Welcome to the Kilbirnie Festival '08!

This year the Festival is moving three weeks later in the season, with the Fair Day on Sunday 6 April, Kilbirnie Sale Days on Friday and Saturday 4,5 April, the Beach Sports Day on Sunday 30 March, and a range of other community activities around that time.

To date, activities we have planned include:

Everyone is invited to the Beach Sports Day, Sunday 30 March, at Lyall Bay from 1pm. All ages and skill levels are welcome to join in with beach cricket, soccer, touch, ultimate frisbee, and volleyball.

There will be two bus trips during the Festival weeks, with one picking up from retirement homes in the eastern suburbs on Tuesday 1 April and visiting Days Bay, and the other leaving from the Community Centre on Wednesday 9 April and visiting Dowse Gallery. Both trips go for morning tea and return by lunchtime. All enquiries to Beryl at the Kilbirnie/Lyall Bay Community Centre, 387-7867, for more details, reservations and tickets.

Local Kilbirnie retailers will be holding Sale Days on Friday and Saturday 4, 5 April. Visit Bay Road for some excellent bargains, and bring the family to catch some entertainment and food while there. The Children's Book Shop in Kilbirnie Plaza is holding a Story Time on Friday morning.

Rita Angus Retirement Village is having an Open Day on Saturday 5 April, from 10am - 3pm. The Village is hosting the Hataitai Bowling and Petanque Club that same Saturday, so this is an excellent chance to come along and try these sports. Mah-jong will also be played in the Atrium. Conducted tours of the Retirement Village are available.

The Kilbirnie Festival Fair Day, on Sunday 6 April, will have the usual enormous market of nearly 200 craft and food stalls, as well as children's rides and entertainment. Four stages will provide entertainment for all tastes, showcasing the School of Rock bands, the San Francisco Bathhouse Acoustic Lounge, the adult band program Weekend Warriors, and the Community Stage which will, as always, present a wide variety of talented locals, this year including Controlled Chaos crump dancers, oSKa pop rock band, dance band New Friend, and the colourful African Rhythm Band. The Fair Day runs from 10am to 4pm, in Kilbirnie's main shopping centre Bay Road, the Kilbirnie Plaza, and surrounding carparks.

Stall applications are invited for the Fair Day, and performers are most welcome.

The Aquatic Centre will be holding activities in their new Spray area as part of the Festival.

The Kilbirnie Recreation Centre will hold a Roller Disco on Saturday April 12. Entry will be discounted and there will be prizes.

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