String of events cancelled

A host of local events have been cancelled following the arrival of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, and the Red traffic-light setting in the region.

On Monday it was announced that Opera in the Park would be cancelled for 2022. Stan Walker was due to take the stage, performing with a symphony orchestra for the first time.

Nelson City Council, who organise the event, issued a statement saying the decision was a difficult one to make, but that staff were now looking at whether it was feasible to postpone until 2023.

The Nelson Buskers Festival, Kai Festival and the remaining Summer Movies Al Fresco have all been cancelled.

The Nelson Buskers Festival was due to begin on Friday and run over the weekend at Founders Heritage Park.

The Nelson Music Festival Trust has made the decision to also cancel the 2022 Adam Summer Celebration.

Trust chair Colleen Marshall says it is with "heavy hearts" that they made the decision to call the event off.

"Please know it was a careful process of considering all options, but foremost was the health and safety of our community of musicians, audiences and supporters," she says.

"We know this is incredibly disappointing. We truly appreciate how passionate our Adam whānau are for our event, and we acknowledge the planning and commitment from you all."

She says the reverberations of cancellations of many other events are felt amongst both artists and audiences, "all of whom were so looking forward to the thrill of live performance."

"While this is yet another setback to the performing arts sector, we remain resolute that we will soon be able to come together to share our passion for chamber music."

Adam Chamber Music Festival is a biennial ten-day Nelson festival which creates a fully immersive experience, both for its performers and its audience.

Due to the impossibility of presenting an international programme in 2021, the Festival was postponed and an interim four-day event was created, Adam Summer Celebration, bringing that same high quality music and performance to the stage, but with the spotlight on New Zealand artists and audiences.

With the 2021 Celebration such an overwhelming success, the plan was to present it again in February 2022.