The generosity of the Bay community could seal Summerfest's future, according to organisers, who have been "blown away" by the support they have received.
Creative Tauranga chief executive Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell said she was still in discussions with two major sponsors and could not announce anything "just yet" but was hopeful Summerfest would go ahead. The annual drug and alcohol free youth music festival's future was in doubt earlier this month after the former Tauranga City Council voted not to help fund it.
Ms Rudduck-Gudsell said the community had since joined in the fight for Summerfest, with businesses coming forward with competitive quotes and a school holding a mufti-day to raise money for the festival.
She was also getting cheques in the mail from people who wanted Summerfest to stay on the event calendar. "I felt like crying with happiness when I opened up one letter recently," Ms Rudduck-Gudsell said.
"Inside was a cheque for $50 and a lovely letter from an older couple who live at Carmel Country Estate. They said Summerfest sounded like a great event for young people and they hoped it went ahead."
