Ruapehu's biggest blockbuster event of the year returns, Ohakune Mardi Gras

A glimpse of the scenes that may be seen at Mardi Gras 2018. Photo/ File

Snow lovers around New Zealand can rejoice, because Ohakune Mardi Gras is back.

New promoters Audiology Touring have joined forces with the Ohakune Events Charitable Trust to revive Ruapehu's biggest party on June 23.

The dress-up street party vibe will remain the same, with live music, rides, food and drinks, but the main change is that the event will be R18 in 2018.

Audiology Touring's Mitch Lowe said the change was made for the peace of mind of the stakeholders, who loved the idea when the event plan was presented to them.

"Mardi Gras is a unique event that has licensed bars within its perimeter, all we want is a fun, safe event and everyone being of legal age makes that easier to manage," he said.

"It's always a concern that it may affect ticket sales too, but from what we have seen it has only increased them."

Thousands of fans were left worried and disappointed last year when the event was cancelled for the first time since it began in 1995.

At the time it was reported that their event in 2016, featuring Max Key, had posted a loss of $77,000.

Mr Lowe said he was not concerned with the past.

"We've already sold 5000 tickets in a day, we're rapt," he said.

"Capacity is 9000 and we are expecting to sell out over a month in advance."

Audiology Touring is an event management company that has operated in New Zealand for 10 years, they are co-founders of the country's largest festival, Bay Dreams.

They have secured successful drum and bass act Pendulum as the headliners for Ohakune Mardi Gras 2018.

Joining them will be Home Brew, Written By Wolves, Stevie Stone, Rittz, Times X Two and DJ Spell.

"I think the lineup is amazing, if you look at its diversity, it's got everything from hip hop to drum and bass," Mr Lowe said.

"It's such a solid selection of international and local talent, I'm really happy with what we pulled together."

Mr Lowe said that when he heard about the cancellation in 2017, he knew that Audiology Touring was the brand that could revive it.

"There's no reason a great festival like this shouldn't exist, it's been running for 21 years and I saw an opportunity to improve the areas that were lacking in order," he said.

"I attended Mardi Gras growing up and it was one of the event highlights of my youth. I want other youth to experience it and I just couldn't watch a brand with that much history fall away."