It's going to be a cracker - from Chinese Village Theatre to the New Zealand Army Band, Arrowtown is all set to host a colossal Labour Weekend.
The weekend will mark 150 years since gold was first discovered and the celebrations will run simultaneously with the TSS Earnslaw's centenary.
Today, history buffs can take a walk through Arrowtown, accompanied by the Historical Society, and visit the cottage in which Sister Mary MacKillop lived during the gold-mining era.
Despite the official opening of the 150th Arrowtown and Lakes District celebrations being tomorrow, tonight a plaque will be unveiled at the very spot gold was discovered, along the banks of the Arrow River.
At 7.30pm a comprehensive gold exhibition will be opened at the Lakes District Museum.
Seniors' cruises around the Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu are scheduled for today on the TSS Earnslaw.
Tomorrow starts with a market day and ends with a ball at which the New Zealand Army Band will play. Between these events will be the Chinese Village Theatre and a re-enactment of the gold rush.
Modern clothing will be banned for at least 120 members of the Arrowtown community, who will be retelling the story of the village's settlement.
Up to 8000 people are expected to watch and the re-enactment's director, Victoria Keating, said she wanted the event to be as authentic as possible.
A woolshed party will be held at Mt Nicholas Station tomorrow night "for a special birthday bash" which will include a high-country hoedown for the TSS Earnslaw.
On Sunday, gold hopefuls are encouraged to register at 9am for the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust New Zealand gold-panning championships, with categories such as Have a Go, Ladies', Men's, schools and fire brigade.
Other events on Sunday include an interdenominational church service on Buckingham Green, and a display of steam-powered vehicles at Millbrook Corner.
Two family reunions celebrating 150 years of living in the Wakatipu will be held during the weekend.
After gaining approval from the council to erect a memorial in honour of Richard Cougar Bryant, who moved to Queenstown in 1861, the Bryant family will unveil the memorial in One Mile Reserve during the family reunion.
Also celebrating will be the McBride family, whose ancestors Frank McBride and his brother Dan arrived at Skippers on Christmas Day in 1862.
Meanwhile, Glenorchy celebrates its 150 years with events from displays to a picnic and cruises on the Earnslaw.
Queenstown weather forecaster David Crow said that while unsettled weather was expected for tomorrow, Sunday and Monday were "looking quite good".
"[Tomorrow] morning will be cloudy and the afternoon does not look good," Mr Crow said.
