MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL AT THE HISTORIC VILLAGE You’ll need your own personal drone to get from festival to festival on Saturday the 16th.  The annual Multicultural Festival rocks the Historic Village on Saturday 16th at 10am  $5. if you’re over 12 years old.  I’ve been to this festival before – you’ll be amazed at the ethnic diversity of our community, the buzz and the vibe and the wonderful food and performances.   Only thing to note – can be parking issues at the Historic Village when there are events.  If you can park in the side streets and walk down the hill, all good.  Or, check to see the bus times.

This year’s motto is:
Our people, our cultures, our languages
O tātou iwi, ō tātou ahurea, ō tātou reo

The festival will be opened by a kapahaka group.  Food stalls from many countries run by local ethnic groups cooking authentic food that way it was done in their homes in their countries of origin, also some coffee carts, candy floss and ice creams trucks. A large area for children activities –bouncy castle, pony rides and a competition for children to name flags of countries.  Art and crafts and Service Provider  sections.

GREERTON VILLAGE FAYRE   Also on Saturday 16th is the Greerton Village Fayre in the Greerton Village School grounds in the heart of the village.   I haven’t been going over to Greerton for a while – they changed the roading systems and it just became too difficult and time-consuming.   So, if you can catch the bus or park away from the school and walk – do it!

Join us at our 3rd annual Fayre in Greerton Village showing off all things Vintage & Retro – with a bit of Steampunk thrown in. Vintage, classic, Retro and fun vehicles on display in Chadwick Road between Greerton Road and Cameron Road. Trophies in the American, Japanese, British and Australian categories – as well as the Peoples Choice award and Trophy. The Whittakers playing live on the Rotunda in the school grounds from 10am. Best Dressed Ladies and Gents competition on the Rotunda at 12 noon followed by a parade from the Steampunk crew – prizes up for grabs. Roving street entertainers. The Breeze Radio station on site with The wishing Tree. Stalls selling all things Vintage & Retro in the school grounds and Tea Pot racing – come along and have a go – in the school car park with Steampunk. More information on facebook.com/greertonvillage

 

Out in the rural hinterland it’s school fair time.   The annual Te Puna Country Fair is an “event” for the surrounding districts and visiting townies!

Where: Te Puna Primary School, 225 Te Puna Rd, Te Puna, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty 10am to 2pm   Admission is free but bring lots of you know what!    Facebook Page

It will be jam-packed with fun activities for young and old, flavour-filled food and stalls for all.  This is the kind of event that children remember all their lives.  Hope you can get there!

WHAKAMARAMA HARVEST FESTIVAL 2.00pm to 5.00pm at the Whakamarama District Hall/Community Centre  This is a real, rural New Zealand event redolent of 1950’s past-times down at the hall.  Look at the prize categories: Craziest shaped produce, Best carved produce,  Biggest produce, Creative Produce display, Best Sweet preserve, Best Savoury preserve, Harvest themed photo competition, Guess the Jar.  So twin-set and pearls it’s something you just should not miss.  You can have afternoon tea and buy produce and products from local growers and producers.  It’s not the biggest of events but if you want to see real New Zealand a short-drive from downtown Tauranga, you need to come along to the Whakamarama Hall on Saturday afternoon – entry is free.   And you could take a walk around some of the rural roads while you’re up in Whakamarama.  Just remember to keep well to the side of the road – there are vehicles using the roads at all times.  You may meet cyclists, and horses and you might just meet some people you haven’t met before. You could also enjoy a walk in the ancient remnant bush of the Puketoki Reserve just a bit further up the road from the Hall on Leyland Road.  There are two walks – one long and one short.  Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a slice of country life in wonderful Whakamarama one of the rural jewels of the Western Bay of Plenty.

Rosemary Balu.           Rosemary Balu is the founding and current Managing Editor of ARTbop. Rosemary has arts and law degrees from the University of Auckland. She has been a working lawyer and has participated in a wide variety of community activities where information gathering, submission writing, community advocacy and education have been involved. Interested in all forms of the arts since childhood Rosemary is focused on further developing and expanding multi-media ARTbop as the magazine for all the creative arts in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

You may enjoy reading about a talented and creative Whakamarama local in the first of the series Invisibility Disdained:       

Suzanne Sturrock: A Domestic Artist – Palagi Tivaivai

And “over the Kaimai” the exhibition of the creative group Artnexus at the Wallace Gallery Morrinsville

Artnexus: a shining collaboration

CHECK OUT the ARTbop facebook pages where we share an eclectic range of cultural, environmental and socio-political posts from the local and international creative communities.   

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AND IF YOU ENJOY CREATIVITY, BOUTIQUE SHOPPING, VINTAGE, RECYCLE, HOME DECOR, CAKE & JUST HAVING A LOOK check out THE CORNER SHOP NZ on facebook.

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MOLLY MORPETH CANADAY AWARD, Whakatane

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TAURANGA ART GALLERY

THE CARLTON GALLERY AT THE ARTS JUNCTION, KATI KATI

Exhibitions change regularly in the Carlton Gallery and the Gallery is available to be hired for your show of work. (if you’re interested in exhibiting contact details are below)  The Arts Junction is open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm and 10am to 2pm Saturdays and Sundays. Located at 36 Main Road, Kati Kati   (next to the Western Bay of Plenty Museum) Phone 549 5250 or email jacqui@katchkatikati.org.nz                          https://www.facebook.com/TheArtsJunction/

CURRENTLY SHOWING AT THE CARLTON GALLERY:  Tauranga Porcelain Artists are presenting an Exhibition of their style of Art. There will be displays of Traditional work as well as more Modern Designs. 

From 3698 competition entries, the 20 winning images are now showcased in the third annual Trustpower Photographic Exhibition!    Come and see the breathtaking winning images, presented on large-scale display boards in the Bay’s largest outdoor photographic exhibition. It’s on right now on The Strand, in Downtown Tauranga until 14 April 2019

ATRIUM GALLERY AT THE BLACK SHEEP, WHAKAMARAMA

Developed as a community gallery and retail space with lots of hard work and effort  by local creatives, the Atrium Gallery is open 11am to 5pm Wednesday to Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday. https://www.facebook.com/atriumgallerynz

  If you have information about an upcoming arts event, exhibition or arts news you can contact ARTbop at info@artbop.co.nz

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