The Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights is in full swing, with plenty more to look forward to this weekend.

The first event of the festival, the parade, was fantastic. Thousands of locals packed into Warkworth’s Queen Street and Wharf Street as the parade led by the pipe band and the Warkworth police did a couple of loops. 

Boost Chiropractic had a huge spine built full of lights, Jason Morrison Funeral Services had their white hearse lit up, Harold the Giraffe from the Life Education Trust was covered in lights, and the Warkworth Volunteer Fire Brigade joined in the fun alongside other local businesses.

Brent Burridge from One Mahurangi Business Association said that the highlight so far has been the smiles and families having fun.

“It's been so positive, the food trucks were very busy, people dancing in the lasers on the wharf, using our selfie cameras, kids getting their faces painted for free then seeing their designs lit up in our glow in the dark tunnel.

“The businesses in town have lit up their stores and it's great to see businesses in the industrial area with lights as well, we have had great support.”

This Saturday, the streets of Warkworth will again be filled with families, to watch the impressive Gull laser light show.

Gull Matakana & Snells Beach have sponsored the laser light show which is designed by Flying Pictures International, an Auckland and Sydney based company. 

The show created speciallyfor Warworth is synchronised to music and plays for 15 minutes. It kicks off at 6:00 p.m., and plays every half hour after that.

The ice-skating rink is also expected to be hugely popular. It is only a gold coin donation to get skating and all that money goes to Springboard in Snells Beach – an organisation that does great work in the community. 

From 1:00 p.m -9:00 p.m on Baxter Street in Warkworth, there will be a foam cannon, disco floor for the kids in the Masonic Hall, more amusement rides, food trucks and so much more for the family.

All this information and more is available on the Facebook page, Mahurangi Winter Festival of Lights.