The Waimakariri Light Party falls under the direction of the Reflections Community Trust, a charitable trust set up in 2002 and based in Kaiapoi. The concept of the Light Party is a “nation-wide” non-scary alternative to Halloween, and is a great option for parents who may not like the creepy side of the Halloween tradition, but at the same time, do not want their children to feel like they are missing out. The Trust aims to bring the local community together and put on a fun night for children and youth (aged between 4 to 14 years old), by providing family orientated, non-scary entertainment in a safe and positive environment. The Light Party effectively keeps children off the streets from trick or treating, an activity which can turn sour quite easily. Children and youth who attend also receive lollies handed out by our team of volunteers. Local householders, particularly the elderly have expressed their relief that there have been fewer children coming to their homes trick or treating on the evening of 31 October.
The Waimakariri Light Party is now in its 13th year, having provided to the community a safe alternative to Halloween since 2004. Starting from extremely humble beginnings of around 350 attendees – the event has now grown to more than 5,000 preschoolers, children, youth and families attending each year. The Light Party has become an iconic Waimakariri event for families, and although based in Kaiapoi, (Wylie Park is the most suitable venue in the Waimakariri area for the nature and size of the event) it is truly a Waimakariri wide event with participants attending from Kaiapoi (39%), Rangiora (28%), Woodend (9%), other areas in the Waimakariri district (12%), and with 12% attending from northern Christchurch suburbs. (Figures taken from 2016 survey of event.)
Local Waimakariri MP, Matt Doocey, will officially open the event at 4.30pm. The fun at the Waimakariri Light Party, will kick-off with a multitude of entertainment including bungees, bouncy castles, bumper boats, petting farm, pony rides, climbing walls, mini jeeps, water walkers and Pedalmania crazy bikes. A highlight of the night will be a non-scary fancy dress competition, followed by a fancy-dress parade. Additional entertainment will include a dog agility display by the Waimakariri Dog Training Club, a dance display from Funkdified Dance Group, and children’s entertainment duo – the natural magic pirates will perform. Clowns, a magician, balloon artist and Starz in Your Eyez mascots (Peppa Pig, Elmo, Ninja Turtle and Minion) will be roaming around the event interacting with attendees. Tiddlers Multisport, provider of multisport events for children, will be running a mini activity course and obstacle race. Food will be available to purchase during the event from many community group food stalls. This is an opportunity for local groups, schools and churches to raise funds as well as promote themselves and be active in the community. The Light Party will also host local community information stands including NZ Fire Service, North Canterbury Neighbourhood Support, St John, Plunket and Eco Educate.
The Waimakariri Light Party relies on the generous support and donation of time from volunteers to manage the event, from the Committee to event marshals, activity participation, i.e. face painting, set-up and breakdown of the event, collection of rubbish… the jobs are endless. The Trust aims to ensure the Waimakariri Light Party remains accessible for all families to attend regardless of their financial situation. To date this has been achieved with the generous support of funding organisations, local Churches, service organisations and local businesses who provide funding, sponsored goods and voluntary hours to the event.
The Waimakariri Light Party was a free event until 2015, when the Trust reluctantly made the decision to introduce a $2.00 donation to enter the Light Party. The donation request was introduced to enable the Trust to continue to provide a high-quality event that is still very affordable for families and participants. The organisers of the Waimakariri Light Party, the Reflections Community Trust, aim to serve the children and their families in our community, by providing early intervention through quality effective and educational community based programmes, projects and events that are accessible to all people in our community along with providing hope in the next generation.
The Waimakariri Light Party is now in its 13th year, having provided to the community a safe alternative to Halloween since 2004. Starting from extremely humble beginnings of around 350 attendees – the event has now grown to more than 5,000 preschoolers, children, youth and families attending each year. The Light Party has become an iconic Waimakariri event for families, and although based in Kaiapoi, (Wylie Park is the most suitable venue in the Waimakariri area for the nature and size of the event) it is truly a Waimakariri wide event with participants attending from Kaiapoi (39%), Rangiora (28%), Woodend (9%), other areas in the Waimakariri district (12%), and with 12% attending from northern Christchurch suburbs. (Figures taken from 2016 survey of event.)
Local Waimakariri MP, Matt Doocey, will officially open the event at 4.30pm. The fun at the Waimakariri Light Party, will kick-off with a multitude of entertainment including bungees, bouncy castles, bumper boats, petting farm, pony rides, climbing walls, mini jeeps, water walkers and Pedalmania crazy bikes. A highlight of the night will be a non-scary fancy dress competition, followed by a fancy-dress parade. Additional entertainment will include a dog agility display by the Waimakariri Dog Training Club, a dance display from Funkdified Dance Group, and children’s entertainment duo – the natural magic pirates will perform. Clowns, a magician, balloon artist and Starz in Your Eyez mascots (Peppa Pig, Elmo, Ninja Turtle and Minion) will be roaming around the event interacting with attendees. Tiddlers Multisport, provider of multisport events for children, will be running a mini activity course and obstacle race. Food will be available to purchase during the event from many community group food stalls. This is an opportunity for local groups, schools and churches to raise funds as well as promote themselves and be active in the community. The Light Party will also host local community information stands including NZ Fire Service, North Canterbury Neighbourhood Support, St John, Plunket and Eco Educate.
The Waimakariri Light Party relies on the generous support and donation of time from volunteers to manage the event, from the Committee to event marshals, activity participation, i.e. face painting, set-up and breakdown of the event, collection of rubbish… the jobs are endless. The Trust aims to ensure the Waimakariri Light Party remains accessible for all families to attend regardless of their financial situation. To date this has been achieved with the generous support of funding organisations, local Churches, service organisations and local businesses who provide funding, sponsored goods and voluntary hours to the event.
The Waimakariri Light Party was a free event until 2015, when the Trust reluctantly made the decision to introduce a $2.00 donation to enter the Light Party. The donation request was introduced to enable the Trust to continue to provide a high-quality event that is still very affordable for families and participants. The organisers of the Waimakariri Light Party, the Reflections Community Trust, aim to serve the children and their families in our community, by providing early intervention through quality effective and educational community based programmes, projects and events that are accessible to all people in our community along with providing hope in the next generation.