Poor weather meant the venue for the Port Chalmers Christmas carols, organised by the Port Chalmers and District Lions Club moved to the town hall, where about 175 people attended.
The audience sang along to traditional Christmas carols and a rollicking Santa Claus is Coming to Town, accompanied by the Salvation Army Band.
Also performing was the Dunedin Harmony Chorus.
One of the organisers, Les Box, said he was " very very pleased" with the turnout to the event.
Lions had been running the event for five years and it was not the first time the weather had forced it indoors.
Umbrellas, jackets and woolly hats were common accessories for about 50 people attending the "Carols and all that Jazz" event at the band rotunda in the Botanic Garden in Dunedin.
Dunedin City Council events manager Marilyn Anderson said she would have expected hundreds of people to take part had the weather been "kinder".
While some of these present took advantage of limited shelter and seating under temporary gazebos, some " hardy" people were enjoying the performance from the rockery on the nearby hillside.
Both Ms Anderson and Mr Box noted visitors among their audiences from two cruise ships, Celebrity Century and Dawn Princess, which were visiting Port Chalmers yesterday.
