Fabulous music, floats and fun will flood Alexandra when the entertainment lineup is unleashed for the event next month.
Alexandra Blossom Festival event manager Martin McPherson said the Contact Energy Alexandra Blossom Festival was the best way to celebrate spring in Central Otago.
"We are so excited to once again be bringing a stellar lineup of bands and entertainment to Alexandra for this year’s festival — there is something for everyone, from the little ones right through to the adults."
The Fulton Hogan Mardi Gras would kick off the weekend on September 27 with the annual Round the Clock race which would send competitors racing across the river and up the hill to the Alexandra clock and back, he said.
Food stalls, illuminated fairies and street performers would make a family night, with daredevil FMX displays from freestyle motocross riders Freestyle New Zealand.
Blues-rock guitarist Paul Foulds would take to the Mardi Gras stage with a musical set. Foulds has shared the stage with international artists including Foreigner, Heart, REO Speedwagon, and Huey Lewis and the News.
The evening would wind up with a fireworks display, Mr McPherson said.
The following day would start with the Grand Parade down Centennial Ave with a colourful display of floats, florreys, marching bands, vintage vehicles and street performers.
After that the action would move to Pioneer Park, where there would be carnival rides, wood chopping, gold panning and two performers’ stages, including a children’s stage.
Headlining the festival on the main stage would be Vodafone NZMA Tui winner, and Blossom Festival favourite, country-pop star Jody Direen.
Direen, who grew up in Wānaka, has performed with Kenny Rogers, LeAnne Rimes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tim McGraw and Kelsea Ballerini, but nothing compared to performing for Central Otago fans, she said.
"I am so excited to be returning to the Blossom Festival stage this year. My band and I have a really fun, high-energy set lined up and can’t wait to get back out there."
Also returning to the stage would be Highland Storm with their unique fusion of rock, pop, and traditional Celtic melodies.
Queenstown band The QFO Experiment would be there with their original jazz-funk arrangements mixed with hip covers by the likes of Herbie Hancock, Roy Ayers, and Vulfpeck.
A tribute to Neil Diamond — Simon Green’s Solitary Man show — would round out the entertainment.
"Add to this the much anticipated crowning of our 2024 Alexandra Blossom Festival princess, winning float announcements, plus craft-market stalls, a huge array of food vendors and more, and you have a weekend you do not want to miss," Mr McPherson said.
