With only three days remaining until it's spectacular Opening Ceremony, the Dunedin Fringe Festival is preparing to spread its wings. With the help of an aerobatic fly-over from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Red Checkers Squadron, the Fringe Festival will be launched in sky-high style.

www.dunedinfringe.org.nzWith only three days remaining until it's spectacular Opening Ceremony, the Dunedin Fringe Festival is preparing to spread its wings. With the help of an aerobatic fly-over from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Red Checkers Squadron, the Fringe Festival will be launched in sky-high style.

www.dunedinfringe.org.nzThe fly-over is due to take place as part of the Opening Ceremony which begins at 12 noon in the Octagon on Friday 22nd September.

The connection between the Royal New Zealand Airforce Red Checkers Squadron and the Dunedin Fringe Festival has been brought about through the involvement of Fringe Festival Marketing Consultant Roel Wijland. Among his many roles, Roel is a branding lecturer at the University of Otago, and the
creator of the successful Brandbach website. Brandbach is designed as a platform for senior University of Otago marketing students to engage with major companies and business incubators on the issue of branding. The RNZAF
is a current client of the Brandbach. With Roel as a liaison, the Fringe Festival and RNZAF aerobatics team have come together to present a spectacular flyover at the Festival Opening Ceremony. Squadron leader Steve Hunt is delighted that the RNZAF will be supporting Dunedin and the 2006
Fringe Festival.

The RNZAF Red Checkers appear alongside some of New Zealand's most accomplished human flying machines. Direct from Christchurch, the Contemporary Circus Trust presents a trapeze and acrobatic cabaret by current and recently graduated Circo-Arts School performers. Following a
short welcome by Festival Director Paul Smith, the Circo-Arts performers will present their first of two 30 minute shows. Their second show commences at 1:15pm.

After a feisty 2004 contest, the Mayor Peter Chin is again donning his favourite gumboots for the Mayors Gumboot Dancing Challenge. At 12:40pm invited guests and local personalities including Katherine Rich, Martin Baker and Jeanette Fitzsimons will join Peter Chin to compete for the
coveted golden gumboots trophy.

In addition to an array of vibrant street performance, up to 10 Fringe artists will give audiences a taste of the diverse range of events to come during the festival.

The Dunedin Fringe Festival Opening Ceremony. 12 noon. The Octagon, Dunedin.

Image: fron Never too Old
Never too Old

What's behind the washing? Come and have a tangled upside down cup of tea with these wrinkled acrobats. What does your grandma get up to when she's with her friends? This shaky comedy will leave you sneezing, wanting to grow old... under the wrinkles, life still twinkles!
Date: 23, 24 Sep 27 Sep 29 Sep
Time: 1pm 12noon 5pm
Venue: Octagon University Meridian

Price: Free
Duration: 60min