Welcome to Flochella - the world's only floating music festival

NZ Herald

5 Feb, 2018 06:23 PM2 mins to read

Lake Tikitapu became a sea of magical creatures as thousands turned out for the world's only floating music festival.

Flamingos, unicorns and even a dragon descended on Rotorua's Lake Tikitapu yesterday, for the second annual Flochella Festival, hosted by ZM.

The event, which became the world's first floating music festival last year when it debuted in Lake Taupo, moved to a new venue this year, with more than 6000 fans swarming the lake with inflatables of all shapes, sizes and colours.

6000 music lovers turned out for the unique festival despite the grey skies.

Music lovers began swarming the lake early in the day, ahead of the first music act Mitch James. Fellow Kiwis Drax Project, Kings and Jupiter Project were also on the line up, ahead of Aussie chart topper Amy Shark, who ended the day's proceedings in heavy rain.

Amy Shark performs at ZM's Flochella in Rotorua.

Last year, the inaugural event reached capacity three hours ahead of the official midday start time, with 4000 fans gathering for a day on the water. This year, that number rose to 6000, despite the bleak weather forecast.

The event also featured the NZ Bomb Competition, which saw competitors jump from a 10m scaffold, while judges awarded points for their originality, style and form.

Billed as strictly alcohol and drug free event, organisers said they had been forced to remove a handful of people for drunkenness and were working with both security and police to enforce the rule.