Throughout Arrowtown and the surrounding area, finishing touches are being applied for the first weekend of the Arrowtown Autumn Festival, which begins today and concludes next weekend.
Children finished painting the Arrowtown Pre-school float yesterday.
The festival continues to grow in size and popularity and those unfamiliar with it are fast becoming the minority.
The 10-day festival, now in its 28th year, began as a community weekend event centred on the magnificent autumn colours of the town's many deciduous trees.
The first trees were planted during the gold rush and those there today are a popular attraction with tourists and visitors.
Festival co-ordinator Deborah Husheer said the festival was community-focused.
It incorporated the participation of local people as individuals and groups, against a colourful landscape.
"It's a good chance for people to show what they do, and a good opportunity for those who are coming from out of town to experience the local area and people.
"It started off as a local community festival and that's the way we have tried to keep it."
The entertainment certainly has the community in mind and some acts, such as the Arrowtown Miners' Band and Buckingham Belles, have taken part since the festival's early days.
A number of factors should draw people to the festival, Ms Husheer said.
"First of all to see the colour", and also for the history and activities.
The festival committee is a non-profit organisation, which relies on sponsorship and huge numbers of volunteers to make the festival a reality each year.
About 1000 people take part every year, not only as performers, but also as business operators.
People are needed to perform essential duties like traffic control and other tasks, including setting up entertainment such as bouncy castles.
Market stalls were an opportunity for community groups to raise funds, Ms Husheer said.
"It's about supporting the community and supporting local businesses as well.
"We have tried to involve Arrowtown businesses or local businesses where we can." Generally, local people become involved in the festival in the months leading up to April.
They can submit art for display, enter wearable art, reserve a stall, feature in the parade, volunteer, or offer specialist services in events such as historic cemetery walks.
Based on the numbers last year, 10,000 people were expected to attend at least some part of the festival, she said.
"A lot of people come from Southland, and also from further afield. It also brings tourists out from Queenstown." Of the 50-plus scheduled events, most could be considered child-friendly.
Exceptions are golf and the Glitz and Glamour ball, where children may not enjoy themselves as much as they would at the rubber duck race, or the flax-weaving workshop.
The committee would soon be planning next year's festival, Ms Husheer said.
"We will finish this one and wind down a little bit but it is a year-long process, so we will start planning the next one soon after this one," she said.
Festival programme
TODAY
2pm: Scarecrow competition, Buckingham Green
7.30pm: Art exhibition opening, Lakes District Museum ($5 entry)TOMORROWMarket, parade and family fun day (gold coin entry)
9.30am-10.30am: Vintage car display, Buckingham St
10am-4pm: Arts and crafts market, Village Green
10.30am: Street theatre with Adrian Kirk, Buckingham St, by Lakes District Museum
11am-1pm: Gold panning, Buckingham St
11am-2pm: Impulse Jazz and Blues, Buckingham Green
12.15pm-12.45pm: Kiwi haka, Buckingham Green
12.50pm-1.50pm: LA Social Club, Buckingham Green
1.50pm: Classic Flights aerobatic display
2pm: Arrowtown Autumn Festival street parade, Buckingham St
3pm-4pm: Holly Arrowsmith, Buckingham Green
8pm: Gold, Glitz and Glamour Ball, Athenaeum Hall (sold out)
SUNDAY
9.30am-4.30pm: Oamaru stone carving workshop, Police Station courtyard - access off Romans Lane (sold out)
10am: Arrow Ambles, meet at Lakes District Museum
10.30am: Autumn Festival church service, Buckingham Green (Arrowtown School hall if wet)
Noon: Shotover Country Music Club concert, Buckingham Green (Arrowtown School hall if wet) 1pm: Pub to Pub Challenge, Buckingham St (entries full)
1.30pm-5pm: Pint and Pie Festival, Village Green ($10)
4pm and 7.30pm: Beatle Mania '64, Athenaeum Hall($20 adults, $10 students)
5pm: Acoustic Roots Blues Show - Big Daddy Wilson and Delgirl, NewOrleans Hote
lMONDAY
10am: Arrow Ambles, meet at Lakes District Museum
Noon-1pm: Street Entertainment, Buckingham Green
1.30pm: Historic Tree Walk, meet at Lakes District Museum
7.30pm: Beatle Mania '64, Athenaeum Hall ($20 adults, $10 students)
