The safety and enjoyment of families will be the top priority for organisers of this year's Alexandra Blossom Festival.
Event managers projectExcel have secured Lion Nathan as a general sponsor of the event and projectExcel director Karin Bowen said the sponsorship would enable the event organisers to better manage the availability of alcohol in Pioneer Park on September 27.
In previous years, a local sports club had run the bar, but under the new arrangement the sale of alcohol would be directly overseen by the festival team.
"We're totally committed to ensuring that the service of alcohol at public events is managed for the safety and enjoyment of everyone attending," Lion Nathan regional sales director Neil Hinton said.
Other strategies to ensure a safe environment include appropriate licensing and and the use of security throughout the festival. Support from the police and the Central Otago District Council would ensure the festival was enjoyable for everyone, Mrs Bowen said.
Music and entertainment will be on offer at Saturday in the Park until 6.30pm on September 27 following the grand parade.
The evening concert, Contact Alex Live, begins at 7.30pm in the large marquee at Pioneer Park, with headline performer New Zealand singer-songwriter Holly Smith. ProjectExcel director Selar Henderson said organisers were "so excited to have someone of her calibre coming to Alexandra".
She will be supported by Spacifix, a soul and hip-hop group with a wide appeal; New Zealand top rock group Atlas; and The Valves, described as a Christchurch rock group with attitude.
Mrs Bowen said there would be many activities for children in the tent during the afternoon and a bouncy castle would be set up in the middle.
The samba band Pandemonium, well known for its instruments made of pots and pans and other metal pieces, will play in the children's tent as part of their World Music Tour, and there will be an interactive concert with the children, Mrs Bowen said.
Tables and chairs will be set up in the tent for mums and dads to sit and enjoy a glass of wine while watching the children have fun.
Magician Elgregoe will preform two magic shows during the afternoon. He is being sponsored by TrustPower and travels the country doing anti-bullying shows for schools. There will be two such sessions in Otago while he is here - one in the Maniototo for the schools in that district, and then one in Alexandra for schools around that area before the festival begins.
Corporate clowns are coming to town the weekend before the parade on September 20-21, and will hold a two-day workshop for children over the age of 8 (and adults if they want to participate) for no charge, but with the expectation the participants will take part in the festival procession the following weekend, Mrs Bowen said.
