Editorial: Art Deco visitors welcome

Art Deco is, of course, not everyone's cup of tea. Photo / Duncan Brown

This weekend is huge for Hawke's Bay.

Art Deco has morphed into five days of fun and festivities showcasing our wonderful region.

People from all around the country and overseas flock to Hawke's Bay to dress up and dance, picnic, eat, drink and simply stroll the time away.

Hundreds of locals join in the festivities while others take the chance to do a bit of people watching.

The atmosphere is amazing with the streets jam-packed with people, while vintage cars and motorcycles line the streets and planes from a bygone era buzz overhead.

It's a boom for our retailers, cafes and restaurants. I imagine it would be one of the biggest weekends of the year for some.

If you are a plane buff head to the Waitangi airfield at Awatoto for Warbirds Over Awatoto. Hosted by Model Flying Hawke's Bay the event is expected to attract around 100 aircraft.

Art Deco is, of course, not everyone's cup of tea and every year we inevitability get people moaning about how much the council has spent on it and how the money could be better spent elsewhere.

There are also those who get really annoyed because "their town is taken over and they can't get a park anywhere". Really people, if you are that dead set against Art Deco either go away and have a lovely break somewhere else or get all your errands done early in the week so you don't have to go near the city centres. Easy.

Anything that draws thousands of people to our twin cities should be encouraged. So if you are planning on going out and about this weekend put a smile on your face and welcome these visitors with open arms.