Festival co-ordinator Maureen Cummings said the weekend went well, with ''fantastic'' weather. There was a smaller attendance than last year, as there were several other events held over the same weekend. The festival's theme was hats, with those attending encouraged to decorate and wear their own hat.
On Saturday, festival-goers made the most of the sunny day, enjoying berries and ice cream, lending their hands to learning a new craft or art technique, or browsing the many stalls and exhibits around the town.
Rangiora artist Karin Werner won top honours in the art competition with her watercolour entry Chestnut Horse Watching.
Artist Ben Ho, of Queenstown, gave two oil-painting demonstrations. The first painting took about two and a-half hours, and the second under two hours.
Mr Ho said he painted quickly to make the most of the light before it changed.
''I have to paint fast - the sun doesn't wait.''
His technique involved creating big bold shapes to build the painting's base before the light changed. He then added the finer details.
This was his second year at the festival.
Jude McNab, of the Catlins Soap Company, demonstrated the art of felting soap, which takes about 10 minutes per soap.
Felt is wrapped around the handmade soap, then dipped in water and worked between the hands until lathered. It is then dipped in water again and left to dry for two to three days.
Mrs McNab said the finished felted soap could be used as an exfoliating bar.
''It's like having a face-cloth around soap.''
She often teaches felting soap to groups visiting her business in the Catlins, and said it was ''quite therapeutic'' for all ages.
Children's art workshops were held on Saturday and yesterday.
There was plenty to do for people not interested in art. A ''blokes corner'' hosted a fly-fishing workshop and a vintage machinery exhibition.
