Alexandra celebrates with the 67th Blossom Festival
The 67th Contact Alexandra Blossom Festival returns next week to celebrate spring and all things Central Otago.
The iconic festival - New Zealand’s longest running festival - officially opens in Alexandra on Wednesday, 25 September at the opening of the Alexandra Arts Society’s Blossom Festival Exhibition with the key events taking place on September 27 - 28.
The weekend starts off with the Fulton Hogan Mardi Gras on the Friday night - a free family night of entertainment including an FMX show and fireworks display.
Saturday will see an array of colourful floats, florreys, marching bands, community and cultural groups make their way down Centennial Ave for the Grand Parade - a cornerstone of the festival - before the main party, Saturday in the Park with bands and entertainment kicks into gear. The weekend wraps up with the Delta Garden Tour on Sunday, September 29.
Popular Kiwi singer Jody Direen will be taking to the main stage alongside performers Highland Storm, The QFO Experiment, Simon Green’s Neil Diamond Tribute “ A Solitary Man’’ and Paul Foulds.
Reaching 67 years is a significant milestone - especially in a post-Covid climate of cancelled events and we have some special things happening which may make great news stories for you.
We are happy to help facilitate interviews - please let us know if there is anything in particular you are after.
Below are some of the potential stories for you:
- Olympian Nicole Shields will be celebrated at the festival, including riding in the Grand Parade.Olympian Nicole Shields and Clyde School Pupil
- The Crowning of the 67th Alexandra Blossom Festival Queen or Festival King. This year we have seven princesses and one prince vying for the Blossom festival crown. This is the second time a prince has taken part.
- There are a number of cultural groups taking part in this festival highlighting the diversity of the region. This year includes Kapa Haka performance, Otago Southland Chinese Association “Chinese Dragons’’, the Central Otago Filipino Society and local RSE workers.
- The New Zealand Gold panning Championships are being held on Saturday in the Park - this is a great lead in to the World Championships being held in Central Otago in 2026.
We are able to help coordinate interviews with members of the Alexandra Blossom Festival committee.