The huddled masses, many of them cruise ship passengers visiting for the day, were treated to everything from highland dancing and pipe band performances to recitals of Robert Burns poetry and the obligatory haggis ceremony.
Meanwhile, clan representatives decked out in their finest kilts, sporrans and tam-o’-shanters manned Scottish-themed stalls.
The public could even try their hand at playing the bagpipes, under the watchful eye of piping tutor Victoria McNoe.
Among those to give it a go was Mexican man Emir Padilla, in Dunedin for a bioinformatics internship.
He impressed with his ability to hold a sustained note on the challenging instrument.
"You really need to keep blowing," he said, somewhat short of breath.
Braving blustery weather too were Australian cruise ship passengers Roy and Gail Arnold, of Bibra Lake, Western Australia.
Dunedin was their first port of call after having a rough crossing of the Tasman Sea aboard Golden Princess. They were philosophical about the weather but conceded they were hoping for an improvement by the time of their next stop, in Wellington.
Mrs Arnold said she had visited the city once, five years ago, and had one abiding memory from that trip: "The Speight’s Brewery tour."
• St Andrew’s Day officially falls on Friday, when there will be a free event at 11am and 1.30pm at Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, where Dougall Mackay will pipe his way through the galleries.
