Winter Fest gets some sizzle
Making the great slide into winter is Nicola de Lautour, Jamie Keehan and Louisa Redward. Photo: Dan Hutchinson
By Dan Hutchinson
The Malcolm Flowers Insurance Taupō Winter Festival will remain the hottest show in town over the winter months thanks to an influx of new sponsors.
Taupō & Tūrangi News recently highlighted the drop-off in sponsorship and the potential for a pared back festival.
Since then, Drop Zone has emerged as a major new financial sponsor and will take naming rights for the popular and free Light Hub attraction.
The entertainment complex joins four other new sponsors backing the event, while nine businesses have returned from last year.
Festival organiser Nicola de Lautour says the community response has been overwhelming.
The five new sponsors include McDonald's Taupō, Whakapapa, New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty and Lava Glass, alongside major sponsor Malcolm Flowers Insurances, and returning sponsors Wairakei Estate, MB Century, Le Pine & Co, Bevan Martin Electrical, Top 10 Taupō Holiday Park, More FM, Kona Cones and Quality Print.
Drop Zone owner Jamie Keehan says the company has an annual budget for community events, they were disappointed last year's Drop Zone Big Bang Guy Fawkes public fireworks display was cancelled and were looking for a new event to sponsor.
"We always have a budget to give back to the Taupō community every year.”
Keehan says the winter festival represents good value for community investment.
"It goes over a couple of weeks too, which makes it different, whereas the Big Bang is one night.”
The festival will run from July 3 - 19, covering the entire school holiday period. De Lautour says the timing maximises family participation during the winter break.
This year's events programme focuses on local talent, with only one visiting performer among the lineup.
Local acts confirmed include the bands Hot Tub and Fairly Obvious, along with Dance Central and Taupō Concert Band. Children's author and illustrator Donovan Bixley is involved in a surprise community event.
The festival will bring back popular attractions including the Drop Zone Light Hub, ice rink and ice slide. These paid attractions complement free community events throughout the programme, including the Drop Zone Light Hub
Drop Zone general manager Louisa Redward says it is not only a great free event for the community but proceeds fund the charitable work of One Taupō Trust, which supports families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses.
The trust operates a Friends of the Trust programme, allowing supporters to contribute financially in exchange for early ticket access and credit towards paid events.
This helps fund both the festival and the trust's charitable work.
Tickets will go on sale to Friends of the Trust members following the programme launch on April 28, with public sales beginning on May 11 for events requiring advance booking.
Jamie says community support during quieter periods helps businesses like Drop Zone continue their community contributions.
"Whilst we do these community events, there's lots of other things, like the Supercars, where we have really quiet weekends because people don't like to get out and travel.
"It is appreciated when the community then comes back and supports us on those weekends."
The festival represents a significant community investment, with organisers already planning for 2027.
"We're already looking at plans for next year, fingers crossed, with local artists already," Nicola says.
Drop Zone will also host Easter activities this weekend, including the Easter Bunny on Sunday from 10am to 2pm and an Easter egg hunt at Swingers Putt Putt mini golf from Friday to Monday.
Festival organisers encourage community members to support local businesses that back community events, particularly during traditionally quieter periods when major events draw visitors elsewhere.