A month out and planning is well advanced, to make the Katikati Ukulele Festival a fun weekend for everyone. A children’s art competition to decorate ukuleles is underway. Preparations for the festival depend on local support and willing volunteers, and so far we have had a good response.
Thank you to Creative Tauranga, who featured our festival in the February issue of Creative Beat.Also to Jacquie at Katch Katikati who has spread the message far and wide.Fundraising, to make the festival affordable for all, is still going on.
Let us know if you can help. We still need a sponsor to photocopy songs sheets for festival participants.Ukes-A-Plenty have been busy busking and performing at various functions. We busked for the Red Cross Christchurch appeal, at the weekly produce market on Friday evening.
We are making it a weekend long festival, to encourage people to come to town and stay overnight.Friday, April 1 we have a free music jam at Katikati RSA (on main highway, at south end of town.) Delicious meals are available from 5.30pm and music from about 7pm. Just join in, or get up for a number. Any instruments welcome.
Saturday, April 2. Main festival is in Katikati Memorial Hall, from 12.30pm till about 5pm. Gold coin entry. Bring your ukes along, for a sing and play long with Mr Ukulele, Kevin Fogarty, workshops from Big Muffin Serious Band on strumming then plucking, followed by an open mike session.Big Muffin Serious Band will be in concert from 5.30 till about 7pm. Entry $5, school children free. www.muffin.net.nz
Sunday, April 3 at Athenreee Homestead, Athenree, (just off SH2 on road to Waihi Beach.) There will be a morning tea, homestead tours and ukulele entertainment from Ukes-A-Plenty from 10am till about 12. A fundraiser for the worthwhile restoration of Adela Stewart’s homestead, with entry, tour and yummy morning tea just $10. See their website for details. www.athenreehomestead.org.nz
Comfortable accommodation is available at Sapphire Springs Holiday Park, www.sapphiresprings.net.nz/ Just a few kms from town in motel type cabins and with lovely clean hot pools, also at Athenree Holiday Park, or various B&B’s, Motels etc. See websites for KK info. www.katikati.org.nz or www.katikati.co.nz
The Children’s art fest is being organised by Linda Ojala, lindaojala@hotmail.com. Teachers at Katikati primary and year 7/8 at the college are participating with their students. All the ECE centres in town have the details, as well as Pahoia and Matahui schools. Any other children can pick up an entry form and ukulele template at the information centre. Entries need to be in by Wednesday March 16.
We have a lovely red Makala ukulele, (thanks to Music Oasis, Waihi) a designer uke bag, with tuner, two uke books and a free beginner lesson (if needed), which is being raffled, along with a spectacular food basket and laundry bucket raffle. Spot prizes, to make the day more fun for all ages, are being gratefully received.
Financial support is also very welcome.So if you can help we would love to hear from you.Please contact Christine Donehue phone, 0274 809 261, (07) 5495827 or camellia@pcconnect.co.nz if you would like to help, or for more information.
