The biennial Tauranga Arts Festival has produced a tiny mini-me offspring and it happened at the Historic Village on 17th Avenue over Labour Weekend 2104
I was more than pleased to see the cobbled walkways of the Village outside The Incubator crammed with covered market stalls, a stage and the grassed area almost hidden by people lounging, eating and seated. It’s what overseas friends have previously told me they have expected to find in such a setting. I was late arriving and despite the increasing cold and wind it was clear that “a good time had been had by all”.
The Little Big Market had some of its wonderful creative vendors in tented stalls, specialist boutique village shops were open and the mobile food vendors (think everything including crepes) were doing a great trade. Just loved the street art (Free Lunch Street Theatre) – the red man who even had red hair when someone took off his red hat; the gold faced wizard and those amazing frou frou stilt walkers. hilariously while I was admiring the stilt walkers someone brought them over a cornet of Belgian chips. One reached way down and the other stretched way up and there up high two young women shared a snack. And who was the wonderfully white-faced and bereted mime artiste? I have my suspicions! In keeping with the French market theme there were Berets in abundance.
In the increasing cold and gloom I crept round onto the front lawn to see hardy souls in chairs and rugs tucking into more food from mobile vendors (including the tag burger truck) and the Night Owl Cinema crew of two erecting the screen and the gear.
Great congratulations to Claire Mabey, Rachelle Duffy and the indefatigable Incubator for another notable Tauranga event. And, hooray, finally a roadside sign worthy of the charm and effort being put in to the Historic Village – just loved it and the retro-colours of the promotional flyer!!! This is what the Historic Village should be all about all the time!!
Rosemary Balu
