Great South and Jamm Events and Entertainment have come together with the idea of a new New Year’s celebration in the city.
Company director Melwin Mathew said it had been more than a decade since the city had been able to celebrate the occasion with a public event in Don St.
Preparations were on track for a good night.
"The city council has this vision of turning Don St ... into the entertainment and food centre of Invercargill."
The organisers wanted to do something to support the council’s vision, he said.
"This means it’s all happening on one street block and there’s more room for everything we want to do on that block."
There had been a massive public response to their plans and he was hoping for a good crowd.
He accepted many residents had already made plans to be out of the city before the event was announced.
The event, which starts at 5pm, will host a selection of 11 mobile food vendors and live entertainment.
In Queenstown there will be events in the town centre waterfront from 2pm on Sunday.
It will start with family-friendly entertainment, followed by live music and a spectacular fireworks display is scheduled at midnight.
In Wānaka, the lakefront will be the place for celebrations.
Entertainment will start at 2pm, followed by live music and a fireworks display at midnight.
In Oamaru, after a successful debut last year, an event will be held at the Oamaru Public Gardens.
It will start at 6pm and there will be entertainment, food and a licensed area.
For something completely different, the judging of the Papatowai spud competition will take place during New Year’s Eve celebrations at Papatowai, in the Catlins, on Sunday.
Seed potatoes were handed out at Labour Weekend and winners will be announced for biggest crop, smallest crop and most oddly shaped spud.
All the potatoes will be sold and the proceeds given to charity.
In Te Anau, a New Year’s celebration starts at the Lions Park at 9.30pm on Sunday, to be followed by fireworks at midnight.
- By Toni McDonald
