Free Opera in the Park tickets for Christchurch visitors

The Nelson City Council is offering a night out at Opera in the Park to Christchurch people who have taken shelter here after Tuesday’s devastating earthquake.

Mayor Aldo Miccio has two families staying with him and said he knows there are many more Nelsonians who have friends staying with them or who have offered beds to strangers through radio stations, church appeals and the city council itself.

“It’s a small gesture that we can make to give our Christchurch guests a free ticket to Opera in the Park,” he said. “At the same time I’d really like to urge Nelson people to turn out to this event – one of the things that’s emerging in Christchurch is that sense of knowing and helping your neighbours that comes in a time of crisis.

“I’d like to think in Nelson we have some of that sense of community already and at a time like this we can seek comfort from coming together with our friends and families and sharing in some of the enduringly beautiful music of our culture – as well as the down home kiwi humour of the Topp Twins.”

Free tickets will be available to people presenting with some form of Christchurch ID (eg library card, bank statement or a convincing story) at Everyman or at the gate on Saturday night.

“We can’t set up something absolutely watertight on this but we’re relying on Nelson people being honest and recognising that at $15 they are getting a good deal already,” the Mayor said.

Nelson City Council festival producer Sophie Kelly said the Red Cross would be collecting for the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal on the night, with help from Nelson City Council volunteers.

“We’ve heard from some of our singers who have been affected by the loss of life in Christchurch but they still want Opera in the Park to go ahead and to make it a special night with a collection to help the earthquake appeal – in a sense we can consider it a benefit concert.”

Nelson Opera in the Park is on 26 February 2011, at Trafalgar Park, gates open 5.30, event starts 7.30pm. Adults $15, children 5-15 $5, children U5 free. Thanks to Everyman there is no booking fee and thanks to Pic’s Really Good Peanut Butter and Combat Pyrotechnics there will be fireworks.

Nelson Opera in the Park is part of Summer in Nelson, presented by the Nelson City Council as a celebration for locals and an attraction for visitors.

ENDS

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