First Ohakune Spring Fest soon

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 551, 30 August 1994, Page 5 (Supplement)

First Ohakune Spring Fest soon

There's some brand new fun hotting up this year with the inaugural Montana Ohakune Spring Ski Fest from 24 September - 2 October. There'll be madness and mayhem for the whole family to enjoy and you don't have to be a skier to join in the fun. On the mountain at Turoa the festival kicks off with the Mumm Champagne Celebrity Day where favourite celebrities are let loose on the snow to show all what they are really made of. The 'hell race of the year', the Peak to Powderkeg triathlon will run on Monday 26 September with a ski, run and bike down the mountain followed by a well-earned BBQ and beer at the Powderkeg. Other fun competitions include treasure hunts, ski displays, BBQ's live music, Montana 'Wine Waiter' race, demonstrations, free Movenpick ice creams, Moro bars and Pepsi product and don't forget to check out those 'bods' in the National Firefighters Champs - well worth a look.

To make this first 'Spring Fest' an event to remember the two townships of Ohakune and Raetihi are getting behind the action with festivities downtown and long into the night. Raetihi will be opening the festival with an auction, country fair and market day as well as their annual spring bulb show on the Saturday. In Ohakune there' s a decidedly different night at the Hot Lava nightclub with the Brightstone Ciderfest. On Thursday its Casino Night at the Powderkeg and Ohakune' s own Man O' Man at the Ohakune Club on Friday. All week retailers in both Ohakune and Raetihi will offer Spring Festival Specials while Saturday is 'Carrot Time' for the Ohakune Retailers. This highly popular event has been running for several years and this year is being added to the 'Spring Fest' fun. For the grand finale Ohakune Junction will take on a South American flair with a Mardi Gras on Saturday night.