Super Smash cricket will be back in Alexandra this summer, and the Alexandra Blossom Festival has secured operational funding for 2025 to run its annual September event.

Otago Cricket and the Alexandra Blossom Festival Committee were both successful through the promotions and events grants for 2025 from the Vincent Community Board yesterday.

The board agreed to grant $10,000 towards Super Smash cricket played at Molyneux Park over summer, to cover scaffolding for sight screens and camera towers.

The blossy fest committee was given reprieve from a Central Otago District Council staff recommendation in 2024 to become self sufficient.

The event cost $231,000 to run and the committee has to contest the council’s promotional fund every year - of which there is only $50,000.

Board chair Jayden Cromb said with grant policies now slightly changed, there was no longer a requirement for the blossy fest grant to become a “sinking lid,” however, it remained a ‘suggestion’ and a preference for the long term.

Winter Stellar Charitable Trust was declined its $20,000 application for a Dark Sky Reserve, and staff would continue to work with the group to make its application stronger.

Blossy fest committee treasurer Tim Coughlan spoke to the board about the annual festival, which he described as a “massive” promotional event for Alexandra, that made sense both economically and socially.

“We want to keep it affordable to get everyone there.”

But as a not for profit organisation, it was not sustainable, “and we do have some great sponsors but that can change anytime.”

Last year a Ministry of Business and Innovation (MBEI) grant meant they could use 50% of that for marketing spend, and another submission had been made for this year.

Tim said the volunteer hours put in behind the scenes was huge, “from the gatekeepers who come back every year… it has every generation involved.”

Warren McSkimming of Otago Cricket spoke to the board and said the Super Smash would bring six games to Molyneux Park during December/January and it was broadcast to six different countries, with 50,000-70,000 viewers.

“Support for the Sparks is massive and the people queue up to watch the full day.

“It’s a large cost to bring this to Alexandra, but the community still love having that cricket in the town. People know cricket and have been brought up with it.”