Festival floats entertain 2000

"Six-armed woman" Lynley Ashe celebrates with colleagues and families associated with Wanaka Mitre 10 after their float won the Kahu Youth Wanakafest parade last night.

At least 2000 people watched the eighth annual Kahu Youth Wanakafest parade yesterday in calm, sunny conditions.

The flotilla of colourful floats and community groups launched a weekend of events on Pembroke Park and the Ardmore St lakefront.

Wanaka's annual spring carnival has been held since 1984, when it was known as Snowfest and celebrated the end of the ski season.

It was relaunched as Wanakafest in 2002 and in recent years has become a celebration of youth, with members of Kahu Youth taking on an increasing role in organising the parade and other events.

For the first time, float-builders competed for a trophy donated by the Kahu Youth and Wanakafest trusts, made by Ernie Maluschnig, of Metal Works.

The winning float featured a space theme. Photos by Marjorie Cook.

Float judges Ed Taylor and Dan Pfeifer of Radio Wanaka liked both the Wanaka Scouts and Wanaka Mitre 10 entries and were finally swayed by the smoke billowing from Mitre 10 float.

The parade started with high-speed skateboarders and mountain bikers careering down Ardmore St before Wanaka's volunteer fire brigade, police and St John set a more sedate pace.

A large, smartly dressed group of St John cadets led the walking parade that included brightly costumed families from Wanaka Plunket and a large and energetic Dance Wanaka troupe.

• The Passion4Fashion show launched Wanakafest on Wednesday night, with up to 350 people admiring 70 volunteer models at the Lake Wanaka Centre. Kingston designer Loma Elliot won the Design Pioneers competition.

• Finlay Woods (16) won the Wanakafest Moviefest on Thursday, with his short humorous film In Our Wanaka Backyard. His prize includes a trip to the Weta workshop in Wellington.

Wanakafest
The programme this weekend includes.-

TODAY
8.30am: Proactive Family Duathlon, lakefront
10am: Wanaka Arts Society Exhibition, Lake Wanaka Centre (and again tomorrow)
10am: Basecamp speed-climbing competition, Basecamp.
10.30am: Wine and food festival, Pembroke Park
10.30am: The two-day Kahu Youth festival challenge begins, Pembroke Park
11.30am and 1:30pm: Ruby Island Circus Show, lakefront
2.30pm: Downhill urban mountain bike race, 99 Ardmore St
7pm: Movie and after-party, Lonestar Wanaka

TOMORROW
7am: Little House of the Year building competition starts, Pembroke Park
10.30am: Market and munchies, Pembroke Park
10.30am: Rotary duck race, Bullock Creek
11.30am: Wheelie-bin races, Ardmore St
12.20pm: Pet parade, main stage
1.30pm: Polar Plunge, Ardmore St jetty
2.15pm: Cardboard Cup, Ardmore St jetty
3.30pm: Pie-eating competition, main stage
4.45pm: Winners of various competitions announced, main stage.