Day 6 - Tango takes over the town

It's official, Wanaka loves to tango! Hundreds crowded outside Kai Whakapai yesterday to watch Fabio and Ana Robles perform their passionate rendition of the Argentinian tango before giving it a go themselves as part of the Street Theatre Day. Festival of Colour street theatre delighted those who wandered around the streets. Fabio and Ana Robles. Plus a big congratulation to Tangos Cafe who won our French for a day theming competition.

Many of the towns most spectacular gardens opened in a blaze of Autumn colour for the Garden Tour while in the Lake Wanaka Centre the NZ String Quartet played a remarkable concert featuring poet Dinah Hawken and images by Nigel Brown, presenting Haydn through multimedia.

It is hard to believe that today is the last day, and we have some extra special highlights for today:-

Delgirl have been described as Louisiana wrapped up in heartland New Zealand. They sound like friends sitting around and swapping stories so bring your friends down to the Infinity Crystal Palace and have a coffee and brunch and listen to some great music at 11am. Tickets available on the door for $5.

The very popular Aspiring Conversations programme continues with Hamish Keith and Christopher Finlayson debating 'What use is art?'. At the Infinity Crystal Palace at 12.30pm

Artists at Work Four New Zealand artists have been exploring the markers on the land - pouwhenua - the often neglected traces of people living and travelling through the region over the centuries. Listen to them talk about their work today at 2pm in the Infinity Crystal Palace and you can see Martin Hill's installation on the lake front just past the log cabin i-SITE.

New Zealand String Quartet play a special concert Classics Up Close concert aimed at children over four. The programme is designed for a family audience with short performances, audience participation and musical chit-chat. We even hear there may be a special guest appearance by the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra. See them at the Lake Wanaka Centre at 3pm. Adults and children are $10 in advance and $5 on the door.

The final world premiere of the Festival is Southern Suite performed by Michael Houstoun, New Zealand's leading classical pianist and a regular favourite at the Festival. He is joined by Diedre Irons to play this specially commissioned work by Mike Nock. Tickets are still available at $32.

Ship Songs continues at Arrowtown Athenaeum. This visually stunning new show has some extraordinary special effects, and is produced by Auckland Theatre Company. It is a one man show written and performed by Ian Hughes (Bare, Shortland Street).

Plus there is the Arts Trail from 10am until 4pm. Pick up a map at the Lake Wanaka Centre box office or i-SITE to take a drive or a walk around Wanaka and see some of the local artists. This is a great opportunity to chat with the artists and view their work.

Tickets for all of these performances today can be booked in person at the Lake Wanaka Centre box office, open from 10am until 7pm, www.festivalofcolour.co.nz and (03) 443 4178.

Make sure you make the most of these wonderful shows, it is the last chance to see Festival of Colour performances this year....but we will be back in April 2011.

Be inspired … Be astounded … Be in Wanaka … Be there.

 The next Festival of Colour takes place on 28 April to 3 May 2009 and is generously supported by Central Lakes Trust, Community Trust of Otago, Creative New Zealand, Infinity Investment Group, Queenstown Lakes District Council and Aurora.