The Nelson Arts Festival is about to swing into action - taking the town over at both ends of the CBD.

The festival ŒHQ¹ will be at Albion Square, next to the Suter in Bridge Street, where the Deutz Lighthouse marquee will be going up over the next couple of days. Nelson City Council Festival Director Annabel Norman says the Deutz Lighthouse is open to the public everyday from 11am Œtil late.

³For eleven days Nelson has a very exciting new café and performance venue offering great food and wine, free early evening entertainment, late night DJs, artists¹ talks, plus a huge range of ticketed music and cabaret shows,² she said. ³The Manifest Sculpture Symposium is on the lawn outside and it is Œthe place to be¹ while the festival is on.²

Meantime at Westpac Red Square, on the 1903 site at the top of Trafalgar Street, cars make way for cafes as the street closes for a weeklong series of concerts by young people.

³There is a lot of talent in our schools and this is an opportunity for youth to show what it can do - and for people to watch some exciting theatre, dance and music from classical to rock and roll,² Annabel says.

These shows are on at 10am, noon and 2pm from Saturday October 13 - Friday 19. Annabel believes Nelson is unique among New Zealand arts festivals for its community events.

³The Council puts an emphasis on events that are accessible for everyone it¹s an aspect of the festival that¹s growing every year. We¹ve had our famous Port Nelson Masked Parade for 13 years, last year we added the Fulton Hogan Family Finale and this time we¹ve added the youth concerts at Westpac Red Square,² she said. ³There really is something for everyone in our festival.²

Ticket sales are at a record high and though some shows have sold out there are tickets remaining to most. Details of free community events are in this week¹s Live Nelson. The Nelson City Council presents the Nelson Arts Festival as a celebration for locals and an attraction for visitors.

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