The largest procession of performers in the history of the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival attracted its biggest crowd.
Carnival artistic director Juliet Novena Sorrel said the carnival on Saturday evening was ''full and dramatic'' and the costume artists had ''pushed the boundaries'' of creativity.
The clear and calm weather had created an exciting atmosphere and raised the confidence of the performers on stilts.
The 120 performers at the event made up the largest procession in the carnival's history.
The carnival had more illuminated costumes and ''puppet'' costumes with moving parts, such as a large koi fish, a dragonfly with moving wings, and flowers with opening and closing petals.
The positive feedback from the public indicated the creative risk had paid off, Ms Novena Sorrel said.
She estimated the ''capacity crowd'' to be about 10,000 people - the biggest crowd in the carnival's 16 year history.
After the procession, a couple became engaged on stage, the second time someone had proposed at the event.
Joshua Mantell (19) said he had spent two months planning the marriage proposal to his girlfriend of nearly two years, Briarna Roberts (18).
''I wanted to do something big and I thought it would be a good place to show my love in public.''
He invited his girlfriend on stage, sang the Bruno Mars song Marry you, and declared his love before the proposal.
''I told her I loved her with all my heart and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.''
The proposal was accepted.
