‘We won’t melt’ was the catch cry at the second annual Lightpath Festival. While wind and rain warnings were lifted, the weather gods decided to bless Auckland’s official first day of summer with on-and-off showers. Not that this bothered everyone who showed up anyway. As they say, there’s no such thing as bad weather as long as you’re wearing the right gear.
Luckily, the air was as warm as the mood, and the undercover Living Room (cheers, Barfoot and Thompson) and Beer Garden (bottoms up, Brothers Beer) provided perfect shelter from the odd shower, as did Mercury Plaza with its wonderful food stalls.
You came from all over – including via the city’s newest stretch of bike path! – to play, dance, and join the parade.
We were especially honoured to have his honour, Mayor Phil Goff, arrive by bike to open the proceedings alongside our chair Barb Cuthbert with a rip-roaring speech. His damp trouser cuffs couldn’t dampen his catchy enthusiasm for a future of more of us on bikes, on foot, and on public transport, for a better city for everyone, including certain radio hosts.
And of course a huge thank you to everyone who defied the weather and showed up ready to play and party. You’re our kind of people – and you didn’t melt.
Shout-out to Sponsors and Participants
Our heartfelt thanks go to Barfoot & Thompson for backing this free, family-friendly evening celebrating Lightpath and the joy of people-friendly streets. Warm thanks also to the Waitemata Local Board, Auckland Council, Auckland Transport Cycling, NZTA, The K’ Road Business Association, Fresh Concept, Brothers Beer, Neck of the Woods, Electric Bike Team and Mercury Plaza.
Thanks also to Tumeke Cycle Space and Loop Groop for bike fixes, Shane the Bicycle Chap for sharing his amazing collection of vintage bikes, and ONZO NZ bikes, Big Street Bikers, and Lime for introducing all sorts of Aucklanders to all sorts of wheels.
For catering to all appetites, our thanks to Mercury Plaza’s food vendors and the delicious range of food trucks. Rousing entertainment was provided by the YMCA’s Y Gold Dance Group and a roving performance by the Saxobros, while the Auckland City Scoundrels and AKSamba gave us beats to march to as we all took to the path. Lighting up the Neck of the Woods main stage as the sun went down were the fab Afro-pop of Ijebu Pleasure Club, and grooves by MC Slave’s LOGG CABIN feat. Silva MC and DJ Hudge (The Uptown Boogie).
To all the performers and artists, from the musicians and dancers, the lovely lighting effects by Angus Muir, to Tinsel Monster and the Funky Space Cats, to the Caluzzi drag queens whirling up smoothies and handing out pink fortune cookies on the pink path. Thank you all for bringing your sunshine to the evening!
And to our tireless Bike Auckland crew and volunteers: we couldn’t do it without you. You rock.
Overhead image of the parade by Tina Plunkett; all others by Bike Auckland.
