The second annual Matariki Arrowtown Lights drew huge numbers of people into Buckingham St to soak up the atmosphere, enjoy performances from Ngā Mana Hou, Arrowtown Preschool, Arrowtown School and Wakatipu High School kapa haka groups, and fire dancers from Flame Entertainment.
Elsewhere, large fire pits kept the crowds warm on the balmy midwinter night, some using them to roast marshmallows and others warming up while learning about Matariki through a video explaining its meaning.
Many of the buildings along the street were given the South Island Light Orchestra treatment, while astrophysicist Prof Brian Boyle was stationed outside the Lakes District Museum for an interactive talk about the wonders of the night sky and beyond.
Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association manager Nicky Busst said crowd numbers exceeded her expectations.
Last night numbers looked to have surpassed that.
Ms Busst said Matariki Arrowtown Lights, supported by the Arrowtown Community Trust, sponsors Ray White Arrowtown and Millbrook Resort, along with a host of community funders, provided an opportunity for the community and visitors to gather, reconnect, share stories and remember the "Matariki principles of the past and the present".
She hoped it would continue as an annual event.
"I think we’re really putting Arrowtown Kā-Muriwai [heart of Arrowtown] on the map with our events, and I think it’s really important to maintain that for our community and to have something to look forward to and connect — that is what Matariki’s about."
