About 8000 people visited the town of 300 for its annual New Year Market Day.
The Kurow Reserve was filled with dogs, home-made crafts and delicious goods as the sun shone brightly to welcome in 2024.
Many could be seen eating ice cream and wearing hats to try to escape the heat, which was shown as 24°C on the town’s public thermometer at noon.
David Wilson drove from Oamaru for the market, which he believed was "the finest in the country".
It served as a way to bring the community together and it seemed to get better every year, he said.
Organising committee member Jon Brocas said the event had exploded in popularity over the years.
He had been involved for more than 20 years, and recalled when it was held at the local hall with just a few stalls.
It was moved to the main road of Kurow about 10 years ago, which greatly increased the number of visitors.
It was held there for a few years, before the logistics of closing the road became too much of a burden.
"Bureaucracy tries to kill small towns."
The committee was determined to continue the successful market and moved it to the town reserve, across the road from the hall it began in.
Now the event ran "like a well-oiled machine" and brought a huge amount of business to town, he said.
His words rang true, as there were large lines at the River Cafe, Feliz and Sage Cafe & Gifts as well as the local petrol station.
The event was dog-friendly, which brought out many four-legged visitors to accompany their bipedal masters.
There were so many that one passer-by was overheard saying "you would just about think it was a dog show".
The canines had come from all over New Zealand, including Invercargill and Christchurch, as the nearby campground allowed dogs.
Mr Brocas said allowing dogs really added to the atmosphere of the event.
It was a big day, but almost all of the vendors he spoke to were "very positive" about how it went.
