Navy's Art Deco Festival assignment a double celebration

Next month's Art Deco Festival will have special significance for the navy and it's set-to-be-busy band. Photo / Duncan Brown

A familiar visiting couple to the Tremains Art Deco Festival are again set to call in and be part of an event which will have special significance.

The navy's offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington and its inshore patrol partner HMNZS Hawea are scheduled to arrive at 5pm on February 16 and will be in port until 10am on February 20.

The Wellington carries 42 core crew as well as 12 flight personnel, because it is equipped with a Kaman Super Seasprite helicopter, while the Hawea carries 24 core crew.

Both ships were part of last year's event but this year's festival has a special touch.

It is being staged in the year the Royal New Zealand Navy is celebrating its 75th and part of that will be a special commemoration concert at the Napier Municipal Theatre.

"It has always been something special to have the navy arrive for the festival and this makes it even more special," Art Deco Trust events director Glen Pickering said.

There will be two special concerts commemorating the navy's anniversary.

On the Friday morning the 26-piece navy band is staging a performance for schoolchildren while the afternoon concert will be for Art Deco festive fans - with proceeds from the $12 admission to that concert going to charity.

The band is conducted by Lieutenant Michael Dowrick, formerly a director of music with the Royal Marines and who recently appeared at the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations.

The concert is one of a string of navy "assignments" during the festival.

The band will take part in the traditional Saturday parade, stage a formal Friday Ceremonial Sunset concert at the Sound Shell as well as a 1930s music-themed show at the venue on Saturday.

There will also be the Veronica Bell Parade on the Sunday and the now traditional Swing and a Prayer Service at the Waiapu Cathedral of St John.

Mr Pickering said there were also initial plans afoot for a "host a navy officer" component to the Gatsby Picnic where people staging a picnic can have a navy guest join them.

The Art Deco Festival will get under way on February 15 and run until February 19.