The arrival of spring means the colourful annual Alexandra Blossom Festival is just around the corner. Otago Daily Times Alexandra bureau chief Lynda van Kempen investigates how the festival plans are shaping up.
With the Contact Alexandra Blossom Festival beginning in three weeks, hundreds of crepe-paper flowers are stealing the limelight from the real thing.
The paper blooms are all handmade and will adorn floats entered in the festival's grand procession on Saturday, September 26.
Festival chairman Steve Battrick said everything was in place for a successful 53rd festival.
"The fruit blossom is just starting to come out on the trees now, but it will be at its peak at festival time," Mr Battrick said.
He was looking forward to an "exciting and vibrant" procession and said a great effort would be made to decorate the town with flags and banners to add to the festive atmosphere.
"Suffice to say, we've got some high-class entertainment planned, the weather will be fine; but come rain, hail or shine, the festival will carry on regardless."
The festival begins on September 25 and the last event - the WoolOn fashion and design awards - will be staged on October 3.
Although no evening concert was planned this year, the entertainment in the park would extend to 6pm in the hope people would linger after the festival queen had been announced, Mr Battrick said.
Blossom Festival float convener Kylie Switalla said just seven competitive entries had been received so far for the procession, but she was hoping for a flood of late entries.
"That figure is down on last year's 11 floats but we'll be taking late registrations and we're hoping more will come in," Ms Switalla said.
The theme for each float would remain a secret until the procession, but volunteers had been hard at work making hundreds of colourful paper flowers to decorate the floats.
Schoolchildren and early-childhood centres had been encouraged to take part in the procession and all groups that were walking in the parade were being asked to make blossom-covered masks to wear, she said.
Main festival events
Monday, September 21: Senior Blossom Queen contest.
Friday, September 25: Round the Clock Race - individuals or teams in a relay carry a baton from the Linger and Die to the giant clock on the hill and back.
- The event is followed by a fireworks display marking the opening of the festival.
Saturday, September 26: Grand Procession - the main focus of the festival.
- Vintage cars and trucks, pipe bands, marching displays, and community groups parade along Alexandra's Centennial Ave.
- Colourful floats decorated with crepe-paper blossoms are the stars of the show.
- Also, Saturday in the Park - music and entertainment in Pioneer Park.
- Gourmet food and wine, arts and craft stalls and children's entertainment.
Saturday, September 26 to October 2: Alexandra Musical Society's performance of Oliver! in the Alexandra Memorial Theatre.
Sunday, September 27 and Monday, September 28: Garden Tour - tour of gardens near Alexandra.
- Event includes a cooking demonstration at Two Paddocks vineyard each day by Al Brown, of Logan Brown restaurant, Wellington.
Sunday, September 27: Thunder Sunday - drag racing at Alexandra Airport.
Saturday, October 3: WoolOn awards - fashion and design awards featuring wool fabric.
