Rain fell on the Wanakafest parade last night, but that did not deter thousands of loyal Wanaka locals from lining up along Ardmore St to cheer on the colourful show.
Conditions had been humid and overcast all day and the first drops of rain fell about 5pm, half an hour before the parade was due to start.
Spirits were not dampened, and the noise and colour of the parade were enough to entice the early evening bar-goers outside to observe proceedings from the street.
The parade was organised by Wanaka's Kahu Youth group and attracted dozens of floats from local organisations, schools and community services.
Wanaka's annual spring festival is held to celebrate the end of the snow season.
The festival programme continues today and tomorrow with a wide range of activities, including a market, drag race, circus, polar plunge, cardboard cup, and pie- and chocolate-eating competitions.
The full programme is available on the Wanakafest website: www.wanakafest.co.nz
Activities start for the early birds at 7am today with a mass gym fitness class, and conclude at 4pm tomorrow with the Stonewood Homes house-build auction at Willowridge Development Ltd's West Meadows subdivision.
