Oamaru begins 150th celebrations

Events to celebrate the 150th year anniversary of Oamaru have been officially launched.

Showcased as "2012-2013: A year of celebrations supporting Oamaru's 150th Anniversary", the overarching programme and line-up of events for the sesquicentennial celebrations were officially launched on Friday by Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton, Tourism Waitaki events development manager Jan Kennedy, Annie Baxter, of Annie's Victorian Tea Rooms, North Otago collections curator Chloe Searle, and Thunes Cloete, of the Waitaki District Council.

The year-long programme will begin this week with the Mayor's Christmas Function tonight at the Oamaru Opera House.

This event is by invitation only.

On Sunday, December 16, the Oamaru Farmers' Market will be the venue for the launch of the Oamaru 150th Civic Event by Mr Familton.

At 10.30am he will read from the Ordinance and Proclamation which established the Oamaru Town Board in 1862 and this will be followed by the cutting of a commemorative cake.

A five-day non-stop Oamaru 150th Birthday Party kicks off on December 18 and will feature picnics, barbecues, bands, bike rides, movies, fun and frolics.

It will culminate in an all-day Music Festival at Smith's Grainstore on December 23, the day the Oamaru Town Board first convened 150 years ago.

Other events programmed during the year-long 150th celebrations include the Oamaru Scott 100 Commemoration from February 6 to 10; the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral 150th Show on February 22 and 23.

Also planned are Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's only New Zealand appearance, at the Oamaru Opera House, on March 27; the Pottery-on-Tyne Exhibition from April 6 to 12; the Steampunk Festival weekend and Oamaru-on-Fire, May 31 to June 2; the 2013 Victorian Heritage Celebrations, November 13 to 17, and more.