New Year's Eve Rotorua Night Market visitors enjoy the sounds of Rotorua's Remaster. Photo / Shauni James
New Year's Eve Rotorua Night Market visitors enjoy the sounds of Rotorua's Remaster. Photo / Shauni James
As the year came to a close - a year which could be described as unprecedented and challenging - people banded together to send off 2020.
Thursday night's extra-late Rotorua Night Market finished at 10pm and featured local entertainment, including Remaster and the crew from 8 Scott Ave The Musical,alongside the food vendors offering an abundance of choice.
The balloon twisting and face painting was a big hit with families, with a large crowd gathering around to get among the action.
The live music acts also captivated people, with many making use of chairs, bean bags and the seating area to take a break, eat their food and listen to the local talent.
Because of Covid-19 issues, this year's GLO Festival was cancelled in September, for the first time.
Kathy Nicholls, Rotorua Lakes Council arts and culture marketing and communications lead, said it was hard to estimate the numbers that came through the New Year's Eve Night Market.
However, they believed there would have been several thousand throughout the course of the evening.
"Everyone seemed to have a great time and most of the vendors had sold out by 9pm, but that was probably a nice time because by then most were there enjoying the music.
"I think people appreciated having different activities for children to do, the balloon workshops and face painting were very popular, and the different acrobats and stilt walkers that came out throughout the night added something special."
New Year's Eve Rotorua Night Market visitors enjoy the sounds of Rotorua's Remaster. Photo / Shauni James
Rotorua's Leanne Stewart said they had decided to go along since it was the community event to celebrate New Year's Eve.
"There's always a great vibe down here anyway.
"It's an existing event and it already has patronage, so having extra for New Year's Eve seems appropriate and it will have lots of local tourism."
She said she was feeling optimistic about 2021 and looking forward to a new year.
Cory Ravenson of Cory B'Loons said his balloon art workshops and handing out balloon figurines for the children went well and he was busy - "People enjoyed watching my art".
He said it was great to have an event with a friendly, family environment.
Ravenson has been doing balloon art for about 12 years, and has also done balloon decor and installation work.
A stilt walker blows bubbles to excited children. Photo / Shauni James
Wellington's Jo Purdey is visiting Rotorua with her family, and her son Fin Clough, 4, was very excited about getting his shaped balloon.
"Anything family-friendly like this is great on New Year's Eve. It's wonderful, lovely."
When asked what her hopes were for 2021, she said she just hoped that the rest of the world got to live like we were living.
"I think we are very lucky here in New Zealand."
Rotorua police area commander Inspector Phil Taikato said there were no significant police callouts on New Year's Eve and it was pleasing for police to have a relatively trouble-free night.
A police media spokeswoman said there were four arrests for incidents like disorder, fighting, assault over New Year's Eve.
Of those, two were charged - one with assault with intent to injure (44-year-old woman) and one with fighting in a public place (37-year-old man). Both are due to appear on January 2.
The Rotorua Mega Fun Carnival had crowds of people enjoying the rides and games on offer.
Mahons Amusements co-owner CJ Mahon said they had a great, steady day and night.
"We missed not having the fireworks or GLO Festival and running alongside them, but with the year we had it's understandable why it didn't proceed.
"We had a great, happy crowd with no problems. Everyone was pleased to see us and it was great to see locals come out."
He thanked the council for allowing them to continue their partnership and hoped 2021 would be a year with no interruptions.
"We are a seasonal business and we took a big hit in March when Covid-19 hit. We are a family business of three generations so it's nice we can continue what our family has done for 75 years."
Ambrosia co-owner Ron Beehre said they had had live music and closed just after midnight on New Year's Eve.
He said there were no issues and it was a busy night.
Brew Craft Beer Pub general manager Caitlin Deuchars said it wasn't as busy as a normal New Year's Eve.
"Without the fireworks and family atmosphere it wasn't the same vibe. There wasn't a usual rush at the bar before midnight for the countdown drinks. It felt more like a busy Saturday night pre-Covid.
"It was nice having so many people wandering down Eat Streat, everyone was pretty packed but at Brew it was definitely more of a casual drinkers evening than a party central New Year's."
A Wellington family at Skyline on New Year's Eve said they were disappointed to learn the day before they wouldn't get to see fireworks on the lake. They said it was one of the main reasons they came to Rotorua.
Phil, who didn't want his surname published, said he his wife, Catherine, and daughters, Emma and Jessica, had a lovely time despite their disappointment of no fireworks.
"We are staying at the Wylie Court and it's great. We went to the Redwoods Treewalk night lantern show, Kerosene Creek, the 3D Art show and Skyline."
Skyline Rotorua food and beverage manager Nital Brijwal said they had about 430 people celebrate New Year's Eve for dinner at Stratosphere restaurant.
"It's about the same amount as last year but we found that people made their bookings later. It's great to see people opening their champagne and having a great time and we are very grateful they chose to come to Stratosphere."
