We’re delighted to bring back our magical street party of the year and celebrate 30 years of Nelson Arts Festival with you all!

Celebrating mask culture and creating your own mask are a huge part of cultural celebrations all around the world and have been a wonderful part of the Nelson Arts Festival since its inception 30 years ago. A forever Festival favourite, really.

We are thrilled to announce the 2024 date for our much-loved community event: The Mask Carnivale, presented by our Moa Partners Nelson Mail, will transform our inner-city streets into a colourful explosion of joy, community and creativity on Friday 1 November!

This year’s theme is all about our milestone birthday, of course: 30.

The number 30 is considered a lucky number in many cultures around the world, symbolising longevity, completion, growth or transformation – how’s that for a reason to celebrate!?!

So, whether you’d like to make this theme about a birthday party or a shapeshifting transformation, we can’t wait to see all the costumes and masks the number 30 inspires you to make!

Enrolments are now open, register here to be part of the magic and perform in the Parade: https://bit.ly/46EaHPJ