Tennyson Street Fair - The Little Fair with a Big Heart

Tennyson Street Fair - The Little Fair with a Big Heart

4 October 2013

On a normal day Tennyson Street is a nondescript inner-city strip dominated by high-rise apartment blocks. No trees, no cafes - just the occasional urban dweller scurrying from apartment to car.

On Sunday October 20th, that will all change. The street will come alive with live music on two stages, market stalls, ethnic food, street performers, art and craft galleries, bouncy castles and thousands of Wellingtonians celebrating together for the Tennyson Street Fair.

But Event Co-ordinator Tom Buchanan says the success of the fair is not measured in numbers.

“I've managed events from the Petone Winter Carnival to Christmas in The Hutt, but to me, this one is special. It's all about creating a sense of community in the inner city.”

The Tennyson Street Fair is a collaboration between Elim International Church and local organisations, schools and businesses. Pastor Ric Knott says the area has changed hugely since the church was established in 1922.

“Even a few years ago this area was mostly industrial – now we've got thousands of people living within a few hundred metres of each other, but no real sense of connection or belonging. We're keen to help change that.”

Now in its second year, the fair has been designed to have natural connection points where people can meet and interact, including a 'Top Team' competition, a family entertainment area, and workshops on everything from craft and cooking skills to community gardening, CPR and emergency preparedness. Most of the workshops are free.

“It's an important part of our ethos to make the fair as accessible and free as possible,” says Buchanan. “We just want people to come, have fun, enjoy the music, enjoy the food, the art – just celebrate together – and maybe pick up something useful as well.”

Tennyson St runs between Cambridge Tce and Tory St. The fair starts at 10:30am and runs until 4.30pm. The postponement date is Sunday October 27th.

Community organisations involved in the fair include Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office (WREMO), the Soup Kitchen, Downtown Community Ministry, Kaibosh Food Rescue, Supergrans, Capital Care Health Centre and Wellington Free Ambulance.

ENDS

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