A freezing location, combined with a ''mild'' outdoors temperature of 4degC, put smiles on the faces of about 70 people who danced on ice at Naseby on Saturday night.
The occasion was the annual family ice dance on the outdoors rink, which usually forms part of the annual Naseby Ice Festival. Despite the festival being postponed a week, because it was too mild to keep a good covering of ice on the luge track and the rink during the day, the dance went ahead.
''We've had a serious uphill battle against Mother Nature this year but when you see all these kids out on the ice, having a good time, it's all worth it,'' one of the event organisers, Maniototo Ice Rink committee member Kim Vowles said.
Frosts are forecast for Thursday and Friday, which was good news as the rescheduled festival would take place on Saturday , Mr Vowles said.
The 4degC temperature on Saturday night meant a few patches of the rink were out of bounds because of melting ice.
''It's been a crazy season for ice sports. First, we had all that rain, then a massive snowfall, which we packed down on the luge and the rink but then it all melted a couple of weeks later - vanishing quicker than you would believe, '' he said.
A series of hard frosts was needed to build up and keep a good sheet of ice that would withstand the volumes of people expected at the ice festival.
On Saturday night, children and adults dressed in a vast assortment of costumes took to the ice - princesses, fairies and angels skating shoulder-to-shoulder with prisoners, assorted wild animals and a scarecrow.
Sally Upsher , of Dunedin, said it was good to have an event focused on families.
''We're certainly enjoying what's on offer in Naseby. There's a great community spirit here,'' she said. Martina Kelly, of Dunedin, agreed and said the ice dance was always a highlight of the school holidays for her children.
''It's a big thing for the kids and they love it.''
