Game for a fun-filled event in Onehunga?

An upcoming event in Auckland’s Onehunga is all about celebrating community and feeling connected to those around us.

Onehunga Festival 2023, an upcoming event that will take place on 4 March at the Onehunga Bay Reserve, promises to be a great day of entertainment, activities, food, and fun.

Angela Corbett, Events and Communications Manager, Onehunga Business Association, says, “Our annual Onehunga Festival gives us the opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our suburb, and it helps to create a sense of belonging and pride in the area. The Onehunga Festival, which first started in 1993, celebrates our local community. It is a family day of entertainment, amusements and activities. We expect around 4000 people to attend this year’s event.”

Many activities are planned for the day, including stage performances, a cardboard boat race, and children's activities.

“The day will kick off with the much-anticipated cardboard boat race hosted by Aotea Sea Scouts, which will see around 14 homemade cardboard crafts cross the Onehunga lagoon. This will be followed by entertainment performances by local dance and cultural groups and musical performances by Chris Bates and covers band Hands Off,” informs Corbett.

There will also be a range of children's entertainment, including face painting, balloon twisting, Little Bo Peeps mobile farm, and The Bubble Man, apart from various inflatable amusements to suit all ages.

As no event is complete about some delicious and lip-smacking food, there will be a selection of food and beverages from The Corner, Mussel Madness, Master Food on Wheel, Addicted Coffee, Ice Cream Social and Candy Floss Art, among others.

On a parting note, Angela says, “Bring the whole whanau along to enjoy a fun-filled day of free entertainment and activities. We promise you won’t be disappointed.”

The community members, too, seem excited about attending the festival.

Swati, a resident of Onehunga, said, "I am all for anything that brings the community together, and therefore I am looking forward to this event that will see so many of our community members coming together and enjoying some great family time."

Sharing the same sentiment, another community member Riyanka Gandhi, who stays in Mt Roskill, said, " I have attended the previous edition of the Onehunga festival and had great fun. My kids (aged 5 and 7) and I are waiting to indulge in great activities and delicious food and enjoy some great musical performances." 

Notably, The Onehunga Festival is a zero-waste, sustainable and smoke-free event sponsored by Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board, Onehunga Business Association, Four Winds Foundation and Blue Waters Community Trust.

The event is proudly sponsored by the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board, Onehunga Business Association, Four Winds Foundation, The Trusts Community Foundation, Blue Waters Community Trust with support from Onehunga Community Patrol, Onehunga Community News, Auckland Transport and Aotea Sea Scouts.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What: Onehunga Festival 2023

Where: Onehunga Bay Reserve, 71-91 Beachcroft Avenue, Onehunga, Auckland 1061

When: Saturday, March 4, 2023

Timings: 10:30 am to 3 pm

Note: This is a free event