Music festival success means big things to come

Sela Tupou, 13, from Welcome Bay, with Kahleal Milosi, 13, from Greerton, enjoying the water slide at the Welcome Bay Family Music Festival. Photo / Ruth Keber

An alcohol-free music festival that debuted at the weekend was such a success it is likely to expand next year, say organisers.

The festival, organised by different community members, was a full day family festival in Welcome Bay.

It included bouncy castles, pony rides, a water slide, dunk-a-rama, mini-sports games and a smorgasbord of bands playing throughout the day.

Welcome Bay Community Centre chairwoman Mary Dillon said the idea came about because of a community fun day held last December.

"Some of the community members got together after that and said, 'Why don't we do that again but have a slightly different focus to it'?"

The festival was for the members of Welcome Bay and surrounding suburbs, including Maungatapu, Hairini, Poike and Ohauiti. Any profits made from the day would be used to upgrade the computers at the Welcome Bay Community Centre.

Mrs Dillion said the day was a success and the organisers hoped to plan a bigger event for next year - but would move the festival to a bigger park.

"We will look at what the crowd does today but we'd think about moving it to Waipuna Park," she said.