The ever-popular Victorian Garden Party is back as part of the Victorian Heritage Celebrations this weekend.
At the Oamaru Public Gardens tomorrow a string quartet will serenade as ladies, gentlemen and children in Victorian finery play croquet, sip tea and make polite conversation.
People are expected from near and far to attend the garden party which starts at 2.30pm.
Jayne Rowley, of Wales, who lives in Manchester in the United Kingdom, has travelled to Oamaru especially for the heritage celebrations this weekend.
"I came last year for the Jazz and Blues Festival in autumn," she said.
"Then I saw all the amazing photos and stories on the heritage celebrations and I thought I’d love to be there and be part of this wonderful event."
Victorian Heritage Celebrations committee co-chairwomen Wendy Jones and Cyndi Christensen said prior to tea there would be croquet on the lawn, while the Decadia String Quartet would play at the gardens rotunda.
The usual garden party fare will be offered.
Cucumber sandwiches, scones, tea and coffee will be available for a small fee.
"It’s amazing in the gardens, such a beautiful backdrop for everyone in their finery and ladies having tea," Miss Jones said.
With just a day to go everything was "coming together".
"It’s been really good fun."
The Victorian Heritage Celebrations formally begin today and will culminate in the Victorian Fete in Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct on Sunday.
The theme for the celebrations is "Growing for Gold", reflecting an important time in Oamaru’s history.
Searching for gold may have been a wild, desperate quest in the 19th century. But one of the first events to celebrate the discovery of gold in the region harks back to the more genteel side of the Victorian era.
