Street Festival Takes Over From Cars

NEWS RELEASE
3 November 2003

- NZ’s largest free street festival confirmed for Wellington
- State Highway 1 to close for a weekend

Street Festival Takes Over From Cars

New Zealand’s biggest street festival has been confirmed for 2004 … there will be so much activity on the street that State Highway One will close for the weekend.

The 2004 Cuba Street Carnival will run for 48 hours spread across two kilometres focused on twelve stages and entertainment areas simultaneously throughout the weekend of 27/28/29 February.

Top bands in all genres, cultural performances, buskers, market stalls and a few surprises will comprise the largest Carnival to date. The highlight will be the illuminated Night Parade on Saturday which was enjoyed by an estimated ninety-thousand spectators and participants at the last Carnival in 2002. The full programme will be launched on December 10.

Carnival director John Page says the event will dominate the centre of the city.
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“The Carnival runs on the slogan ‘Live the Street!’ Cuba Street is a unique part of Wellington and the Carnival will capture its personality. The centre of the city will be alive with the music, entertainment and colour that makes Wellington unique.”

Wellington’s mayor Kerry Prendergast says the Council is supporting the 2004 Cuba Street Carnival because it celebrates Wellington’s creativity.

“Wellington is New Zealand’s creative and events capital. The Cuba Street Carnival showcases the city and the vibrant street life the Capital is home to.”

Organisers faced a choice of restricting the size of the Carnival or diverting traffic away from the central city for the entire weekend. Planning arrangements have been put in place with Transit New Zealand and the Council to ensure traffic uses alternative routes and avoids the city altogether where possible.

“We’re hoping Wellington will come to the event instead of trying to drive around it,” John Page said.

ENDS

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