The first Light Up Winter event will be held in the town’s outdoor mall on Friday next week. Organiser Brigitte Tait said she hoped all of the 300 lanterns the Cromwell and Districts Promotion Group bought would be sold. They would be released at the Big Fruit Reserve on the night.
"If as many people come as have indicated then we’ll sell them all, but it’s always hard to know. I secretly hope I’ll have to buy more.
"I think it’ll look pretty incredible with our massive landscape on a clear night."
The lanterns were biodegradable and the group would collect any nearby if necessary.
The lantern aspect made the event "unique", she said.
"Cromwell hasn’t really had a winter event before. We usually have to go to Queenstown or Wanaka," Mrs Tait said.
Ten food stalls had signed up, and 10 more had expressed interest. There would also be mulled wine, craft stalls, a "light up your hat" competition and many shops in the mall would stay open.
