Heralding the start of spring, the festival officially opened last night at Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery where the Central Otago Art Society’s 50-year art exhibition was opened.
Blossom festival committee chairwoman Sharleen Stirling-Lindsay said the festival’s success was firmly in the hands of the multitude of volunteers who made it happen.
"I wouldn’t even want to guess how many [volunteers] there are. I just love, love to give a big shout out to all the volunteers, all those who have supported the festival. It takes a lot to get to this stage."
From those helping with senior queens and princes and princesses, to others helping with Sunday’s garden tour, to businesses whose staff went way beyond what was required, there were hundreds of people giving their time.
All the festival committee members were volunteers and worked year-round to bring things together.
"The festival literally happens because everyone plays their part. The community are just absolute heroes."
Tomorrow night the fun ramps up with the Round the Clock race and then the Fulton Hogan Mardi Gras with family fun, including freestyle New Zealand FMX, luminous fairies, and Paul Foulds on stage, wrapping up with a fireworks display.
Saturday will be the big day with the street parade and party in the park, along with market stalls, children’s entertainment and bands on the big stage.
In the street parade, along with the floats and florries will be Booth’s Logistics’ parade of trucks. The huge trucks will be shined and polished for judging early in the morning with the star of the show leading the truck parade.
Cultural groups will liven up the parade with music and dance from the Otago Southland Chinese Association, the Central Otago Filipino Society, Kapa Haka and RSE workers.
Entertainment inside the park will include music for everyone, from country music star Jody Direen to Highland Storm, Paul Foulds, Queenstown Funk Orchestra and the Simon Green Neil Diamond tribute show.
The Alexandra Musical Society’s Show Time: Rock 2 Opera, featuring items from 19 musicals, will open on Saturday night.
On Sunday, the Delta garden tour starts at 9am, with maps available at Central Stories. Eight gardens around Clyde and Alexandra will be visited.
The Blossom Drive and exhibitions at Central Stories continue until next month.
