The transformation of the Queenstown Winter Festival from a community event to a large-scale attraction began in the 1980s.
Fraser Skinner introduced many new events - many still running today - to the festival during his time as co-ordinator.
"We didn't have the celebrities coming to town like we do now, so with the Snow Queen we made our own," Mr Skinner said.
"And the Snow Queen was always fun."
The idea for the Mardi Gras came from his experience of the Faschnacht carnival in Switzerland. He thought it would be perfect for Queenstown.
"The first Mardi Gras was held in the Mall," Mr Skinner said.
"We got a large band together and just had a big party.
"Then we handed out rubbish bags and everyone cleaned up."
The first drag race - billed simply as a race - was accompanied by the sound of motors revving to warm up the crowd.
When limousines turned up and the first stiletto topped by a hairy fishnet-stocking-clad leg emerged it took everyone by surprise.
"The guys in that first race were all well-known people around town - hotel managers and the like," Mr Skinner said.
"They remained in costume all night."
He remembers the great spirit among the organisers - all volunteers keen to see the festival grow.
"The idea was always to bring people into town at a traditionally quiet time of year," Mr Skinner said.
But by the late 1980s, the festival's growth meant it became too big a job for the volunteers who had come back to it year after year.
They worked hard and had a lot of fun along the way, but all were also trying to hold down full-time jobs.
"In the end, we had to get a paid organiser in. But I was determined that it would remain under Destination Queenstown's control," he said.
"I think that is something that has worked well."
Although these days he prefers the quiet life in Arrowtown, Mr Skinner said he was proud of what the festival had become.
