The Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band will be appearing at the Festival of Lights in New Plymouth Pukekura Park on the evening of Monday January12th.

The festival’s origins date back to 1953 when in commemoration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II a fountain with feature enhancing lights was installed in one of the lakes in Pukekura Park, New Plymouth. The first illuminations were created in the park in 1957, and from there displays grew alongside the Christmas Lights throughout the city streets.

The festival of lights itself started in 1993, and the TSB Bank Festival of Lights is now the longest running and most successful festival and arts event in Taranaki, attracting many thousands of visitors each year.

In 2005 the festival was named Creative New Zealand’s premier Cultural Festival and Arts Event and recently Pukekura Park and the TSB Bank Festival of Lights have advanced to the coveted “Mayfair” spot in the new version of New Zealand’s Monopoly board game.

Since 1993 the TSB Bank Festival of Lights has been managed by New Plymouth District Council. The festival delivers a wide-ranging programme of events, entertainment and a spectacular lighting display set against the backdrop of New Plymouth’s 52 hectare jewel, Pukekura Park.