Latest news with #WingsofWonder
Otago Daily Times
29-06-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Makeup event to be staged after rain stops carnival
The Midwinter Carnival team says it is working towards a makeup event in the coming weeks after organisers had to cancel the second night of the carnival at the weekend because of heavy rain. A spokesman for the carnival said it was a difficult decision to cancel Saturday night's events especially after the "magic and joy" of Friday night. However, the safety and wellbeing of the audience, performers and crew had to come first. Ticket refunds were not available because the event was called off due to extreme weather. "As a not-for-profit charitable trust, the Midwinter Carnival must still meet the full cost of delivering the event, including infrastructure, staffing, artist fees and materials." A statement on Saturday said a makeup event for the Saturday ticket holders was being planned. It would offer a chance for Saturday ticket holders to come together and still experience a little bit of carnival magic. The event would feature lantern installations, live music, performers and more. Further details, including the date and location, would be shared soon, the statement said. Despite not being able to put on a second night at the weekend, the Midwinter Carnival organisers were proud of what was delivered on Friday, the spokesman said. "We're proud of what was achieved and so grateful for the magic we did get to share together." The theme of the festival this year was Wings of Wonder and First Church was transformed into a glowing display of things fantastical and winged on Friday night. New Zealand native birds, mythical creatures and small critters, including the classic butterfly, were featured. Coastal Dunedin bore the brunt of heavy rain on Friday and Saturday. In total, 78.5mm of rain was recorded at Pine Hill in the 48 hours to 1pm yesterday. — APL
Otago Daily Times
28-06-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Second night of Midwinter Carnival cancelled
A glowing dragon exhales a smoke cloud over visitors eagerly waiting to be let into the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival at First Church on Friday night. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN Organisers of the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival have had to cancel the second night of the event due to bad weather. The theme of the festival this year is Wings of Wonder and First Church was transformed into a glowing display of everything fantastical and winged on Friday night. New Zealand native birds, mythical creatures soaring in the sky and small critters including the classic butterfly were featured. Coastal Dunedin bore the brunt of heavy rain overnight on Friday - approximately 25-50mm, the Otago Regional Council said, and a further 20-30mm was forecast for Saturday. A spokesman for Midwinter Carnival said it was a difficult decision to cancel, especially after the ''magic and joy'' of last night, but the safety and wellbeing of the audience, performers and crew had to come first. Ticket refunds were not available because the event was called of due to extreme weather. ''As a not-for-profit charitable trust, the Midwinter Carnival must still meet the full cost of delivering the event, including infrastructure, staffing, artist fees and materials.'' Despite not being able to put on a second night, the Midwinter Carnival was proud of the event it delivered on night one. ''We're proud of what was achieved and so grateful for the magic we did get to share together.'' - APL
Otago Daily Times
26-06-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Rain cannot ‘dampen' festival enthusiasm
Dunedin Midwinter Carnival installation assistant Adele Cleverley takes a five-minute break as lanterns are installed at First Church in Moray Pl for today and tomorrow's carnival. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY The Dunedin Midwinter Carnival will not let the forecast wet weather "dampen" an amazing event this weekend. Today and tomorrow, First Church is set to be transformed into a glowing display of everything fantastical and winged as the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival returns. However, this weekend, a deluge of rain is forecast to hit Dunedin. There was a possibility for warning amounts of rain to accumulate in Dunedin and north Otago tomorrow. Carnival marketing manager Jess Covell said it was not going to let a little rain "dampen what [was] going to be an amazing couple of evenings". "It is still forging ahead as far as I'm aware — but it won't be the first time that it's rained, and I'm sure it won't be the last time." The first time the carnival moved to First Church, it had rained, and it just meant some displays had needed to be moved indoors or canned, but the night was just as good as always, she said. The theme of the festival this year is Wings of Wonder, which would feature New Zealand native birds, mythical creatures that soared through the sky and small critters such as the classic butterfly. "There's an incredible dragon that's been made to breathe smoke; that has taken hundreds of hours of time to do." This year, the carnival collaborated with third-year design students from the Otago Polytechnic who had created a series of exciting interactive installations. One of the installations was made to align with the Puaka Matariki Festival. People would be able to write their wishes for the new year upon a star they had hand-made, and then to post it to the corresponding Matariki star that it related to. "[The students have] done a really incredible job, and it was such a joy to work with them ... I think they got a lot out of it as well."
