The Arrowtown Autumn Festival attracted nearly 8000 people to the annual opening day parade on Saturday.
Traditionally, the April timing ensures a day of sun and this year was no exception, with families and their pets showing up on Buckingham St for what was a colourful display of floats and an great number of stalls.
Festival organiser Debra Husheer said she had had feedback from as early as Saturday afternoon and it was all positive.
"People are saying it was the most colourful parade they had ever seen.
"I think the nice weather always helps to bring people here and yesterday was so mild and the colours were all beautiful, you couldn't wish for better."
The numbers of locals and visitors to the town were on par with recent years, she said, and, as always, the day had a family feel to it as the school holidays came to an end.
"There were lots of children and lots of schools participating in the parade."
Also, a noticeable large number of tourists showed up for the event, Mrs Husheer said.
"Some may have come upon it by accident.
"The tourists really enjoyed the Kiwi haka. They just flocked to the green when they heard that."
Arrowtown's biggest weekend had 130 stalls and 18 events to launch the festival.
This year, the committee received more stall applications than ever and several had to be turned away.
Two of yesterday's events, the Pub-to-Pub challenge and the Pint and Pie Sunday, were also very popular and would most likely be fixed in the festival's calendar.
The Pint and Pie attracted 350 people which was more than organisers had expected.
The locally made pies had run out by 3pm.
"The Pint and Pie is looking like a real hit already. It's got a small and relaxed atmosphere, which I think everyone is looking for on a Sunday.
"It's a nice addition to the programme and we have always wanted to do something with food," Mrs Husheer said.
Twelve teams of four entered in the Pub-to-Pub event yesterday - won convincingly by Southern Stampede team members Mitchell Frear, Joel Cleroux, Liam Martin and Conner Harrison, of Queenstown.
The annual ball, which had a gold theme this year to tie in with the Arrowtown 150th celebration year, attracted 260 to the Athenaeum Hall.
Mrs Husheer said guests filled the dance floor throughout the night and local band Swamp Donkey provided the right mix to keep them on their feet until 1am.
"We've always had an Autumn ball but this year it was only right to go right back to our history and have that gold theme.
"There are a lot of tired committee members, but it's all worth it."
The festival continues this week until Sunday with day and evening events.
