Heritage Festival looks forward
Ruihana Smith leads a Heritage Festival hikoi in the Havelock area on 24 May. Photo: Supplied.
After providing glimpses into the past, Marlborough Heritage Festival organisers have started looking ahead to next year’s celebration of local history.
The collection of three-dozen events across the region over a nine-day span (15-24 May) represented a step up in scope. It attracted more than 600 attendees.
“It’s been amazing seeing the festival grow so quickly,” Council’s Museum Coordinator Sophie Wool told Marlborough Weekly. “There was a very strong turnout overall, with some events selling out quickly.
“We are looking forward to bringing the festival back again in 2027.”
Next year’s dates are not yet set, though the festival once again should coincide with International Museum Day on 18 May. Sophie explained, “We try to bring awareness and uplift the museums around the region since they are heavily involved with the festival.
The call for submissions, as well as ideas, will run August through October.
This year, “walking through the past” resonated with Marlburians, Sophie observed, as walking tours proved popular. So was “Meet the Archaeologist” at the Edwin Fox – organisers added a second session.
Check Heritage Marlborough’s pages on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the festival and other events.