Each year Ōpōtiki’s Summer Fest gets bigger and brighter and the 2015/2016 summer holiday is no exception. This year’s line-up has all the usual favourites including beach digs and movies under the stars, but there are some extra fun activities thrown in.

Tina Cornwell is the manager of the Ōpōtiki Information Centre, i-SITE, and her team are central to the organisation of the event. Tina explained that because of the huge community response and support for the events, the team were able to offer more variety each year. This year there were a couple of new events such as the 3x3 basketball tournament and even the Waikato Gallagher Chiefs Rugby Team are getting in on the action and entering the famous raft race. But the real treat will be having Dave Dobbyn, The Herbs and Beau Monga headlining the Island View Holiday Park Lantern Festival this year.

“It is a real win to have such big names playing here locally. It means that our festival is on their radar and that means we can bring big acts to a small town.

“And it’s not just the headline acts, you know that you have a famous raft race when the region’s rugby team can’t wait to throw themselves down the river and compete. It will be great to see them and quite a challenge to see who can beat them!” Tina Cornwell said.

The events are also a great opportunity for locals and visitors alike to enjoy the best that Ōpōtiki has to offer. The Ōpōtiki Mayor, John Forbes, agreed and said that it was great to see so many locals attending the events.

“We are really lucky to have the sort of events that attract locals and visitors. I have been to a number of the events each year and it is always such a good opportunity to catch up and enjoy some time outdoors with family and friends. The Council puts a significant resource into organising these great community events and it is because of the energy and dedication of the i-SITE team that it gets better each year.

“It is great to see the new events this year as the library offers its first holiday programme. There will hardly be an empty day in the calendar for the whole of January!” Mr Forbes said.

This year events include many fun activities for children and adults alike at the library. There is also Ōpōtiki New World Retro Movies Under the Stars, O-mazing Race, Scary Night Out, Beach Dig, 3x3 basketball and the big Raft Race. Also over the summer period is the SunFM 106.5 Ōpōtiki Rodeo, Muriwai Surf Fishing Competition, Muriwai Beach Horse Races and Island View Holiday Park Drift Wood Sculpting.

The calendar with all the events has been printed and you can expect to see them around town in shop windows or in various local newspapers.

Click here to see all the Opotiki Summer Festival Events.