Dunedin Mid Winter Carnival 2009

Celebrate the longest night and the shortest day with us at the 2009 Dunedin Midwinter Carnival. This spectacular event is in its 12 year and is a highlight of Dunedin's events calendar. Over 5000 people attended the 2008 event held in the heart of the city on a clear winter's evening.

Carnival night features a stunning procession of lanterns and performance. It also features fireworks, food stalls and music. The Midwinter Carnival is an awesome all age event that reclaims the city and celebrates the place that we live and a special time of year.

A special feature of the event are the giant lanterns carried in the Carnival Procession on Saturday 20 June. These are renewed each year by talented local artists. The theme for this year's Procession is 'The Winter Garden' and will feature enormous flower lanterns.

Anyone can be part of the Carnival by attending the Lantern Making Workshops prior to Carnival night. These are held in central city locations and involve constructing a lantern from toe toe stalks and tissue. This year there will be two types of workshops – standard and advanced. Everyone who makes a lantern becomes part of the Carnival Procession.

Carnival staff also work with community groups to bring the procession to life with song, dance and performance. This involves working together to create processional performances and costuming. These collaborations result in a highly unique processional art being developed as part of the Carnival event.

To make this all work we need 80+ volunteers to undertake a variety of tasks. We require lantern making helpers, toe toe gatherers, giant lantern bearers, crowd safety helpers, and procession guides. If you want to be part of this wonderful event get in touch with us now. Groups are also welcome. Spread the word.

Event listed by Paul Smith

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