The popular community event, which this year has the theme ‘‘the enchanted forest’’, will be held this Friday and Saturday, from 6pm-9pm, at First Church — in the grounds, and inside the church and Burns Hall.
Carnival event manager Jonathan Cweorth said the final touches were being put on to carnival preparations and ‘‘we are looking forward to two great nights’’.
The carnival will give visitors the chance to walk among beautiful lantern installations throughout the grounds, surrounded by storybook characters, roving performers, and Brophy aerialists high in the trees.
Larger-than-life images will be projected on to the outer walls of First Church, while inside there will be a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party lantern display, storytelling, and a busy performance programme. Burns Hall will also host an array of performers.
Humpty Dumpty, wearable hats, mice and tortoise mini-lanterns, made by local families at a series of lantern-making workshops, will feature in processions set to wind around First Church at 6.30pm and 7.30pm each night.
The Fifa Women’s World Cup Trophy tour will stop in at the carnival on Saturday, June 24, accompanied by US football legend Kristine Lilly and Fifa Women’s World Cup mascot Tazuni.
Performance line-up
Burns Hall — Friday, June 23
6.20pm: Dunedin Children’s Choir
6.35pm: Kotuia Kapa Haka
6.45pm: Brophy’s Contortion — Dolls
6.50pm: Black and White Dance Studio
6.55pm: Brophy’s Contortion
7pm: Rasa School of Dance
7.15pm: Tūhura Otago Museum Science Show
7.45pm: Loose and Colourful (live band)
Burns Hall — Saturday, June 24
6.25pm: Kotuia Kapa Haka
6.35pm: Queen’s Hip-Hop
6.40pm: Brophy’s Contortion — Dolls
6.45pm: Queen’s Contemporary Dance
6.55pm: Brophy’s Contortion
7pm: Rasa School of Dance
7.30pm: Tuhura Otago Museum Science Show
8pm: Tahu & The Takahes (live band)
First Church — both nights
6pm: First Church Pasifika Choirs
6.30pm: Bathgate Park Public Choir
7pm-9pm: Storytelling and readings by Olly Ohlson, Jay Glubb, Miguel Weaver, and Marama Grant.
Live instrumental music by Nick Prosser
Aerial Tree Performances — Both Nights
6.20pm: Little Red Riding Hood
7pm: Tree Moths
7.30pm: Forest Queen
8pm and 8.30pm: Tree Moths
Tickets
Carnival tickets are selling fast, especially the earlier time slots, and organisers are advising pre-purchase of tickets to avoid disappointment on the night.
Tickets cost $5 per adult, with children under 3 free, and are available via the website midwintercarnival.co.nz
