Alexandra Blossom Festival
Encyclopedia
The Alexandra Blossom Festival is an annual event that is held for 17 days each September in Alexandra, New Zealand
that celebrates the advent of Spring. The Festival is the longest-running community event of its kind in New Zealand
. There is a wide range of different activities that take place during the festival's duration, aimed at all people of different ages and interests.
Alexandra's annual celebration of Spring is New Zealand's longest-running festival. The Alexandra Blossom Festival has raised many thousands of dollars to provide amenities for the town of Alexandra. This popular event encourages community spirit and attracts interest from all over the Country.
2006 marked the event's 50th anniversary.
The most anticipated showing of the festival is the annual parade. Here a wide range of vehicles, objects, groups and people are on show including trucks, handmade floats, classic cars, street entertainers, marching bands and horse-driven vehicles.
The "Saturday in the Park" which follows at the conclusion of the parade includes entertainment & relaxation for local & visiting families. Attractions include carnival rides, children’s Stage & circus entertainers, all age music concerts, stalls, food and beverage tents and interactive games such as rock climbing.
The year 2006 also saw the return of the "Party in the Park" concert. The concert was held at night in a Grand Marquee. Six bands from New Zealand played here, including the well known Elemeno P
and Goodnight Nurse
. The other bands were Minuit
, Eggs
, Solaa and Twinset
.
Alexandra, New Zealand
Alexandra is a town in the Central Otago district of the Otago region of New Zealand. It is located on the banks of the Clutha River , on State Highway 8, 188 km by road from Dunedin and 33 km south of Cromwell.At the time of the 2006 census, the permanent population was 4,827, an...
that celebrates the advent of Spring. The Festival is the longest-running community event of its kind in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. There is a wide range of different activities that take place during the festival's duration, aimed at all people of different ages and interests.
History
The first blossom festival began on Friday, 27 September 1957 and the first attraction was the Horticultural Society’s spring flower show. The next day saw the climax of the festival, as the frequently termed "big day" was held then. It was then that the now famous parade of floats first took place and they showcased themselves by moving along the main street of Alexandra. There was also entertainment during and after the parade at Alexandra's Pioneer Park. From then on, the parade and other main event attractions would take place usually in the last week of September during the weekend. The parade is always held on the Saturday.Alexandra's annual celebration of Spring is New Zealand's longest-running festival. The Alexandra Blossom Festival has raised many thousands of dollars to provide amenities for the town of Alexandra. This popular event encourages community spirit and attracts interest from all over the Country.
2006 marked the event's 50th anniversary.
Activities and Exhibits
Typically the types of available activities and exhibits vary from year to year. However, activities usually include things such as shearing championships, music festivals, blossom drives, musical productions and much more. Exhibits range from art exhibitions to flower shows.The most anticipated showing of the festival is the annual parade. Here a wide range of vehicles, objects, groups and people are on show including trucks, handmade floats, classic cars, street entertainers, marching bands and horse-driven vehicles.
The "Saturday in the Park" which follows at the conclusion of the parade includes entertainment & relaxation for local & visiting families. Attractions include carnival rides, children’s Stage & circus entertainers, all age music concerts, stalls, food and beverage tents and interactive games such as rock climbing.
The year 2006 also saw the return of the "Party in the Park" concert. The concert was held at night in a Grand Marquee. Six bands from New Zealand played here, including the well known Elemeno P
Elemeno P
Elemeno P is a New Zealand rock band. The band's first album, Love & Disrespect was released on 4 July 2003, and reached number one on the RIANZ albums chart. Their second album, Trouble in Paradise was released on 24 November 2005 and includes the singles 11:57, Burn, One Left Standing and You Are...
and Goodnight Nurse
Goodnight Nurse
Goodnight Nurse was a pop punk band from New Zealand, formed in Auckland, in 2001. The group originally began as a trio, but later changed to a four-piece prior to the release of their second album...
. The other bands were Minuit
Minuit
Minuit are an electronic band from New Zealand, formed in Nelson.The members of Minuit include lead singer, Ruth Carr, with Paul Dodge and Ryan Beehre playing machines.-Early work:...
, Eggs
Eggs (band)
Eggs was a Washington, DC based indie rock band centered around Andrew Beaujon. The band was active in the early and mid nineteen-nineties and was signed to prominent indie pop record label TeenBeat Records.-Albums:* Bruiser Teenbeat 76...
, Solaa and Twinset
Twinset
A twinset, twin set or sweater-set is a matching set of a cardigan and a short-sleeved jumper|pullover . The twinset first appeared in the 1940s, but is now considered a classic wardrobe staple. - Description :...
.