- This event has passed.
Lighting of the Osmanthus Gardens
April 8 @ 6:30 pm – April 14 @ 9:00 pm
Hastings Lantern Festival is back after 3 years. The beautiful annual Osmanthus Gardens Lantern Festival is back and better than ever, being held once again this April for the first time since 2021. Running from April 8 to 14, this year’s event will feature more lanterns, a larger festival, food trucks – and world class performers appearing on the Friday and Saturday nights at the gardens in Cornwall Park. Hastings District councillor and event organiser Kevin Watkins says it promises to be a fabulous festival to celebrate the Hastings-Guilin Sister City relationship. The relationship began in 1981 with the signing of the Sister City agreement on March 4. It was the first Sister City agreement between cities in China and New Zealand. Over the ensuing 40+ years there has been numerous student, teacher, science, trade, and cultural exchanges, which have seen special friendships formed, information shared, and understanding develop.
