Those dressed in period costume breathed a sigh of relief the weather was cooler than Saturday, when temperatures soared and it was more conducive to singlets and shorts than bustles and brocades.
One of the fete organisers, Faye Ormandy, was thrilled with the success of the day.
With more than 100 stalls, along with loads of entertainment, it was one of the biggest for quite some time, she said.
Stall-holders were selling everything from German bratwurst to unicorns, clothes for teddy bears and palm readings.
Countess Mandy Mayhem was looking for the wickedest, wildest, woolliest whiskers in the ever-popular beard and moustache competition, which had the motto: Keep It Sleek, Give It A Tweak.
Contestants revealed their secrets for their bushy facial hair - Nathan from North Carolina attributed his to prunes in the morning and a shave in the afternoon, while Nigel from Nelson preferred porridge and pure thoughts.
Totara Estate swagger Russian Jack, also known as Averill Jamison, was pronounced by Countess Mayhem to have the softest beard and he was also the recipient of the wildest, woolliest whiskers.
His hairy - and soft - crop was due to keeping a long distance from scissors and plenty of fresh air, he said.
There was plenty of street theatre and entertainment, including Joshua Lee (17), who was juggling fire.
Joshua, who has been juggling for many years, progressed to fire last Christmas.
While he had not suffered any serious burns, he had set the grass on fire at his home a few times.
It was a busy weekend for heritage lovers, with the grand Victorian parade on Saturday boasting vintage cars, traction engines and tractors and even a vintage fire truck- that came in handy when one of the tractors went on fire and firemen were quickly on hand to quell the flames.
There were Highland pipe and garrison bands, tribal drummers, horses, Morris dancers, a multicultural group, rowdy women seeking the vote and the Buckingham Belles from Arrowtown flashing their knickers.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton and his wife, Heather, rode with the Queen of Windsor (Julie Walker) in a stagecoach pulled by Morgan horses, while the Wizard of New Zealand chose to ride a three-wheeled cycle.
The trolley derby down Tyne St provided plenty of thrills - and a few spills - with Dunedin electrician Jaryd Grimwood (19) blitzing the field, lying on his stomach in his contraption to make it more aerodynamic.
In Dunedin, he has reached speeds of up to 45kmh but he estimated he was hurtling down the hill at between 60kmh and 70kmh on Saturday.
He was going "too quick to be scared" and it was great fun, he said.
Tyne St was lined with people for the national penny-farthing championships and the Queen of Windsor was "definitely not amused" to be beaten in the women's races.
Wearing a cycle helmet covered with the Union Jack and with a crown on it, she used a "Royal ladder" to mount her cycle.
She was slowed due to "adoring subjects throwing money" at her which slowed her pace.
She thought the slow race might have been more to her style.
Oamaru accountant Tony Brady (71) rides his penny-farthing about three times a year - in the Christmas parade, at the championships and just prior to, to get some practice.
Coincidentally, he made one of the entries in the trolley derby - Geronimo 1 - for Scouts to use 50 years ago.
Geronimo 1 proved it still had what it takes, winning several prizes in this year's event.
Mr Brady rides an ordinary cycle three or four times a week and last year cycled the Otago Central Rail Trail in just over a day.
For a beautifully attired Ann Whyte from Napier, it was her first time to the celebrations and she said she would definitely be back.
Her highlights were meeting people and the atmosphere, including the "old-fashioned fun" at the ball on Friday night.
She was not tempted to have a go on the penny-farthing.
"I don't like heights," she confided.
