The annual Otago Goldfields cavalcade, which gets under way today , will inject more than $100,000 into the local economy, organisers say.
Nine trails and more than 500 people will wend their way to Ranfurly and parade through the town next Saturday, to coincide with the Ranfurly Art Deco festival. The combined event has been dubbed ''Decocade''.
Four cavalcade trails - two wagon and two riding trails - begin today, one each from Hampden, Waikaia, St Bathans and Dunedin. Two more riding trails start on Monday and the three walking trails begin on Tuesday.
The Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust organises the cavalcade and trust secretary Terry Davis said it boosted the local economy by more than $100,000.
''By the time you add in the catering, which is done by community groups, the money paid to the host town committee and the registration fees, it's a major boost to the economy.''
The bulk of the money came back to community groups within the district and it also helped fund the trust's activities for the coming year.
This year's participants include about 80 first-timers, which was great to see, Mr Davis said.
Walkers made up 20% of the total participants.
Probably another 200 people were involved behind the scenes, including trail bosses, wranglers, caterers, volunteers who ferried vehicles for cavalcaders, the host town committee and those involved in setting up a marquee for the ''Hoedown'' on the final evening of the event.
Mr Davis said the event was still going strong in its 22nd year and its popularity showed no sign of waning. This year's cavalcade has attracted Welsh, Canadian and Australian walkers and riders. Outram is the destination for next year's event and ''we're working on where the 2016 event will finish''.
The weather forecast for the cavalcade start was good, but there might be rain during the week - ''but for cavalcaders, the wilder the weather, the better the adventure''.
