Crime and punishment might not seem like the cheeriest party theme, but a lot of people are already looking forward to dressing up, and down, for next month's Oamaru Victorian Heritage Celebrations.
The event's committee chairwoman Marise Martin said there was a lot ``scope'' in this year's theme as the five-day annual celebration of Victoriana neared.
Crime and Punishment was chosen as the theme by last year's committee and many of those planning their costumes were keen to dress up as peelers (Victorian policemen) or take ``the prison warden approach with the dull heavy clothing''.
``Lots of people are looking forward to the opportunity to dress down as vagabonds and ruffians,'' she said.
``And then, of course, Crime and Punishment also goes hand in hand with the judiciary, so some people are looking forward to pulling out their university robes, and so on.
``There's absolutely tons of scope this year.''
But for Mrs Martin, the theme of the celebrations allowed for some reflection.
``Perhaps the thing, at a personal level, that I like is as a society how far we have come from that very punitive age,'' she said. ``I think it's a good demonstration of how we have evolved and we are becoming socially a lot more responsible.
``So many of us come from England, or come from Great Britain, and 150 years ago, people were getting deported thousands of miles if they stole a loaf of bread. In today's society, we're much more inclined to look at why did that person need to steal that bread.''
Some of the festivities had already started with a crime writers competition running through October, and the heritage schools programme at Totara Estate, Clarks Mill and Whitestone City starting yesterday.
But the five days of fun would begin in earnest on November 15 and carry on until November 19, to coincide with Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust's long-running annual Victorian Fete on the 19th.
This year's programme for the celebrations lists 59 events, half of them free.
Mrs Martin was looking forward to the limericks competition, held as an open mic event at Saturday's Harbour St breakfast.
And the Any Last Requests? Dinner March, ``a progressive dinner'' on Friday night.
Diners would be marched around three different venues for three different courses from three different restaurants ``from gaol to judge''.
There would be ``a little bit'' of street theatre on the way as diners were escorted by Alf's Imperial Army before making an appearance before a judge.
