Tremains Art Deco Festival pulls out all stops in Napier

Napier was full of sun, smiles and thousands of costumed revellers as the city's biggest Art Deco extravaganza came to an end yesterday.

The 30th annual Tremains Art Deco Festival drew more than 25,000 people from throughout Hawke's Bay and New Zealand as well as several thousand international guests.

From Wednesday to yesterday people were able to experience more than 200 events while dressed in their best 1920s to 1930s outfits.

Festival director Glen Pickering said the entire festival went "amazingly" and was "absolutely spectacular".

"Art Deco is an important part of Napier's story. Where we've come from and where we are now."

There were a number of highlights - especially some of the new events that included the Junior Gatsby Picnic and Friday Night with the Stars which was really popular, he said.

"One of the best parts was all the free and outdoor events that really brought people into the city.

"The new events have really been the stars of the festival."

The Junior Gatsby Picnic was a huge success and would definitely be coming back, Mr Pickering said.

Friday Night with the Stars was a great way of showcasing the music of the era and giving people the experience of Art Deco in a different way, he said.

Harvards fly over the yesterday's Gatsby Picnic as part of the Brebner Print Memorial Flying Display. Photo / Warren Buckland

Due to being the 30th anniversary organisers increased the amount of free and outdoor events and made many of them bigger to help people get into the community spirit of the event.

The weather was also perfect, sunny, warm and but not too hot, he said.

The official numbers weren't calculated yet but anecdotal evidence showed Friday night's opening at Napier Sound Shell was the biggest in the history of the event. This was also the case for yesterday's Gatsby Picnic.

Art Deco Trust general manager Shane Gorst said Friday Night with the Stars at the Napier Sound Shell set the tone for the rest of the weekend.

"We've never seen a crowd like that in 30 years of putting on the festival.

"There were people wall to wall all the way back to the conference centre.

"They were young and old and it was fantastic to see everybody out on Friday night."

Rotorua resident Justine Winslade said she visited Napier for the festival with a friend each year for the wonderful atmosphere and costumes.

They attended a number of events including Festival Opera's Madame Butterfly, the Vintage Car Parade and the Gatsby Picnic, she said.

"I love the ambiance, the 1930s is how life really should be."

Thousands lined Napier's streets to view Saturday's Vintage Car Parade. Photo / Warren Buckland

Naomi and Dick Neill travelled from Gisborne with their two granddaughters dressed in costumes made by Mrs Neill for the weekend.

"We've been coming for 12 years," Mrs Neill said.

"I love the dress-ups, cars and music."

Mr Neill said the festival showed what a great city Napier was.

"The entire city gets into it. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger."

Cushla Whitehead attended the festival for the first time this year following a move from Tauranga to Napier last October.

"I will definitely be back next year...it's wonderful."

Tamatea residents Deb and Stuart McKenzie had been to the festival for a number of years and now tried to do any unique events that came up.

This year they took a ride over the city in a DC3 plane and loved it, Mrs McKenzie said.

"When do get a chance to go in DC3?

"The view was great."

Some of the festivities included Sileni Estates Festival Opening, Gatsby Picnic, 2018 National Borzoi Championship Show, Deco Conga Line, Soap Box Derby, Great Gatsby Party, Vintage Car Parade and Prohibition Party.