More than 80 events were held over the five days of the festival, including a Grand Street Parade on Saturday.
Extravagant costumes and vintage vehicles, including a steam-wagon, were on display as hundreds of people turned out to watch them make their way through the streets.
The celebrations culminated in the Victorian Fete on Sunday.
Harbour St was buzzing with live music and performances as people donned their best Victorian-era-inspired attire for the day.
Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust property manager Michelle Harrison described the festival as a great success.
"The whole event was amazing. It was really good having the tenants’ backing and behind it."
The occasion inspired organisers to mix things up with the fete.
This year it was held just in Harbour St and entry was free.
Being in just one street meant there were six stalls compared with 30 last year.
This allowed local businesses to benefit more from the out-of-town visitors the festival attracted.
"We want to keep the money in our town. Keep our tenants ticking over rather than have food trucks come in from outside."
Despite the smaller size, it still drew a great crowd, Ms Harrison said.
"It was amazing. The energy on the street was great."
While she believed the changes were "really, really well received", not everyone agreed.
Some of those attending expressed their disappointment on Facebook.
"My husband came in because I had been telling him how good it was. We both left deflated. I would rather pay an entry fee and have the all the usual stalls back," one person wrote.
"Normally I make a day of it. Not this time."
Another said "if it’s the same format next year we won’t bother".
"It was a beautiful sunny day, the performers were great and there were things there that you can’t see anywhere else, like the stone sawing competition and the dunking stool."
There were also countless other events aside from the fete that she called the "heart and soul" of the festival.
"The whole celebrations week is more than the fete.
"[Those other events] were quite well received and well attended."
The committee put out an attendee survey and as of earlier this week, had more than 60 responses where 84% of respondents said the celebrations met or exceeded their expectations.
The Lower Decks Dance was held as the final event of the festival at the Loan & Merc on Sunday night.
