Those are some of the activities you can expect from this year’s Park in the Dark event at Green Island’s Memorial Park and Playground, next Friday.
Greater Green Island Community Network (GGICN) worker Larna McCarthy said the "exciting" evening was about bringing the community together and enjoying the "fantastic" playground, which the community helped to build — contributing more than $100,000 in local fundraising in 2018.
"It will be great for kids to get out and mingle and experience the park on a night-time."
There would be prizes to win in a game of planet bingo, where children searched the park for hidden planets, she said.
The Dunedin Fire and Circus Club would teach older children and staff how to swing unlit poi before putting on its own show.
Families would also have the chance to view the Matariki star cluster through telescopes provided by the Dunedin Astronomical Association to welcome in the Maori new year.
"Te ao Maori acknowledges the stars of Matariki’s significance over our wellbeing and environment.
"The wellbeing of our residents and our environment is important to the GGICN and Park in the Dark is a way for us to bring people together to celebrate our whanaukataka [community spirit]."
Food from Nom Nom and Churros Ole would keep families fuelled and "young bellies" would be kept warm with free Milo, she said.
The event would also be used to gather community feedback on the GGICN’s planned upgrades for the park.
The free event will be held on July 17 from 5pm to 6.30pm at the Green Island park in Main South Rd. In the event of bad weather, updates will be provided on the GGICN’s Facebook page.
