Two decades of delight have cemented a local festival as a community favourite.<\/p>\n
It has been 20 years since the first Party in the Park took place, beginning in 2006 as a fundraiser towards the development of the Mosgiel Memorial Gardens Park playground.<\/p>\n
Since then, the occasion has become a beloved fixture on the Taieri Plain calendar.<\/p>\n
Working behind the scenes on every festival has been Ian Chalmers, often assisted by his wife Rosemary.<\/p>\n
Mr Chalmers first became involved through his former company Pro Event, supplying sound and lighting for the show.<\/p>\n
“Then I got invited on to the committee because they could see the worth of me.<\/p>\n
“It is just a labour of love.”<\/p>\n
The move to a new location at Wal\u2019s Plant and Fun Land in 2024 allowed the celebration to offer its usual amusements alongside the venue\u2019s existing attractions, including minigolf, a maze and Otago Miniature Road and Rail Society trains.<\/p>\n
“We are extremely lucky to get this venue. Such a glorious venue,” Mr Chalmers said.<\/p>\n
There will be about 40 stalls, from hats to honey, bone carving to jewellery, and food and drink trucks will be on site.<\/p>\n
Mrs Chalmers has been involved in most of the fairs, assisting her husband with the organisation.<\/p>\n
“The basic thing is we want everyone to be happy. We want everyone to have an enjoyable time because, to be fair, the world\u2019s got a lot of negativity in it.<\/p>\n
“Everywhere you go, people say, oh, we just love the Party in the Park.”<\/p>\n
On the stage, entertainment will include local bands The Shenatics and Soul Deep, while activities for children include a trampoline, a playhouse, a bouncy castle, mini jeeps and inflatable castles.<\/p>\n
Hato Hone St John will run a site showing young ones how to bandage injuries, and the Boys\u2019 Brigade will host a workshop on the safe handling of tools.<\/p>\n
Mrs Chalmers said a key component of the day was that there was no charge.<\/p>\n
“You don\u2019t have to have any money to wander around, listen to the music, look at the stalls.”<\/p>\n
However, Mr Chalmers said dogs were not allowed.<\/p>\n
“No woofers.”<\/p>\n
The couple said the reason they, alongside a small committee, stayed involved despite the challenges was the satisfaction of seeing people enjoy themselves.<\/p>\n
“If you can have a bit of happiness and a bit of fun, listen to some music, and I love to see the kids in front of the stage and dancing and just that joy,” Mrs Chalmers said.<\/p>\n
Party in the Park at Wal\u2019s<\/p>\n
Sunday, February 15<\/p>\n
10am-4pm<\/p>\n
Wal\u2019s Plant Land<\/p>\n
109 Bush Road, Mosgiel<\/p>\n