Spring is the season and The Big Spring Street Party is the beating heart of an epic arts festival season, packed full of free and family friendly community fun!

Join us on Upper Trafalgar Street for a joyful explosion of culture, creativity and community on Saturday 24 October.

This will be a fun-filled day with live performances including circus, music, dancing, roving artists and witty interactive audience experiences.

Whakatū Nelson’s city centre will come alive with creativity, music and entertainment this weekend as the Nelson Arts Festival brings the Big Spring Street Party to Upper Trafalgar Street.

From midday, Saturday 24 October, this free street party invites people of all ages to experience the energy and community spirit of the festival with live music, circus, dance, roving performers, games and interactive art.

The Big Spring Street Party is part of the Nelson Arts Festival, which runs from 22 October to 1 November. Celebrating its 32nd year, the festival features an exciting programme of theatre, music, literature, film and visual arts, with joy at the heart of this year’s event, Artistic director Janelle Bish invites attendees to join its very own “quiet riot”.

“For us, a ‘quiet riot’ is about coming together and choosing joy. It might be a brilliant show, a conversation that stays with you, dancing with strangers or gathering on the beach at sunset. Labour Weekend is full of those moments, and we’d love people to come out and get amongst it.”

The street party is a chance to enjoy the festival atmosphere without needing a ticket, discover local creativity and connect with the community in the heart of Whakatū.

Bring your friends, bring the whānau and come along to celebrate the start of this fantastic festival in the heart of Nelson city.

Introducing our BIG SPRING STREET PARTY MC – the fabulous Banana Jolie!

Choreographer, comedic powerhouse and all-round joy machine, Banana Jolie will be bringing the laughs, energy and plenty of outrageous moves to our street party!

And don’t miss her Banana Boogie workshop from 1pm–1.30pm – a hilarious, feel-good dance mixtape packed with classic bangers, sweet moves and plenty of opportunities to shake off your shyness. Open to all ages and abilities, come ready to BOOGIE!

The prophetic People’s Oracle is coming to town!

The Oracle calls residents from all corners of Whakatū to share their Life Lessons. What’s your greatest insight? Perhaps: Never give up trying? Always water your house plants? Be bold? Eat chocolate at least once a day?

Come see the Oracle’s quirky Assistant and entrust your wisdoms to her for feeding into the Oracle.

Heidi & Sean are a high-energy circus comedy duo bringing together outrageous physical comedy, impressive circus skills and plenty of audience interaction.

Their fast-paced show features a 7-foot unicycle, juggling, fire eating, whip cracking, music, visual comedy and the spectacular XXL human balloon. Expect plenty of laughs, unexpected moments and a generous dose of chaos.

The Heidi and Sean Show will be at 2.15pm and 5pm

We’re turning up the bass to close out The Big Spring Street Party!

Electronic music legend The Nomad takes to the stage for an epic 90-minute set from 7.30–9pm, bringing the party to a spectacular finish!

For three decades, Daimon Schwalger, better known as The Nomad, has been at the forefront of Aotearoa New Zealand’s electronic music scene and he has become one of the country’s pioneering electronic artists. Blending dub, reggae, house, jungle, and drum & bass into a sound uniquely his own.

And that’s just the beginning!

THE BIG SPRING STREET PARTY is bursting with colour, creativity, music, movement and a whole lot of JOY!

Catch the incredible Ngā Mana Kakano o Te Wairepo kapa haka from Victory School, the infectious rhythms of Zambuko Marimba, Levity Beet, Rising Stars of Te Tauihu, TARANTE and The Walkers. Look out for Gladys & Beryl, Ragged Crow Morris Dancers, Dance Mob Nelson and the wonderfully wacky Twisty Twinz, with DJs Eaton Mess and Mojo Filter keeping the beats flowing.

Plus, get amongst the action with Sarees on the Street, festival-inspired drop-in crafts, Sri Lankan mask making, a saree dance performance and henna sessions. There’s something around every corner and plenty of reasons to dance, play and celebrate together!

THE BIG SPRING STREET PARTY – LINEUP

Nelson Mail Stage
• 12:00–12:15pm – Ngā Mana Kakano o Te Wairepo – Victory School, Kapa Haka
• 12:15–12:50pm – Zambuko Marimba
• 1:00–1:30pm – Banana Boogie Dance Workshop
• 2:00–2:30pm – Sarees on the Street
• 2:45–3:15pm – Levity Beet
• 3:30–4:00pm – Rising Stars of Te Tauihu
• 4:00–4:45pm – Tarante
• 5:00–5:40pm – Heidi and Sean Show (Circus)
• 5:45–6:15pm – The Walkers

Upper Trafalgar – Roving Performers
• 12.00-5.00pm – The People’s Oracle
• 12:00–2:00pm – Gladys & Beryl
• 1:00–1:30pm – Ragged Crow Morris Dancers
• 1:45–1:55pm – Dance Mob Nelson
• 2:15–2:55pm – Heidi and Sean Show (Circus)
• 4:30–6:00pm – Twisty Twinz

Fresh FM Stage
• 12:00–1:00pm – Eaton Mess (DJ)
• 5:30–7:30pm – Mojo Filter (DJ)
• 7:30–9:00pm – The Nomad (DJ)

Unravelling the Saree exhibition – The Nelson Museum
• 10.30am–11.30am- Festival-inspired Drop-in Craft Workshop
• 12pm–1.30pm – Sri Lankan Mask Making Workshop
• 3pm – Saree Dance Performance in the gallery
• 3pm – 4pm Henna Session

Click here to find out more…

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