JUNE BEER FEST FOR OHAKUNE

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 239, 12 April 1988, Page 1

JUNE BEER FEST FOR OHAKUNE

A two-day beer festival will be held in Ohakune in June, with 600 revellers arriving by special train from Auckland. The train which is to be called the Kiwi Lager Snow Train, will be the first of many that will make regular weekend trips to Ohakune throughout the ski season. Festival organiser Mr Don Fletcher says he hopes to make the beer festival and train trips an annual event. He hopes to involve all of Ohakune in the festival, which will centre on the railway station. "I am asking all businesses and clubs to set up stalls, side shows or raffles for the weekend," he says. If there is snow on the mountain the festival will start late on Saturday June 4. Alternately there will be rafting and other activities all day. A number of Auckland bands provided by Radio Hauraki will play at the festival and beer will be provided by Dominion Breweries Limited. The passengers will book their seats through Fletchers Ski Lodge, an Auckland travel company that runs trips to the skifields every year. The company will book accommodation in Ohakune for the passengers. Transport to the festival will cost $80 firstclass and $70 economy-class. Accommodation will be an additional cost. Jocelyn Price