Blossom Festival organisers are pleased four of the 2008 festival's five key events were well supported, despite the estimated $30,000 loss posted by the Contact Alex Live Concert on September 27.
The Contact Grand Procession, WoolOn fashion show, Mirror Garden Tour, and Saturday in the Park event were all well supported.
Festival organisers have started assessing the event after its close on Saturday night with the WoolOn Creative Fashion Event.
Project manager Selar Henderson, of Projectexcel, said all 500 tickets to the fashion event sold, making it the crowning glory of this year's festival.
"We are absolutely thrilled with it. It was everything we had hoped for over the last three years," he said.
Mr Henderson, who began managing the festival in 2006 with fellow project manager Karin Bowen, said they would now spend about four weeks determining the festival's highs and lows, as well as its financial outcomes.
The Alexandra Blossom Festival Committee would be involved in the process.
Other festival events such as the ProActive Thunder Sunday drag racing, Race Around the Clock, and SBS Blossom Festival Art Exhibition were also popular.
Mr Henderson said, because of the breadth and nature of the festival, conclusions about its overall success could not yet be made.
Committee chairman Steve Battrick said the festival, which was in its 52nd year, had a positive future.
"We have been particularly encouraged by the increasing support from our principal partner, Contact Energy, and other major sponsors.
"The enthusiastic involvement of the committee members, whose commitment to their responsibilities has been outstanding, bodes well for the festival's future."
More floats were entered in this year's procession, which comprised 16 floats and princesses, as well as live bands and school groups.
Despite the parade being delayed by one hour because of bad weather, thousands of people braved frosty temperatures to watch the procession on Centennial Ave.
In total 38 arrests were made by the more than 50 police who worked in and around Alexandra during the opening festival weekend on September 27 and 28.
Most arrests related to breaches of the liquor ban or offensive or disorderly behaviour.
This year's arrest tally was slightly higher than last year, when 35 people were arrested.
Police maintain the liquor ban has had a positive effect on the festival, with alcohol-related offending down from years when such a ban was not in force.
Senior Sergeant Mike Cook, of Alexandra, said each year the police worked with committee members and festival organisers in order to prevent possible crime during the event.
"We've got it down to a good formula now as we've refined our plans over the years. We debrief with the committee after each festival to see if any changes can be made to improve it for next year," he said.
Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson said this year's festival had come a long way from the "bad old days" when biker gangs caused mayhem in the streets.
"It was so much worse back then. Compared to 16 years ago the festival is a much more slick, professional event."
