Planning for next Kai Street Food Festival

BACK AGAIN: The inaugural First Light Kai street food festival in late January drew a large crowd to the Peel Street venue, and it will be back next year on January 28 with the food and entertainment that made this year’s festival such a success. File picture

THE First Light Kai street food festival will be staged again in the New Year at the same time and the same place as the highly successful inaugural event in January this year.

Businesses interested in being part of it have been encouraged to register with the Heart of Gisborne organisers.

The festival will be held in Peel Street again, on Sunday January 28 from 4.30-8.30pm.

HofG’s Lana Davy said the first festival brought large crowds into the CBD and offered the community a fun family environment.

“It fits in with our vision to support our retailer members by developing a vibrant and inviting event in a controlled, safe, secure and friendly atmosphere.”

Ms Davy said they planned to provide more seating and service areas this year for cafes and restaurants and improve the coordination of the entertainment.

“We also want to increase the vibrancy of the festival and to entice even more people into CBD.

“The aim is to create an inviting atmosphere that highlights the friendly and casual culture of our city.”

She said once again Peel Street would be closed off from Reads Quay through to Childers Road, including Gladstone Road to create a safe area for the public to enjoy the festival.

Market stalls and children’s activities would be set up in Treble Court, linked to the main festival venue.

“We invite our existing retailer members who offer associated products or services to set up stalls and we encourage all our hospitality businesses in the CBD to come on board to get the best out of this event.

“If we don’t get the buy in from our existing members we will go ahead and run the event anyway for the betterment of the city, our tourists and our community.”

She said demand from external traders was high.

“They will be invited to participate if our retail members do not support it sufficiently.

“We hope our retail businsses do get involved because some reported a record breaking sale day last time.”

Ms Davy said HofG wants to hear from businesses that intend to be part of the festival by November 20.

“It is imperative they contact us quickly because we are on a very tight timeframe and spaces are limited.”