Despite the rain, the Wanaka and touring audiences lapped up the great performances on the second day of the Festival of Colour. Highlights of Wednesday were the preview of Le Sud in Clyde, in preparation for the world premiere on Friday 1 May when Wanaka will turn French for the day.

Witches over Wanaka, The New Zealand Army Band and Strange Resting Places continued to play to full houses. You can see photos of this fabulous play about the Maori and Italians in World War 2 in our Festival Photo Gallery. View up to date photos of performers day by day. Tickets are still left to see this heart warming play in Bannockburn tonight and Glenorchy on Friday night.

The Aspiring Conversations series started with renowned environmentalist Bill McKibben delivering two compelling talks on the impacts of global warming and how it can be dealt with. 'Today was a real substantial engagement with issues which is exactly what we wanted Aspiring Conversations to be' said festival director, Philip Tremewan.

Tickets are still available to see Strange Resting Places in Bannockburn on Thursday and Glenorchy on Friday, and The Army Dance Band with Fabio and Ana Robles in Clyde on Friday too.

To buy tickets phone (03) 443 4178 or pop into the Lake Wanaka centre box office.

Wednesday's highlights with tickets still available:-

Aspiring Conversations Joe Bennett is set to entertain and inform at the Infinity Crystal Palace as part of the Aspiring Conversations Series. 10.30am, door sales available from 9am. Tickets $5 on the door. Glenn Colquhoun wields a stethoscope for his day job as a GP, and a pen for his other life as a poet. He won the 2004 Prize in Modern Letters - best poety book and the readers' choice for his collection Playing God. Hear him at 2.30pm in the Infinity Crystal Palace $5 on the door.

Tale of Dog. Meet dog; our much loved, excitable circus performer! This delightful show for children has 3 performances today. The 6pm show still has tickets available. Adults $22, children (12 and under) $5. Lake Wanaka Centre at 6pm.

Last chance to see this beautiful and powerful work that premiered to a captivated audience in Wanaka on Tuesday. Finders Keepers at Clyde War Memorial Hall 7pm, tickets are still available.

The seriously oddball Kransky Sisters have a sell out show at the Infinity Crystal Palace at 8.30pm

And the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra play to a full house in Luggate tonight after a huge success in Glenorchy last night - they brought the house down!

All of these, and tickets for performances over the next few days can be booked in person at the Lake Wanaka Centre box office, open from 10am until 7pm, www.festivalofcolour.co.nz and (03) 443 4178.

Ticket availability

The website home page will be constantly updated during festival week with information on the latest ticket sales and which shows still have availability, so make sure to check this out.

And do remember to check our ticket exchange board in the foyer of the Lake Wanaka Centre. where people can buy and sell tickets they can no longer use - you might just get lucky for one of these sell out shows.

Be inspired … Be astounded … Be in Wanaka … Be there.

 The next Festival of Colour takes place on 28 April to 3 May 2009 and is generously supported by Central Lakes Trust, Community Trust of Otago, Creative New Zealand, Infinity Investment Group, Queenstown Lakes District Council and Aurora.