Registrations opened today for Methven’s new walking festival, which will take place in and around Methven over Easter and the first week of the school holidays, and feature 16 different walks – scarecrows and an enchanted forest included.

Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan is one of 12 on the organising committee and said the walks were suitable for a wide range of ages and fitness and included a food and wine trail, a dog walk, an enchanted forest walk and a hike into the Woolshed Creek hut that was part of the Mt Somers track.

“We’ve got something for everyone and crossing our fingers that the new Sharplin Falls track will also be ready by then and able to be part of the programme. Even before registrations opened we’ve had good interest in the wine and food trail, which will include food and beverages from four Methven restaurants within walking distance of each other.

“I am also really looking forward to the dog walk, which will take in dog-friendly parts of town and the Methven dog park.”

Details about the 16 walks available between 8 April and 16 April are on the festival’s website www.methvenwalkingfestival.nz, along with registration forms.

Children’s events include the annual scarecrow trail, which opens on 8 April and runs all school holidays, the enchanted forest and fairy walk, and the ramble around Awa Awa Rata Reserve, where children can find a token hidden in the famous bush and exchange it for an Easter egg.

For the serious walkers, there are longer hikes into Woolshed Creek hut and to Scotts Saddle. Several other walks have a historic flavour and share details of how Methven and the surrounding district and foothills developed.

Ms McMillan said the organising committee had been meeting regularly for a year to plan, and while some of the walks were free, those with entry fees would see the money donated to the different groups that managed the walks, like the Mt Somers Walkway Society.

“Methven used to have a walking festival many years ago and we rejuvenated a couple of their most popular walks and added a few more. We see this as a festival that could run annually or every two years and help showcase all the different walks available in our beautiful Methven district.

“We hope that locals will join us and that people from outside the area will come and stay for a few days and take part in several walks.”

The festival has been supported by local businesses and with grants, including $6500 over two years from the Regional Event Fund administered by Council.

Ms McMillan said the combined grants had helped organisers set up a professional website and undertaking marketing and promotion.

“These are the financial boosts that often help a fledgling event off the ground. We really appreciated that help and hope the walking festival becomes a regular and successful event for Methven and the district.”