The Alexandra Blossom Festival is all go today after last night’s events fell victim to the region’s wild weather.
Festival committee chairwoman Sharleen Stirling-Lindsay said she was "gutted" to cancel last night’s mardi gras and round-the-clock race. However, people’s safety came first.
"The committee are absolutely devastated that we are having to do this . . . [but] we just want people to be safe."
Event manager Martin McPherson said they were planning for a great day today with the grand parade and Saturday in the Park.
The rain had stopped for a period yesterday and the forecast for Alexandra today was cloudy and cool but no rain. The expected high was 10°C.
The festival has never been cancelled because of poor weather.
A family from Central Hawke's Bay — the region adopted by Central Otago after Cyclone Gabrielle — — who flew into Queenstown on Thursday for the festival may have wondered if history was going to repeat itself.
Creedenz Karaitiana and his mother Ngaira Walford were chosen by Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker for the trip.
The town of Porangahau was severely affected by the cyclone and Mr Karaitiana’s business, the Porangahau Garage, was a core lifeline for his community, 45 minutes’ drive from Waipukurau.
Mr Karaitiana had been under pressure getting the garage rebuilt, Ms Walker said.
To give him and his family a break was a nice thing to recognise what they had been through, the mayor said.
