Festival casts bright light on Lyttelton

Switch on the winter fun at the Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights this weekend.

Cantabrians are being invited to join the crowd at the annual street party on Friday, 29 June from 6pm and share in the fireworks show above the harbour at 8pm.

Fireworks light up the sky above Lyttelton Port.

A light-filled trail of art installations – complemented by multiple musical performances and plenty of food – will put the spotlight on the portside town.

The illuminated street parade will power up from London Street from 7pm.

This year’s festival acts include Lindon Puffin and The Bad Bax and The Settlers, along with kapa haka, dance and ukuleles.

Festival-goers are being urged to use public transport, with a big crowd expected to pack the streets.

Events co-ordinator Claire Coates says there will be no parking in Lyttelton.

She says the best option is to take a bus, with shuttles and park and ride options available.

“Lyttelton services will run from the Bus Interchange from 5pm on Friday,” Ms Coates says.

“There will also be park and ride options from Chapmans Road, on the corner of Lock Crescent; and outside Countdown Ferrymead in Ferry Road.”

Buses will run to and from these locations between 5.30pm and 10pm, with more details available from Project Lyttelton.

Several streets will also be closed for the festival. London Street – from Oxford Street to Canterbury Street – will be closed to traffic from noon on Friday to 1am on Saturday.

London Street – from Dublin Street to Canterbury Street – and Canterbury Street – from Winchester Street to Norwich Quay – will be closed from 2pm on Friday to 1am on Saturday.

One of this year’s festival highlights is a “glowing art gallery”, Bioluminaire.

Lyttelton Primary School has teamed up with microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles to create the special gallery.

Dr Wiles is recognised for her work with bioluminescent bacteria.

Pupils are utilising her formula to create a glowing artwork in a petri dish for the festival.

“Dr Wiles is a wonderful science communicator and we’re delighted she has agreed to help Lyttelton School produce what promises to be a marvellous new attraction for the festival,” Lyttelton Primary School Principal Brendan Wright says.

Bioluminaire will light up the “Port Talk” building on the corner of Oxford Street and London Street.