Lighting up lives and raising awareness about autism with a Light Up the Night party on Sunday combines Tauranga DJ Daniel Cox's talent and knowledge in a unique way to help others.

His first dance party in October 2020 proved a helpful and enlightening starting point for developing the concept further, so that information about autism can be provided to all-comers.

Daniel says at ‘Light up the Night 2.0' at Totara Street on November 27 there will be about 10 stallholders, including Silk, Rainbow House and Idea Services.

'This is an autism-friendly event and we would like to give the general public, families, and others an enlightening encounter they may have never had,” says Daniel. 'They can come and find out what autism is.”

A community information afternoon with live music and stalls will run 2pm-4pm with free entry. Matty Buxton will play 2pm-3pm, with Kyle McLean performs 3pm-4pm.

'There will be three DJs playing from 4pm-7pm for the R16 dance party, including Noizzy and DJ Spin,” says Daniel.

He hopes that generating more awareness about autism will help young people who live with it. 'One of the best ways to learn about something is to meet someone who is dealing with that issue,” says Daniel.

Tickets to the dance party from 4pm-7pm on November 27 for Light up the Night 2.0 are available from www.totarastreet.co.nz. Door sales $30 from 4pm. All proceeds go to Autism New Zealand.