Hopes for more festival floats
A crowd at Pioneer Park for the 2024 Alexandra Blossom Festival. PHOTO: ODT FILES
The countdown to one of New Zealand's most well-known spring festivals is under way as float entries have opened for the 2025 Alexandra Blossom Festival.
Festival event manager Martin McPherson said the 68-year-old event, originally set up as a fundraiser for the old Alexandra Pool, was the longest-running event of its kind in New Zealand.
"Now it's a great celebration of who we are, and spring, and an excuse for people to get out and have fun."
The festival would run with the same formula as previous years, "a bit like grandma's carrot cake", he said.
"You might tweak the lemon juice and the icing but you don't change the recipe."
One of the "tweaks" is the invitation to different cultural groups such as the Fijian and Southeast Asian communities to participate.
Mr McPherson hoped to grown on what the festival had done in the past and more multicultural inclusion would better reflect the community.
Last year there were nine competitive floats and 45 items in the procession which included vintage cars and marching bands.
This year, it was hoped there would be even more floats, he said.
The Alexandra Blossom Festival committee would give $750 to clubs, schools and kindergartens who enter a float.
Private businesses and others would be able to choose a charity for the committee to give to on their behalf.
This was on top of the the support already in place which included $500 towards materials to build a float and free crepe paper supplied from Alexandra New World.
"We've seen some incredible designs over the years and can't wait to see what people create this year," Mr McPherson said.
Float entries close on Friday, August 8. Entry forms are available on the blossom festival website at www.blossom.co.nz
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Hopes for more festival floats
A crowd at Pioneer Park for the 2024 Alexandra Blossom Festival. PHOTO: ODT FILES The countdown to one of New Zealand's most well-known spring festivals is under way as float entries have opened for the 2025 Alexandra Blossom Festival. Festival event manager Martin McPherson said the 68-year-old event, originally set up as a fundraiser for the old Alexandra Pool, was the longest-running event of its kind in New Zealand. "Now it's a great celebration of who we are, and spring, and an excuse for people to get out and have fun." The festival would run with the same formula as previous years, "a bit like grandma's carrot cake", he said. "You might tweak the lemon juice and the icing but you don't change the recipe." One of the "tweaks" is the invitation to different cultural groups such as the Fijian and Southeast Asian communities to participate. Mr McPherson hoped to grown on what the festival had done in the past and more multicultural inclusion would better reflect the community. Last year there were nine competitive floats and 45 items in the procession which included vintage cars and marching bands. This year, it was hoped there would be even more floats, he said. The Alexandra Blossom Festival committee would give $750 to clubs, schools and kindergartens who enter a float. Private businesses and others would be able to choose a charity for the committee to give to on their behalf. This was on top of the the support already in place which included $500 towards materials to build a float and free crepe paper supplied from Alexandra New World. "We've seen some incredible designs over the years and can't wait to see what people create this year," Mr McPherson said. Float entries close on Friday, August 8. Entry forms are available on the blossom festival website at
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