Art festival music to the ears of Waihī

A street and art festival coming to Waihī this Auckland Anniversary weekend will be a visual and aural showcase of creatives from near and far.
Organisers behind the event, which is backed by the Waihī Lions, have been working for almost a year to put the festival together, bringing a fusion of entertainment which will be spread across two days.
The event was the brainchild of Thea Ris and Jose Jebb, who wanted to expand on their local art group exhibition. Now with seven additional volunteers, the festival has continued to grow – with this year’s fun including a Friday evening spread of entertainment.
“This is a family day out for Waihī and visitors, young and old. Everyone can enjoy themselves
The festival had its beginnings before the Covid-19 pandemic and went ahead despite the summer cyclones that hit the district in 2023.
Thea said she was looking forward to having a bigger and better event this year that will feature performers such as West African Style Drumming ensemble, Kra KoTo Kra; puppetry and circus company, Naranjarte; local bands and musicians; and face painters and storytellers.
There will be a road closure throughout the day on Saturday, January 27, in order for visitors to be able to walk safely between the performances, the stalls – inside and outside the Memorial Hall – and the exhibition held at Waihī Museum, Kenny St, which contains artworks from local school children.
The organisers said it was “not a small task” to host the event, but they enjoyed continuing to curate it each year. Last year, around $2000 was raised from a raffle that went towards the Waihī Lions Club’s community efforts. They hope to raise a similar amount for the organisation this year.
DETAILS: The Waihī Art and Street Festival, Friday, January 26 from 4pm to 8pm, and Saturday, January 27 from 9am to 3pm. For the full performers list, find the festival on Facebook, or, to volunteer for next year’s event, contact Thea at thea.parish.ris@gmail.com