ART DECO FESTIVAL RETURNS IN FULL AFTER FOUR YEARS!

Street parties are back across the region as Hawke's Bay steps back in time  

The Art Deco Festival Napier returns to Hawke's Bay for the first time in four years when the region steps back in time in February 2024, with tickets on sale now.

Everything from epic street parties and Vintage Car Parades to the iconic Great Gatsby Party at Mission Estate and plenty more new and exciting events will take place from February 14-18 in Napier, Hastings and Central Hawke's Bay.

The Art Deco Festival last ran in full in February 2020, but was forced to either cancel all or many of their events for the last three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic (2021, 2022) and Cyclone Gabrielle (2023).

However, the festival is ready to return in 2024 and tickets are expected to be snapped up fast! For four days, the region steps back in time and visitors and locals alike celebrate the 'gift of Art Deco' that was embraced following the 1931 Hawke's Bay Earthquake.  

Still considered New Zealand's most deadly natural disaster, the 1931 quake turned much of Napier and Hastings into rubble, as masonry buildings and brick facades crumbled. Wooden structures fared somewhat better, but fires that followed engulfed many of the remaining buildings, particularly in Napier.

Art Deco Trust General Manager Jeremy Smith is excited about the diverse lineup of events that will showcase the region's rich Art Deco heritage, with both ticketed and free events in stunning Art Deco venues in Napier, Hastings and Central Hawke's Bay.

Napier's hero events – including the Roaring 20s Party, Soap Box Derby and navy and vintage car parades – will return for the 2024 festival, while across the region the spirit of the Art Deco era will permeate.

“Just like Napier, Heretaunga Hastings boasts a remarkable collection of Art Deco and Spanish Mission-style buildings that adorn its vibrant CBD. And in Central Hawke's Bay, visitors can bring the family, and have a picnic at Russell Park in Waipukurau, with classic cars on display, as well as a flyover from the local Central Hawke's Bay Aero Club, it is an event you do not want to miss. Music, dance, and the festive atmosphere will be enjoyed by both kids and adults alike,” says Smith.

There are many more tours and events in Hastings, along with a Warbirds Flyover. For the first time in the history of the Art Deco Festival, the famous Warbirds will grace Hastings' skies with a spectacle of thrilling manoeuvres. 

In Waipawa, the Classic Silent Movie: 'The General' will be screened at the beautiful Central Hawke's Bay Municipal Theatre. “This classic silent movie will be accompanied by international musician Chris Hainsworth,” says Smith. “Vintage car enthusiasts are encouraged to bring their vehicles, and after the show, a stroll through the historic streets of Waipawa is highly recommended. And don't miss the opportunity to visit the Waipawa Museum before the show begins!” 

Tickets for the festival are now on sale and the full programme can be viewed at: www.artdecofestival.co.nz