Ashburton Courier: August 24, 2023

NEWS
22 Ashburton Courier, August 24, 2023
Stellar line­up for White Out
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
FLOAT SPECTACLE
BY JOHN PENEYCAD
White Out Festivalisset to
return to the picturesque
Methven Racecourseon
Saturday.
Withasensational lineup just
announced, the festival
promises an unforgettable
experience for music and snow
enthusiasts from all walks of
life.
Nowinits fourth year, White
Out Festival is renowned for
showcasing an exceptional
roster of localand
international artists,and this
year is no exception.
Expectmind­blowing
performances by worldrenowned
acts including
Shapeshifter, Alix Perez,
Homebrew, Kryist, Odd Mob,
Sicaria, TheTerrys, Aunty El,
Coast Arcade, Emilie,Fleeced,
Hails,MJ, and Yams.
Fromhouse to drum and
bass,rock to indie, the festival
offers an exhilarating musical
adventure that will leave
attendees craving for more.
Nestled in the heart of the
Mid Canterbury area, White
Out Festival offers more than
just music. Attendees are
invitedtoimmerse themselves
in the natural beauty of the
region, with stunning
mountains servingasa
breathtakingbackdrop.
Withbus passesand
accommodation packages
added to the 2023event, White
Out Festival will welcome
visitors from all around New
Zealand to experience the
region.
Mt Huttiscelebratingits 50th
anniversarywith White Out
Festival akey part of its events
calendar.
For more informationabout
Pop-up ice rink creates controversy
BY JOHN PENEYCAD
Ashburton DistrictCouncil is
helpingMtHutt SkiArea
celebrate its50thanniversary
by bringing an ice rink to the
party.
The ice rink will be set up in
Methven towncentre andoffer
free skating tonight, the first
night of the skifield’sbig
birthday weekendcelebration.
Therinkwillmove indoors
to the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall
for Friday, Saturday and
Sunday, and people can pay to
skate or try their hand at
curling.
The weekendpromises to be
quite the spectacle, however
not everyone has been
impressed with the decision to
bring an ice rink to the
celebrations.
The district council has
White OutFestival and
tickets, visit
whiteoutfestival.co.nz
White Out Festival is in its
fourth year, and is renowned
for attracting top
performers.
PHOTOS SUPPLIED
received many commentson
itsFacebook post aboutthe
feature, criticising the
initiative to bring the rink to
Methven.
They appear to be
concerned the ice rink may
take some of the shineaway
from thenewly opened
Staveley IceRink.
Some commentseven
questioned why thedistrict
council would choose to fund
such an activity, whilemany
others urgedfellowresidents
to boycott the feature.
In response, thedistrict
council’s group manager of
complianceand development
Jane Donaldson eased
concerns by advising the local
body has strong relationships
with both Mt Hutt and the
Staveley IceRink, andwill
continue to support these
important assets to the
community.
It is the district council’s
hope the pop­up eventwill
help provideatasterofwhat
theStaveleyIce Rinkhas to
offer, she said.
Council was pleased to hear
Staveley was fully bookedover
thecelebration weekend.
The districtcouncil was
unable to disclose the cost for
the ice rink feature due to
commercial reasons, but were
willing to release actual costs
and results after theevent.
Meanwhile,the rail jam is
back this year as partofthe
WhiteOut Festival.Railand
jump exhibitionsare knownas
ajib contest, whichis
technicalridingonanon
standard surface.
Skiers andsnowboarders
will be performingtrickson
therailwithonlythe best
beingselected to show case
theirskills.
The event has been a
popular part of the ski
season schedule for a
number of years now and
withitbeingthe mountains
50th anniversary,MtHutt
plan to makethismonth’s
eventdifferent andbigger
thaninprevious years.
The ski area willuse an
existing hillfor the
platformofthejump.
Alittlescaffolding is used
to constructthe build and
plenty of snowwill be
trucked in fromthe
mountain.
The plan is to build
what’s called a‘‘hip’’ and
possiblyarailfeature as
well.
The hip consists of ajump
goingforwards, allowing
for competitors to landto
theleft orrightofit.
Mt Hutt Ski Area’s 50th
anniversary celebrations kick
off in style today withafloat
parade in theMethventown
centre.
The parade is bringing back a
once treasured tradition in the
town,and is sure to be a
marvellous spectacle for
people of all ages.
MarketingmanagerRichie
Owen has been taking the reins
in organising theevent.
Theideacameaboutfrom
Owen’s childhoodmemoriesof
witnessinganannualfloral
festival in thetown. He
remembered seeing the
impressive floats and parades
involved in the festival, which
ranfrom theearly 1960sinto the
1970s.
“It’s suchagoodidea to
reinvigorate past floatparades
andthistime it will have a
winter vibe with plenty of
lights,’’hesaid.
“Weare reallylooking forward
to it and anticipate ahuge crowd
with great communityspirit.”
There will be afew local truck
companies all lit up, pulling
trailers with people onboard,
with many floats from local
businesses joining the
festivities. Thefree event starts
7pmand should finish at 7.30pm.
Thecircuitbegins fromMethven
ChertseyRd, goes across the
Main St, and will turn right on to
BlackfordSt. From there it will
pass through Lampard St and
cross over to around theMtHutt
Memorial Hall, pass behind of
theBlue Pub andfinish on
Kilworth St.
There will also be alantern
parade, whichwill follow the
float parade.
Pupils from primary schools
andpreschools in the areahave
made lanterns.
They willlead from behind the
halland walk through the main
crowd, at which point it willkick
offthe main party, accompanied
by an interactive lighting
display.
Thepop­up iceskating rink
will be outside, accompanied by
market stalls andheadline
musicbyDragon beginning8pm
at theBluePub.
Richie Owen