forward to hosting this event for another year. We anticipate that approximately 40,000 people will attend over the 10-day period."

This year, more than 50 percent of the festival events will be free of charge. The events that do require tickets will cost no more than $35 per ticket. Further information can be obtained through www.hamiltongardens.co.nz and free brochures and ticket purchases are available from Ticketek.

"We are delighted to be part of an extremely popular and well established event, which attracts many people to Hamilton City. Everyone who visits the festival will be able to enjoy a new experience such as unique cultural performances or a different musical style. We're excited to support the Summer Arts Festival and assist in bringing some great entertainment to the community and in such a beautiful location," says Margaret Evans, Chairperson SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust.

SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust also sponsored $30,000 towards the tile paving of the Lotus Fountain in the Indian Char Bagh Garden at the Hamilton Gardens. The structure is an enclosed four-part garden and one of the most significant types of traditional gardens. The opening is planned for February 2005. A 'Bollywood' show will be featured at the Indian Char Bagh Garden during the festival.

The SKYCITY Hamilton Community Trust was established in 2003, as part of the SKYCITY Hamilton licence applications process, to provide funds for community and charitable purposes. To date, the Trust has distributed more than $850,000 in grants to the Waikato Community.

ENDS

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