DAVID UNWIN/Stuff
Libre manager Alex Millar holds a picture of Frida Kahlo.
George Street has a reputation for being the Parnell of Palmerston North with its boutique shops, rainbow pedestrian crossing and “famous Georges” car parks.
Saturday will see the living art of Frida Kahlo also grace the street.
Viva la Fiesta de Frida is an event that celebrates the Mexican artist, bringing food, music, crafts and a plant shop to the cafe culture.
“[It will] they bring color to the streets,” said event organizer Shaun Kay.
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DAVID UNWIN/Stuff
Libre will host an event to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
“Frida Kahlo loved the Rainbow community, the arts community, the disability community and the women’s rights activist communities.”
There will be dance performances and Latin American music along with Frida-inspired stalls and activities, including Te Manawa’s “make your part of the Frida flower” offer.
Visitors can also add their own color and artistic talent to the shared artworks, with the Studio in the Square offering a sketch of a portrait of Frida.
“You can make a little mess. I might add some blue.
“As people go along, they can add to it, and at the end of it will be a painted Frida,” Kay said.
DAVID UNWIN/Stuff
Libre manager Alex Millar and organizer Shaun Kay are looking forward to Saturday’s full day of events.
Brazilian-New Zealand performer Rhubarb Rouge will be there to eliminate, talking to people, handing out treats and announcing who’s next.
Local vendors were fully on board offering Frida-inspired products with Frida Tea available from Flava and Frida Fudge from Munchkins.
The street event included a collaboration with Palmy Plant Popup, a local group of plant enthusiasts who line the street with their collection of indoor plants for sale.
Palmy Plant Popup organizer Eva Octaviani thought the collaboration was a good time because it was spring and had a clear connection with Frida Kahlo.
supplied/Stuff
Image of Frida Kahlo with her floral headdress from the 2018 exhibition at the Pataka Museum in Porirua.
You can see how passionate Frido Kahlo was about the many plants featured in her artwork, Octaviani said.
At 16:00 the street event will move inside the Libre restaurant with DJ Damian Dfresh McGregor and music from Latin America.
Making for a full day of events, the Dia de los Muertos Halloween party (for Day of the Dead) would follow at 8pm at Libre.
Viva La Fiesta De Frida on George St starts at 10am on Saturday.
