About the origin of the festival The Island Bay Festival was started in the late 1980s by a small group of Island Bay residents who believed in bringing forth the hidden gems of talented, creative people living in Island Bay. They wanted to celebrate the great musicians, artists, poets, writers in Island Bay; and at the same time get the community together for some fun. What started as a small grass-roots weekend festival has grown over the years to a multi-day festival that’s also for wider Wellington. It’s a festival that we, as Island Bay-ers can be proud of! The original vision and purpose of the Festival was to showcase the best of Island Bay. There would be something for everyone in the festival programme. Any Island Bay person or group, who had an idea for an event could put it on, assisted by the festival team. Island Bay has a diverse array of talented people - writers, musicians, poets, historians, ballroom dancers, yogis, entrepreneurs, foodies, chefs, gardeners, etc. The Festival is an opportunity for us as a community to showcase our talents and connect with each other! And share this with the wider world! Come join us for some fun! The Island Bay Enhancement Trust The Island Bay Enhancement Trust was set up in 1994 to "enhance the beauty of Island Bay and the wellbeing of the land and people ... to enhance the cultural, artistic and social life of Island Bay". The Trust is the legal entity for organising the annual Island Bay Festival, and also has the opportunity to do more community development events throughout the year.

Island Bay Community Centre Community Gardening Volunteers Island Bay Community Centre Wednesday, 14 February 2024 9.30am - 11.00am Join us in the Community Centre garden for our weekly gardening session. It is an opportunity to get your hands in the earth, socialise, and help grow food for our community. All welcome, please feel free to pop by for as much or as little as you want! FREE Cos t

< Back Frances Samuel Poet Frances Samuel is the author of Sleeping on Horseback (VUP), and her second poetry collection, Museum , will be published in February 2022. She has lived with her family in Island Bay for almost 8 years and enjoys summer evenings at the beach, bumping into friends and neighbours and sharing impromptu fish and chips. Photo Credit: Ebony Lamb Photography

Variety Show Saturday, 13 February, 12 noon - 5pm @ Shorland Park About The Event The Variety Show follows the Festival Parade and showcases our amazing local talent. Bring along a picnic, and f ind your seat on the grass and be thoroughly entertained! Programme: Click pictures to expand

< Back Michelle Wanwimolruk Trustee Michelle Wanwimolruk recently volunteered to help the Island Bay Enhancement Trust find new trustees (she’s great at head-hunting). Lo and behold she ended up being appointed a new trustee! Michelle's delighted to join the Enhancement Trust because she’s inspired by the history and vision of the Trust and the Island Bay Festival. It was originally set up for the "wellbeing of the land and people...to enhance the cultural, artistic and social life of Island Bay". Originally, it was a community-driven festival. Michelle believes that the annual Island Bay Festival is a great way to bring the community together. It provides a forum for the people of Island Bay to “connect, celebrate and have fun” with each other. As a trustee, she wants to focus on the positive community-building aspects of the Trust’s work. Michelle and her husband, Simon Laube, settled in Island Bay in 2010 when they returned from overseas. (Simon is also a fellow Trustee, and Michelle thinks it rather apt because the Enhancement Trust and the Festival were started by a husband and wife team in the late 1980s/early 90s) Michelle and Simon have loved raising their two children in Island Bay. Michelle also loves walking along the coast and up to Oku Reserve with their rescue dog.

< Back Bronwyn Haines Event Organiser Bronwyn Haines is Rose Dohig’s other half at the Island Bay Community Centre. Bronwyn loves chatting with the locals and seeing awesome classes, groups and events going on. She’s a big fan of reading books while drinking tea, visiting beaches and the bush, and creating new recipes. She lives down the road in Newtown with her small menagerie and loves patting other people’s pets.

Island Bay Raft Race Island Bay Beach, 12pm Sunday 14th February About the event Looking for something fun to do with your family and friends? How about joining the of the Island Bay Raft race! CANCELLED DUE TO HIGH WINDS :( Download information pack with entry details Important: If you are planning on entering a raft, please fill in the registration form (linked from the information pack above) - So we can let you know any updates or cancellation due to weather. Check this page and FB for updates also in the coming weeks. Update : We'll have an announcement at 9:30am on the day if the race is canceled due to weather. Check back here or on FB, or if you've registered, we will email you. Or come down and watch the fun of DIY rafts getting expertly navigated along the waves and wind of Island Bay. Starting at 12pm, fun times for all. If you can help out volunteering please email islandbayraftrace@gmail.com Thanks to support from Lyall Bay and Maranui Surf Clubs. 2020 Raft race highlights

15 High Street (limited street parking on the road above the gallery)

Extra Activities Pilates in the Park Friday 12 February, 9.30am Shorland Park With Faye. Suitable for beginners. Please wear easy to move in clothing and bring a yoga mat. Session is free Sunrise Yoga Sunday 14 February 7.30am The roads around the beach will be closed at this time, and stall vehicles will be moving in and out. Please be careful.