Aotea Daikin’s Light Up Winter event is set to banish Central residents’ winter blues on Saturday August 5. 

Light Up Winter offers live entertainment by local artists, street food from the night market, captivating street performers and free creative children’s workshops. 

The Light Up Your Hat competition and parade is back as is the mass-lantern release at 7.30pm. 

The night sky becomes adorned with over a thousand lanterns, transforming it into a magical canvas of illuminated beauty. 

Organising group Cromwell Promotions said it is committed to safety and environmental responsibility, and has ensured the lanterns provided are flame retardant, completely biodegradable, and free from any wire that could harm wildlife.

Lanterns can be booked on the group’s website before the event. Places also need to be booked for the free kids activities; UV fish painting and creative hat workshops.

The event began in 2017 and has brought a sense of community to the town almost every winter since. 

Together with Aotea and Daikin other event sponsors are Central Lakes Trust, Lotteries Community Fund, Barrett Homes Central Otago and Creative Communities NZ. 

Further information is in The Central App What's On guide.

PHOTO: Cromwell Promotions