Thousands of tourists wearing masks and costumes thronged Venice's car-free streets on Saturday as the city's celebration of Carnival began.

She is the Shirley Temple of samba, a seven-year-old named to a coveted Carnival role normally reserved for barely clad models.

Raincoats and plastic ponchos were de rigueur early on at the first Laneway Festival at Britomart in central Auckland yesterday.

The 3Ds have returned to reclaim their legend as the loudest goofiest pop band to have sprung from these shores.

Westport's finest young voice is up for a music award at this weekend's Auckland Folk Festival.

This weekend's Auckland Seafood Festival promises all manner of delicacies, from chocolate prawns to macadamia scallops.

Amid the glut of pop reggae at next weekend's Raggamuffin Festival come two veteran acts with righteous roots.

Sly Dunbar jokes that he is coming to New Zealand for a holiday.

Thousands gather to take an icy dip in the Ganges River during festivals aimed at cleansing sin.

Test your Big Day Out knowledge with our compendium of fascinating facts about the annual music festival.

Amanda Wright, founder of the Splore festival, is an expert at providing great visual experiences.

The annual festival which turns west London into a riot of colour.