Huntly’s creatives gathered in the hundreds this March to indulge in the arts and crafts and mingle with likeminded souls at the Raahui Pookeka Arts Festival.
The Raahui Pookeka Arts Festival, previously known as Art in the Park, recently ran for its fifth year since the event was founded by Creative Huntly (Raahui Pookeka Community Centres Trust).
Around 600 people came along to soak in the sun and good vibes on Saturday, March 7 down by the sparkling Hakanoa Lake.
Festival-goers had a ball, grabbing some kai from one of the yummy food trucks before chilling in the shade to watch the incredible local performers hit the stage.
A generous range of the arts was observed on the Festival stage. Attendees were blessed with two chances to get up and participate with Hulanesia and the Talents of the Pacific Academy. Huntly Primary School also treated the crowd to a wow-ing kapa haka performance.
Hamilton band CREAN brought the energy with a few choice rock-inspired covers of popular songs, and Willy Chivvers had the crowd grooving to his original songs, accompanied only by his guitar and loop pedal.
In between tunes, festival attendees browsed through creative stalls, run by local stallholders selling their hand-made goods.
Activity stalls were also popular, with the craft stalls such as scrapbooking and paint-dipping hand-held fans.
Festival director and manager at Creative Huntly Sasha McGaughran said the volunteers and sponsors, WEL Energy, the Huntly Community Board, Harcourts, Fonterra GoodSorts, Bathurst Mining, Thorburn Builders, Norris Ward Mckinnon, the Waikato District Council, and Baraket Fencing, were an incredible help.
“This really wouldn’t be possible without all the incredible support we get from our volunteers and funders,” McGaughran said.
Raahui Pookeka Community Centres Trust would like to thank all attendees to the Raahui Pooeka Art Festival, as well as all sponsors, volunteers, and stall-holders.
