Known as one of New Zealand’s most popular summer festivals, Bay Dreams is turning
up the dial and taking the magic south by launching a Bay Dreams: South Island edition in 2019.
 
Bay Dreams will be held again on January 2 at Bay Park in Mount Maunganui. 
But for the first time ever, a sister event will follow in Nelson at Trafalgar Park on January 4, 2019.
 
Since its debut in 2016, the festival has gone from strength-to-strength, selling out the past two events, and with the 2018, drawing a record-breaking crowd of 25,000 people through the gates in Mt Maunganui.
 
Bay Dreams also has a hard-earned reputation for attracting some of the biggest names in music from around the world. Over the three years that it’s been held, the festival has hosted the likes of Pendulum, Yelawolf, Shapeshifter, Sticky Fingers, Peking Duk, DJ Snake, Kehlani, Foster The People and many more!
 
Organisers are promising yet another talent-packed line-up of both international hit-makers and much-loved local acts for 2019.
 
“The events will share many of the same artists, and as it grows we hope to be able to bring most of the North Island BD artists to the South Island show,” says Festival co-director Mitch Lowe.
 
The Bay Dreams: South Island edition will run similarly to the North Island event, with gates opening early afternoon and finishing around 10.30pm.
 
Festival co-director Pato Alvarez says he’s thrilled at the location. “We searched all over for South Island for the right place and we felt that Nelson was the ideal spot for another festival. It’s already a popular summertime destination and it has one of the best climates in the country.”
 
"It is such a beautiful city and it has this amazing vibe that really attracted us. The people are great and everyone we spoke to told us there was a real appetite there for an event like this,” adds festival co-director Toby Burrows. 
 
The three festival directors say they are grateful for the support of Nelson Council. “They have been incredibly helpful in getting the event to the region and assisting us in finding a suitable venue. We are really excited about working with them to deliver a world class festival in the city.”
 
More information on ticket sales and next year’s stellar line-up will be released in the coming months. So stay tuned!