About 30,000 people “partyed” with Lorde, Flume, LAB and other music stars at Christchurch’s Electric Avenue Festival.
Alex Campbell was one of the many who began filling Hagley Park by 2pm on Saturday. She and her friends wore bright pajamas and sunglasses.
“Of course we’re here to party,” she said.
“Just to rave and have fun. We’re not here for long, we’re here to have a good time.”
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Her friend Hope Wilson said it was the first time they had attended the festival.
“We just want to experience it because other people are talking about it.”
William Mons and his friend Bailey Hahn were veterans of the festival.
Alden Williams/staff
Summer Thieves will play on the Park Stage on Saturday afternoon.
“I have been here since 2018 and love it every year,” said Mons.
“It brings you back every time. The people are great, the venue is great, and I can’t get enough.”
Hahn said he was there for the party.
“We’re here for a really good tip-up. I hope the night ends well and continues.”
Alden Williams/staff
Joe Astell and Nicole Harford enjoying a day of music and fun.
Mons had his own tips for spending the night.
“Bring a bottle of water with you. Take a sip and let’s be sweet.”
It was also the first time that Know Your Stuff, a drug testing service, appeared on the grounds of the Electric Avenue Festival.
Know Your Stuff event leader Jason Middlemiss said he had tested about 20 drug samples by about 1 p.m. Drugs tested were primarily his MDMA, which included LSD and ketamine. He said nothing surprising had been discovered at that stage.
Alden Williams/staff
Know Your Staff event leader Jason Middlemiss said by mid-afternoon drug tests had found no abnormalities.
“We check drugs to try to reduce the amount of harm that can happen when people take them, but they’re not what they’re expecting.
“It reduces the risk of eventual hospitalization and provides certainty.”
He said he had the capacity to do 300 tests and would need a sample the size of two matchsticks to conduct the tests.
“This is my first time on set at Electric Avenue and it’s amazing.
Alden Williams/staff
Festival-goers take pictures of each other on Hagley Park’s Electric Avenue on Saturday.
“It’s really good to see the change in attitudes, especially from the police and event organizers, who are moving towards harm reduction services. It’s really positive.”
Festival Director Callum Mitchell said: thing Last year, the event was expected to draw 30,000 people.
“We started in 2015 with 8,000 people on our first Electric Avenue.
“To have 30,000 people dancing to 50 artists for 12 hours is something very special.”
Emergency services said the crowd was generally well-behaved.
A spokeswoman for Hatohone St. John said the team had a “steady workload” and had evaluated and treated about 300 patients. The most common injuries were blisters, headaches, sprains and dehydration. Six of his who were taken to a Christchurch hospital had mild or moderate conditions.
A police spokesperson said there were “no major problems” apart from one person being arrested in the disturbance.
