The Buckingham Belles have gone from strength to strength, the ladies now hired for corporate events and providing free entertainment for the community.
Arrowtown 150 co-ordinator Julie Hughes said as part of the anniversary celebrations over Labour Weekend, a reunion of past Belles was being organised.
Mrs Hughes said the Belles' introduction to Arrowtown did not go as planned when the floor of the wagon they arrived in "collapsed", and some nearly fell through it.
Their subsequent performance was also hijacked after some of the women's husbands "kidnapped" their ladies, threw them on the backs of horses and carried them off.
However, it was the beginning of an Arrowtown tradition which is still popular with residents and, in particular, visitors.
"The girls really enjoyed it and it continued. The first costumes, I believe, came from the Gore Operatic Society - they were lovely polka-dotted skirts." The ladies now sport corsets and can-can skirts.
"It's great fun and it's a great thing that a group of girls can get together. Where else can you get done up in a corset and a can-can skirt and yahoo?
"The girls that have taken part in it have had some huge laughs over the years. Most of us are mothers, so it's our little bit of light relief."
The Buckingham Belles will host a Saloon Evening at the Athenaeum Hall on October 21, followed by the Belles Reunion at Jonesey's Cafe and Bar from 1.30pm on October 22.
Any former Belles wishingto attend could email Julie@arrowevents.co.nz
