Cuba Street Festival Returns
Occurring over the weekend of 28-29th of March, CubaDupa is a celebration of the change of season - one last summer party before everyone starts hunkering down for the winter. The festival aims to bring together people from all walks of life in an immersive experience where Wellington's most iconic street will be transformed into a magical playground of light, sound and taste.
Manners, Dixon and Cuba streets will be closed for the two-day event, with music, dance and art installations based around the "Get on up, Get on down" theme expected to take over the Cuba quarter. Organisers say CubaDupa is its own event and a street parade like the old Carnival is not part of their programme of festivities.
The original Cuba Street Carnival was started in 1990 and until 2009 it grew to be New Zealand's largest street festival, attracting between 10-20,000 visitors in its later years. The carnival had to be scrapped due to a lack of funding. Earlier this year, the Wellington City Council approved funding of $250,000 for the Creative Capital Arts Trust to produce an annual street festival based around the Cuba Street precinct.
Organising CubaDupa is a team lead by Drew James, Artistic Director of Womad NZ and the Taranaki International Arts Festival, and the illustrious group behind the NZ Fringe Festival. Given the success of Womad, TIAF and NZ Fringe, fans of the legendary street party can expect a truly unique, innovative and magnificent celebration.
CubaDupa is currently seeking expressions of interest from anyone who wants to be involved in an artistic, community, hospitality, retail or volunteer capacity and is encouraged to get in touch via their website.
A full programme of events will be announced early 2015.
Related Venues
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Cuba Mall
Cuba St, Te Aro, Wellington
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