Saturday, the third day in Americarna’s packed schedule, was the day of the Americarnival — a festival within New Plymouth’s closed-off CBD streets. The Americarnival is a long-standing Americarna tradition, and the 2015 event was eagerly awaited by all — not just entrants, but a large chunk of Taranaki locals who could relish not having to work or go to school.
From early morning, the closed roads saw a steady trickle of American machinery morph into a loud, rumbling stream — eventually rendering Devon Street East full to bursting with a static vehicle display.
It wasn’t all exhaust noise, either — the Americarnival’s daytime setting meant live music, spearheaded by the retro Southern Diplomats, and a bustling market area in the central Huatoki Plaza. With a huge variety of stalls, the festival guaranteed something for everyone.
The cars are the main attraction, of course, and taking the time to wander up and down the streets was rewarded with closer looks at interesting vehicles, and even a number of vehicles that weren’t present on previous days of the event.
What makes the Americarnival so great, though, is the atmosphere. The Americarnival is the type of event where everyone gets along with each other, whether they’re a participant or spectator, car person or not. You can’t buy that vibe, and you definitely can’t recreate it — it’s a Taranaki thing. Thanks for having us, we’ll certainly be back for the next one!
