The beanie competition is one of a variety of events being held during the five-day ''Across the Bridge in Bannockburn'' programme, which begins tonight with a film evening ''Reel Life in Rural New Zealand''.
Other arts, food and outdoor events would be held during the week, including an art exhibition in the historic Cairnmuir Station Woolshed, ''Across the Bridge in Bannockburn'' co-founder and one of the organisers, Heather McPherson, said.
The Bannockburn festival would also feature the inaugural ''Great Debate'' tomorrow, where Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan, writer and performance poet Liz Breslin and Bannockburn identities Dean Shaw, James Dicey, Phil Parker and Jimmy Dundass would debate a line from one of Brian Turner's poems: ''New Zealand has gone to the dogs''.
Turner, Breslin and fellow poets David Eggleton and Jillian Sullivan would feature in another new event, ''Poets in the Pub'', at the Bannockburn Hotel on Saturday.
Ms McPherson said the ''Bannie Beanies'' and a ''Fashion through the ages'' display would be exhibited in the Bannockburn Hall this weekend.
The historic Bannockburn Post Office building will be open on Sunday, selling a special Bannockburn stamp, and a craft and produce market will also be held in Bannockburn on Sunday.
For a full programme go to http://www.cromwell.org.nz/across-the-bridge-in-bannockburn.html