Otago Daily Times
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Midwinter Carnival preparation begins
The Dunedin Midwinter Carnival team has transformed the Meridian Mall with an array of twinkling lantern displays. The annual glow-up of the Meridian, which has been a staunch supporter of the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival for many years, gives the public a chance to get an early taste of the carnival, which will be held on June 27-28, from 4pm-9pm, at First Church. Meridian Mall shoppers will discover a glowing world of pond life, with radiant lily pads, flowers, koi fish and frogs at the entrance, star drops twinkling above the food court, a giant kraken entwined with a glowing ship, and seals on the top floor. These displays are inspired by last year's carnival theme "Creatures of the Deep", and will light up the Meridian Mall until July. Dunedin Midwinter Carnival's team of lantern artists, led by Filipa Crofskey, are hard at work creating new giant lanterns on this year's theme "Wings of Wonder". The public will also be able to take part in small lantern-making workshops from this weekend at the Meridian. Meridian Mall marketing manager Stacey Johnston said the mall was " delighted to provide a welcoming space for the much-loved lantern-making workshops, helping to keep this cherished community tradition glowing brightly". People attending the community workshops will make bumblebees, owls, gulls and a rocket. This year, the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival is also partnering with Tūhura Otago Museum, which will host a lantern-making workshop for adults as part of their "Wine and Design" series. Tūhura Otago Museum senior events co-ordinator Jessica Hatfield said the museum was lucky to be able to collaborate "with such amazing local events and help showcase the mahi that goes into them". Each workshop participant will get free entry to the carnival and be invited to take part in one of the smaller processions which will wind around the grounds of First Church. • Workshop timings: Family workshops will be held at the Meridian Mall on May 25-26, June 1-2, June 8-9 and June 15-16. Adult workshops will be held at Tūhura Otago Museum on May 25-26, June 1-2, June 8-9, and June 15-16. • Volunteers Required: The Dunedin Midwinter Carnival is calling for volunteers to help support the not-for-profit event on June 27-28 at First Church. Positions range from workshop assistants to information stand crew. No experience is required, but volunteers must be 15 years or older. • Dunedin Midwinter Carnival event tickets, workshop bookings and volunteer registration are available online at
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wings of Wonder: Accessibility for all who want to travel
Rapid City, S.D. (KELO) — The Rapid City Regional Airport partnered with local organizations for Wings of Wonder. The event's goal is to help people with disabilities easily navigate the airport from the moment they park their car until they find their seat on the plane. Gov. Rhoden talks first 100 days in office The Rapid City Regional Airport has steps in place to make sure everyone feels welcome. Sunflower lanyards help identify people with hidden disabilities who might need the same assistance. 'We wanted to get involved in that early, many airports across the country are now involved in that, it all looks the same. To the traveling public, when they show up and they've got that lanyard on, it's a cue to those folks who are working here that they may need some extra care,' Rapid City Airport director Patrick Dame said. These lanyards will help airport employees in baggage and the terminal, along with TSA members so they can assist those with both visible and hidden disabilities. 'They're going to take things a little bit slower in the explanation process. So sometimes with checking in, that helps. Trying to get your seats and your baggage all checked in, that is a stressful process for someone with disabilities,' Disability Awareness and Accessibility Committee Member Tony Russell said. 'You know, from the airport's vantage point we need to be here for everybody. And if there are folks that need a little extra out of it, we want to make sure we're getting them the experience that they need,' Dame said. The Rapid City Disability Awareness and Accessibility Committee works to make sure everyone in the air has access in everyday life. 'Advocating for those people with disabilities and helping make some of these processes easier on us so we can enjoy reaping that, not only everything the beautiful Black Hills has to offer but we can get out and travel and see what other great things are out there,' Russell said. To be able to participate in the Sunflower Lanyard Program, all you have to do is ask an employee for one near the rentals before starting your journey. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
