Festival to light up port town
 Get ready for Lyttelton's transformation into a winter wonderland during this year's Lyttelton Festival of Lights, on from 9-18 June.
The 10-day mid-winter event, organised in association with The Breeze 94.5FM, showcases and celebrates the port town and bay's communities. On this year's programme is a street party, art exhibition, murder mystery party, film launch, wine-tasting, jazz and other musical performances, a dinner cruise, torchlight walks, celebrity cabaret, the M.A.S.S.I.V.E Winter Solstice Dance Party and more.
"The festival gives people a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and have some fun in the depths of winter," says event manager Ali Nauman. "Lyttelton and the Bays have so much to offer."
The feature Street Party runs from 6-10pm on Friday 16 June. Local businesses will be open and the parade will include a street market with quality arts, craft, food and wine-tasting; live bands; short films and a film launch; lighting displays and the Masquerade Parade, which starts at 7pm and will have an impressive line-up of circo-arts performers. At 9pm there will be a fireworks display.
Locals right around Lyttelton Harbour are encouraged to take part by lighting up their home with festive lights. In Lyttelton, the Empire Hotel and General Store is sponsoring a competition to find the most original house lights, with a trip to Hanmer Springs for the winning household. Residents can vote for their favourite from 9-14 June at the ballot box in the Empire General Store.
Primary sponsors for the Festival include The Breeze 94.5FM, Lion Foundation, Christchurch City Council, Lyttelton Harbour Business Association, Lyttelton Port Company Ltd, the Empire Hotel and General Store, Red Bus Limited, Phantom Billstickers and a host of product and prize sponsors.
The festival first ran last year when the Lions rugby team and supporters were in the city. In February, Lyttelton's Summer Street Party attracted over 8000 people.
- For more information about the festival or becoming a stallholder, call Ali Nauman on 337 3804 or look online at www.lyttelton.net.nz
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