Plenty of hoopla at top holiday spot

HAVIN' A BALL: Circus Kumarani founder Thomas Hinz, second from left, teaches globe walking at the annual circus festival held at Kai Iwi Lakes.

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A fun-filled festival of colour has been held on the shores of the Kai Iwi Lakes.

The fourth Northland Circus Festival saw about 200 people of all ages and abilities participating in workshops, games, shows and all manner of fun.

The event is listed on AA’s website as a ‘101 must do weekend’ for families.

It describes the festival as "a holiday with a difference – a fun-filled encounter which can be combined with a wonderful camping experience at Kai Iwi Lakes."

The lakes have recently been named as one of the top six holiday campsites in New Zealand by Auckland’s Metro Magazine.

The festival was held from January 21 to 25 and hosted by local troupe Circus Kumarani.

"This year is no different to previous years in that once again it has been a huge success," says circus co-ordinator Claudia Guthrie.

"It has been wonderful to see children and adults ranging in age from five to 65 years learning new circus skills with many returning each year."

Intensive training days started the event with workshops on acrobatic-acrobalance, trapeze and tissue – acrobatics using a long elasticated cloth, object manipulation, clowning, scene development and stage presence.

During the first two days, punters were put through some intensive training followed by three days of fun, with families working together using skills such as juggling plates, diabolo, devil stick, poi, hula hoop, rola bola, pedalo, unicycle, stilts, tight and slack rope and globe walking.

Other activities included parachute games, circus poster painting, face painting, dance, yoga, making juggling balls and a kids’ zone for the under-fives.

On the final day, festival goers were entertained with a matinee show put on by Kumarani performers.

- © Fairfax NZ News