Summer wraps up on the waterfront

The ongoing buzz of construction throughout Wynyard Quarter didn’t deter the loyal community of visitors with 200,000 people flocking to Silo Park to enjoy the weekly offering of outdoor movies, markets and music over four months.

Over the summer months we saw 14 films played, three world cinema screenings, four silo sessions with over 20 live performances, five themed markets including the Christmas night markets and vintage markets, seven great days out including 80s night, Children’s Day, and this weekend’s Dog’s Day Out.

In addition to the usual offering Silo Park has become renowned for, this year we saw the addition of Sunday produce markets, weekly storytelling and large scale sing-along sessions.

Panuku Development Auckland Place Making Manager Frith Walker says the 2016/17 season offered more variety and attracted its most diverse audience yet.

“Wynyard Quarter is now six years old. We have come a long way and we are about to welcome our first residents into their new homes. Wynyard Quarter is changing, adapting and growing and so are we in terms of our programme’s offering for the community here.”

Over the festive period, Santa gifted the biggest Christmas ganTREE to Wynyard Quarter that Auckland has ever seen. We had lots of little creative hands help to decorate the ganTREE, make and take their own tree home and graduate as official elves at the Elf Training Camp. In true Christmas spirit, we made good use of all the construction activity happening throughout Wynyard Quarter and lit the construction cranes up to shine bright over the city.

Over the Te Wero bridge, Queens Wharf wrapped up their annual summer programme in style this month. Large crowds flocked to the EA Music and Arts Festival to revel in live music, art installations, eclectic food, vintage pop-up stalls and more.

Now into its fifth summer, the series of free pop-up events continues to build a unique community of visitors breathing a new life into Queens Wharf. The 2016/17 summer saw an outdoor hub of free activities including the popular Sunrise Yoga, Drawing Club, live outdoor theatre and concluding with the EA Music and Arts Festival.

Summer on Queens Wharf programme curator Cleo Barnett says it’s been another busy summer of popular events and great vibes.

“Over the past five years we have continued to grow and create something really special on Queens Wharf. Each year we try to introduce a new element to keep the offering unique but we are also careful to stay true to what we have created here. And what we are starting to see is a community of loyal supporters who really embrace and appreciate what we are doing with the space.”

In addition to the summer programmes, we have also had some very busy long weekends on the waterfront.

Auckland Anniversary weekend saw approximately 100,000 smiling faces soak up the entertainment on offer in Wynyard Quarter alone. We got a taste of what a car-free Wynyard Quarter might look like too with Auckland Transport’s Play Streets. People had the opportunity to take to the streets to bike, skate, dance and groove their way around the Quarter.

The HMNZS Te Mana Navy ship open day and markets in The Cloud over Anniversary weekend brought 60,000 people to Queens Wharf. People flocked to see the waka in the harbour and have a go at sailing.

Over at Westhaven Marina, 2500 visitors from all over Auckland came to get a sneak peak of the comings and goings of boats, stroll the promenade and get out on the water at the Marina Open Day in March. 150 kids got out on the water to try their hand at sailing and kayaking, 80 received their first fishing lesson from the wharf and 1800 sausages with bread went down a treat.

With the collected summer programmes now over, the waterfront continues to play host to a number of exhibitions and installations over the autumn and winter months. With Wynyard Quarter also being home to the ASB Waterfront Theatre, entertainment during the cooler months is never far from our doorstep.