February is Mardi Gras time again
Mardi Gras 2008
Takaka's midsummer street-gathering spectacle, now well established as the annual Mardi Gras, has been going in various guises for some 20 years. This season, it will run from noon to midnight on Saturday 7 February.
Last year the event attracted around 1,000 people over the day, with 700 heads counted on the Village Green during the belly dancing and fire performances around 10pm.
Community worker Dave Myall says organisation for the free event starts early. "Application for the road closure from 4.30pm has to be in by September, then there's all the funding applications and securing of acts and stalls that takes up to mid-January."
On the day, the collection and setting up of the marquee begins at 7.30am, followed by the installation of sound and lighting equipment, which is supplied locally and from over the Hill. It's a long day. Organisers get to leave the Village Green around 1.30am on the Sunday after, before returning later the same morning for the four to five-hour cleanup.
Along with community workers, the regular loyal crew will again include Colin Coke and Terry Langford. Volunteers Helen Bracefield, Dick Lamb and Trevor Kobenstine will help with all the road closure signs and laying out of cones.
Acts this year will include "laughologist" Dr Palfy, all the way from the UK; Sugra the juggler; local clown Jazza doing face painting and balloons; The Parker Experience jazz band from Nelson; Amira Mudfaery with a new musical act; and the LotusFae Belly Dance Fire Performance Fusion. Some 70 ceroc dancers will be coming over from Nelson just to dance in the street. A bouncy castle will also be set up for kids.
The event presents an opportunity prior to the Mardi Gras to be involved in costume and taniwha mask-making workshops on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 February. These will run from 11am to 3pm on both days with material supplied, but anyone is welcome to bring their own. For those keen to dance their way along the street in the parade, choreography workshops will be held also at the Community Centre on Wednesday 29 January and again on the morning of the Mardi Gras. Details for these will be advertised in The GB Weekly.
The Takaka Mardi Gras is possible due to funding from TDC Grants From Rates, Creative NZ, GB Arts Council, Pub Charity and generous donations from Takaka businesses.
Gerard Hindmarsh
