ILT Kidzone Festival to Pause in 2025 While Future Options Explore

Great South has made the difficult decision to pause the 2025 ILT Kidzone Festival primarily due to rising costs and resource demands.

Great South Chief Executive Chami Abeysinghe said the decision had not been made lightly.

“Kidzone has been an incredible event for Southland, loved by thousands of families and supported by an amazing network of volunteers and community groups,” she said.

“Our principal funders, Invercargill Licensing Trust (ILT), ILT Foundation and Community Trust South have continued to show unwavering commitment to this festival, however, overall financial and operational costs continue to increase. This has led to the decision to pause and explore viable options to continue the event.”

While the event goes into a hiatus for 2025, Great South will be actively seeking a suitable organisation to take on the event’s management. Given the scale and complexity of the festival, a long-term, viable solution is yet to be confirmed. 

Abeysinghe acknowledged the enormous contribution of sponsors, volunteers, and community organisations who have supported the festival over the years.

“The dedication and passion of everyone involved is what makes Kidzone so special. We can’t thank our sponsors, volunteers and community partners enough for the ongoing support. Over the 19 years it has run, the festival has grown from strength to strength. This really boils down to the amazing people that rally together each year to bring this festival to life,” she said.

“We want to sincerely thank everyone who has played a role in making this event a success over the years and we will keep our communities updated on progress.”