A free taste of three different ice sports attracted more than 1000 people to the Naseby Ice Festival on Saturday.
"It couldn't have been better," one of the organisers of the fourth annual festival, Amie Pont, said.
"A beautiful sunny day, masses of happy people around, what more could we ask for?"Groups running the Naseby Luge, outdoor ice skating rink and Maniototo International Curling Rink joined forces to host the event, with the assistance of Project Maniototo.
Mrs Pont, who is Maniototo community and economic development co-ordinator, plans events as part of her role.
Visitors were able to try curling, ice-skating and the luge free of charge all afternoon, and there were demonstrations of curling and ice hockey.
A soccer ball and netball "race" down the luge track, was also popular.
The race decided the winning tickets in a raffle held by the Maniototo Kindergarten establishment committee.
"This is by far the biggest crowd we've ever had at an ice festival," Mrs Pont said.
It also provided an opportunity for local groups to raisends, she said.
Volunteers played a pivotal part in the success of the day, she said.
Simon Parker, of Dunedin, was trying out the luge for the first time, with his daughter Heidi (3).
"It's a great wee set-up here, with the ice skating rink, luge and curling rink all next door to each other," he said.
Another first-time luger, Kevin Ball, of Palmerston, said the festival was an excellent day out, "even if my luge skills are marginal. I have no control over the luge cart at all".
The event was chosen as the venue for a sports participation day by the Halberg Trust, which aims to provide opportunities for young disabled people to participate in active recreation.
Eighteen Westpac Bank staff from Alexandra, Ranfurly and Dunedin helped out, hosting 45 children and their families from throughout Otago.
"Whatever activities they choose to do, we're giving them a hand to do it," Westpac Dunedin staff member Rachael Masterton said.
Photos by Lynda van Kempen; prints available from otagoimages.co.nz.
