Heavy rain and thunderstorms brought the curtain down on the 2012 Arrowtown Autumn Festival which, until yesterday afternoon, had been blessed with clear skies.
The annual festival, which this year attracted record crowds across almost every event, drew to a close with the ever-popular Great Arrowtown Variety Concert at the Athenaeum Hall last night, featuring a host of local talent.
As part of the concert, the Unsung Hero Award was presented to Joe Guise, an original member of the Arrowtown Miner's Band.
Autumn Festival organiser Deborah Husheer said Mr Guise moved to Arrowtown 21 years ago and for the past 18 years had been a member of the Lakes District Museum Board.
He also drove the van for the Wakatipu rest-home, was a volunteer at the Arrowtown police station, had helped out at many church workingbees and also helped the Arrowtown Entertainers.
Mr Guise helped establish the Wakatipu Wood Craft Guild 20 years ago, had served as its secretary and treasurer and was still involved.
She said the Variety Concert MC Steve Wilde kept the crowds entertained, as did the "incredible" acts on stage, which included scenes from the coming season of The Sound of Music, being performed by Showbiz Queenstown.
Also on stage at the concert was the Battle of the Musos winner Holly Arrowsmithand the Arrowtown Volun-teer Fire Brigade's performance of Michael Jackson's Thriller.
The concert - and the festival - was bought to close by singer Charlotte Graf.
On Saturday evening the ever-popular Art 2 Wear show saw the overall winners announced for each category and the People's Choice Awards.
The winner in the Food for Thought category was "Carbo Loaded" by Kristi Howley, with Jill Lleydon and Sue Fussell's creation "Do You Sea What I Sea" winning the Underwater World category, as well as the People's Choice Award on Friday night.
The Transformation category was won by "Joined At The Zip", by Mandy Sherson, with "The Flying Ram with the Golden Fleece", designed by Claire Maley-Shaw, first in the Pure Gold section.
Saturday night's People's Choice Award was won by "You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover", made by Claire Gourlay and Jan Kinnaird.
Mrs Husheer said she was thrilled with the 2012 festival, particularly with the support from the Arrowtown community.
"Everyone from Arrowtown just seems to come out and help during the festival week.
"The volunteers we have through the week are amazing.
"We've just had great support from our sponsors and the funding organisations ... we wouldn't be able to do it without their support."
