Splore is New Zealand's longest running music, art and performance festival and this year will feature over 100 acts at its beachside home.
Splore opens its' gates at 8am Friday 19 February for three days of festive fun at the sublime beach location - Tapapakanga Park, one hours drive South East of Auckland. With views out to the Coromandel, a safe swimming beach and beautiful pohutukawa trees that drape the shore line, the park's location perfectly frames the festival's creative content.
Over 100 acts will perform with a mixture of music genres and performance that ranges from circus acrobatics to comedy. Kids get their very own zone, programmed throughout the weekend. Art installations infuse the site to provide an interactive art experience for the audience.
The all ages, family friendly festival plays host to 16 international acts at one of the world's best festival locations.
The international visitors will be greeted by a powhiri from local Iwi, Ngati Paoa and Ngati Whanaunga.
"Our international acts are often completely blown away by the hospitality and culture they experience at Splore. They are not long off a plane and then they're on this beautiful remote beach where the local iwi welcome them with a powhiri" says John Minty, Splore Festival Director.
Splore was awarded the 'International Greener Festival Award' in 2013, a first and only for a New Zealand festival.
"You couldn't get a cleaner festival, there's no rubbish littering the ground, there's extensive recycling facilities with the goal is to reduce rubbish to landfill by 85%. Our mantra is "leave no trace' and this impacts everyone's behaviour. People come away feeling very uplifted from a weekend at Splore, it can be quite transformative for some people" says Minty.
Splore's uniqueness can be attributed to its eclectic performance schedule and festival theme.
Each year the audience is encouraged to dress up for the Saturday evening. This year's festival theme is 'A Summer Odyssey'. The Travelers Ball' will be held in the 'Living Lounge' on Saturday night. It's an intimate cabaret party featuring theatre, acrobatics, dance, music and comedy. Dressing up in costume means people take on a theatrical persona and the party really comes alive.
