Plan your travel to the Auckland Diwali Festival

MEDIA RELEASE

11 October 2016

Plan your travel to the Auckland Diwali Festival

Cycle or take public transport to one of Auckland’s biggest cultural festivals

The Auckland Diwali Festival takes over Aotea Square and Queen St this Saturday and Sunday (15-16 October), for Auckland’s biggest celebration of contemporary and traditional Indian culture.

The free, family-friendly festival is two days of music, dance, theatre, art, craft and food, running from midday to 9pmeach day, wrapping up with the Barfoot & Thompson Fireworks Finale at 9pm on Sunday night.

Tens of thousands of people are anticipated to come to the Auckland Diwali Festival each day, and festival-goers are encouraged to plan their trip to the festival well in advance.

Travelling to and from the festival:

• Avoid parking hassles and catch public transport to the Auckland Diwali Festival

• Aotea Square is in walking distance from the Britomart Transport Centre and the ferry terminals

• There will be extra trains running on Sunday, to get people to and from the festival

• Auckland Transport will have extra bike racks at Aotea Square for people cycling to the festival

• Drop-off points for people with accessibility challenges are marked on the festival map, as well as accessible parking spots

• Queen Street is closed between Mayoral Dr and Wellesley St West, so some bus stops are affected

• For train services and information on temporary bus stop closures, go to https://at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/events/auckland-diwali-festival/

Accessible parking and drop-off:

• Accessible parking and drop-off areas are marked on the festival map

• Crowds tends to be their biggest from 6.30pm onwards at the food stalls and 7.30-9pm in front of the main stage

• Accessible toilets are available on Rutland St

Bring with you:

• Travel light for ease of movement amongst the crowds of festival goers

• This is Auckland – the weather is changeable – bring sunscreen, a hat, and a raincoat

• Bring your friends and family – it’s a great group outing, and a family friendly festival with something for all ages

Leave behind:

• Cigarettes, pipes, vapes – the Auckland Diwali Festival is smokefree

• Dogs – service dogs are welcome, but the festival attracts large crowds (about 35,000 last year) and your pet may be happier at home

• Alcohol – the festival is alcohol-free and intoxicated festival-goers will be asked to leave

For getting assistance at the festival:

• If you feel unwell at the Auckland Diwali Festival, St. John is on-site in Aotea Square to provide first aid assistance

• If you lose your child – or your parents – the Lost Kids tent is below the Auckland Town Hall clock, or festival staff and volunteers wear bright orange visibility vests and can help you out

For being social:

• #AKLdiwali on Twitter and Instagram

• Follow What’s On in Auckland on Facebook for event updates

• Download the Auckland Events Guide app so you have the festival map, programme and notifications right at hand – and see what other festival goers are saying and posting from the Auckland Diwali Festival

The Auckland Diwali Festival is presented by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), on behalf of Auckland Council, and the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

The 2016 Auckland Diwali Festival programme is available on aucklandnz.com/diwali, and will also be available on the new Auckland Events Guide app.

The international artists appearing at the festival travel to New Zealand with the support of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Indian High Commission.

The sponsors and supporters of Auckland Diwali Festival are Barfoot & Thompson, ASB, Air New Zealand, Indian Tourism Sydney (Incredible India), Mithai, Radio Tarana, More FM, Indian Weekender, Stuff.co.nz, The Better Drinks Company, Resene, Mahindra New Zealand, Vodafone, Platform 4 Group and Education New Zealand.

Ends

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