Children enjoy colourful shapes at last year's event. Photo / Supplied
Children enjoy colourful shapes at last year's event. Photo / Supplied
Rotorua will explode with colour, crafts, lights and laughs as the inner city comes to life for Colour the Night.
Organised by The Arts Village, Colour the Night invites people to wander through art installations, catch a live play reading, take in a laser light show or make their own colourful artwork at various stations around town.
Now in its fourth year, the 2019 on July 11 event sees some new activities being added, with some solid favourites remaining.
The Arts Village director Mary-Beth Acres says the evening is a great way to get out and enjoy midwinter, perhaps stopping by some venues people may not have been in before.
"Our UV light installation at The Arts Village is always hugely popular, as are the crafts at Te Rūnanga Tearooms.
"This year we're excited to add a laser light show at the Government Gardens to our programme, and we're welcoming the Level 13 Theme Rooms and Costume Hire as new hosts who will be holding a play reading of The Elves and the Shoemaker onsite.
"All activities are planned with kids in mind, but there's definitely something for everyone, and we really want people to wrap up warm and make their way around the various sites on the night to appreciate everything that's on offer."
Wandering through the cold may not be for everyone, and those who would still like to join in the fun still has time to sign up as a volunteer.
Level 13 Theme Rooms and Costume Hire owner Deb Rowles is looking forward to Colour the Night. Photo / Shauni James
Level 13 Theme Rooms and Costume Hire is looking forward to being a new host .
Owner Deb Rowles says they decided to take part in Colour the Night since they were about to open the business and she had always wanted to host Play On in their setting.
"It's very colourful and the whole concept behind it was creating different worlds using colour and art."
She says the business was flooded badly last year which delayed its opening for a long time.
Deb says Colour the Night is a great event for the community.
"It's getting people out in winter and is possibly showing people things they would not normally experience."
"People may also find something in town they didn't know existed and inspire them to do something creative."
She says she is looking forward to seeing people's reactions to their themed rooms because it is quite different to anything else.
As well as the Play On performance, it will be hosting a small display of Liz Pearce's Heartfelt Dolls too.
She says children have to come in to the premises with parents or guardians.
Colour the Night is brought to life by The Arts Village, with the support of participating venues, performers, Creative Communities Scheme, the Rotorua Lakes Council Percent for Arts, and the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust.
- Those interested in volunteering can email hello@artsvillage.org.nz.
- All Colour the Night events are free and a full event programme can be found on the Colour the Night for Matariki Facebook page, or at www.artsvillage.org.nz.
The details - What: Colour the Night - When: Thursday July 11, 5.30pm to 8.30pm - Where: Various locations
