Countdown on for first Whiti Fest summer busking festival!

Creative Mercury Bay have been busy planning and organising this debut event, recruiting performing artists), gathering event volunteers, finalising where and when the event will take place and finalising the performance schedule.

We’re very excited to present Whiti Fest to both Mercury Bay locals and visitors to the region, during what we hope will be a fine weather and busy Waitangi Day long weekend. We want to make Whiti Fest an annual tradition in Mercury Bay, and that starts with making this first event a mind blowing success.

Jan Wright, Creative Mercury Bay Trustee. 

Line up for first Whiti Fest Whitianga busking festival

Featuring a range of local performance artists, from puppetry to poetry to dance and music, performers include; En Pointe Dance School, Let’s Go Descarrego (official Whiti Fest Ambassadors), Vegas Brown, Soul Sax, Naranjarte, Pete Delete and so much more!

Each artist will perform two 20 minute sets at two different locations, so you can see as many performances as possible. Like a traditional busking festival the performers will be putting their hats out for koha, so if you like what you see, hear or experience, you are invited to feel free to donate.

Performances will be held in central Whitianga town and the Esplanade waterfront areas. This is a FREE, family-friendly event, all welcome to soak up the performances throughout the day. 

Official Whiti Fest ambassadors

Stewart Pedley and Leo Magri from folk/punk duo Let’s Go Descarrego are Creative Mercury Bay's official Whiti Fest ambassadors. These talented local musicians were chosen to be the face of Mercury Bays first busking festival because of their musical prowess and high energy enthusiasm for the performing arts in Mercury Bay. 

Stewart and Leo will be roving the streets during Whiti Fest with special unplugged performances from 12pm - 2:30pm and then closing the event with a set at 3pm at the Tui Stage (Whakau Reserve/Taylors Mistake).

Event and location schedule

Download the pdf on this page to see when and where each artist will be performing. 

About Creative Mercury Bay

Creative Mercury Bay​, also known as CMB, is a Whitianga-based charitable arts trust formed in 2012 to meet the growing need for performing arts events, workshops and infrastructure in the Mercury Bay area.

Their core purpose is to develop and nurture enjoyment, participation and education in the performing arts and contribute towards building a sustainable performing arts infrastructure in our community. They do this through the facilitation of an annual programme of performing arts events; a combination of producing our own events and booking touring events to perform in Mercury Bay. They think it's important that our remote region gets to enjoy good quality performing arts, without having to travel to the big city centres.

The team is made up of three trustees, two sub-committee members, three professional advisors and four patrons, who all volunteer their time and skills to Creative Mercury Bay. The Trust also employs a part time Events Administrator, a part-time Marketing Coordinator, plus various arts contractors to help us stage events throughout the year. The Trust is a strong advocates for the role the performing arts play in being powerful weavers of community connection, generating a sense of belonging, and producing community vibrancy. 

Proudly supported by

Creative Mercury Bay with this event including: Creative Mercury Bay have organised and coordinated this event with the generous support of funders, local businesses and event promotional partners including: 

• All About Whitianga - see yourself here
• Thames-Coromandel District Creative Communities NZ
• Pub Charity Ltd
• Mercury Bay Business Association
• The Mercury Bay Informer
• Destination Coromandel
• Coromandel's CFM
• Thames Coromandel District Council. 

Please note that Event information may be subject to change. Please confirm details with event organisers.