Masses flock to Clyde harvest festival

The main street of Clyde is packed as people enjoy the Central Otago town's eighth  Easter Wine...
The main street of Clyde is packed as people enjoy the Central Otago town's eighth Easter Wine and Food Harvest Festival yesterday. Photo by Rosie Manin.
Food, wine, and sunshine lured thousands of people to Clyde yesterday during the eighth annual Clyde Easter Wine and Food Harvest Festival, held in the town's main street.

A record 22 wine producers from south of the Clyde dam showed off their vintages at the event, which attracted crowds large enough to rival last year's record-breaking figure of 5000.

Promote Dunstan vice-president Clair Higginson said she thought there were more than 5000 people present yesterday, and a new record would be set once ticket sales had been counted.

"We're pretty certain that it's more than 5000. The wineries have been really busy," she said.

An estimated $150,000 was generated for the local economy last year through the festival, and this year's event was expected to do the same, she said.

Organisers were close to running out of glasses by about 2pm, as warm temperatures and a relaxed atmosphere coaxed people into sampling the different drops on offer.

While wine had to come from producers within the wider Clyde and Alexandra area, food came from a variety of different origins, with Danish doughnuts, waffles, and gourmet meats selling beside traditional cheese rolls and chutneys.

Businesses from throughout the district maintained their stall positions at the festival, although market regulars from Dunedin, Southland, and further afield set up shop at one end of Sunderland St.

For children, fudge and chocolate took their attention, as did bouncy castles and the sale of toys.

Live jazz resounded among the stone walls of Oliver's Restaurant and Lodge Complex as tiring festival goers lounged in the shade on grass lawns, or propped themselves on picnic tables scattered throughout Clyde's adjoining streets.

Culture-lovers had the opportunity to gaze at art displayed in the town's Masonic Lodge, and summer clothes were on offer for those who had dressed warmly in the foggy morning only to be confronted by the afternoon's fierce sun.

A clean-up began after the festival closed at 5pm, and streets were opened by 6pm.

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