A Celebration of Jazz on the Harbour

Funding Stories

Oamaru people love celebrating jazz music, if the support of the town’s annual jazz festival is anything to go by.

Harbour Street Jazz spokesperson Julie Barclay said the current weekend-long festival in March celebrated local musicians as well as attracting bands from around New Zealand. The festival has been running for three years, and each year has built on the success of the previous event.

All the performances are in public places and are free except for the workshop, and people particularly enjoy the buskers on the street. Harbour Street was closed off for band performances which was also received with lots of enthusiasm, as was the 86-year-old musician who opened the festival.

The festival was recognised with a commendation in the Trustpower Waitaki District Community Awards 2015.