The 18 acts were something of a summary of a successful run of 63 free and ticketed events over 10 days, which attracted thousands of residents and visitors.
Arrowtown Junior Rugby Club members gave a rousing haka performance as the opener, in the Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall, last night.
Master of ceremonies Peter Doyle welcomed the crowd-pleasing acts, including a medley of songs from the festival musical Cribbies, Queenstown Choir, Art 2 Wear competition winners, Showbiz Queenstown's taster of the musical All Shook Up and a comedy collaboration combining the dancing Buckingham Belles and Arrowtown volunteer firefighters.
The event included announcing "Arrowtown's Unsung Hero Award" for community service. Nominees included Alma Stevenson, Les Rogerson, Jim Ryan, John Potts and the Arrow Miners' Band, but the award went to Margaret Hyland, who was given a certificate, flowers and wine.
Festival chairman Lex Perkins yesterday praised the committee members behind the extravaganza: organiser Deborah Husheer, treasurer Sue Anderson, Claire Gourlay, Jil Leydon, Jean Macnicol and Charlotte McCoy.
"We're very, very fortunate to have an enthusiastic committee coming up with new ideas. It's not easy coming up with 60 events and they've done a sterling job."
Mr Perkins said public feedback had been "phenomenal", with good crowds at each event. Performances by the Queenstown Ukelele Orchestra and Celtic Sounds were among the highlights for him.
Popular television and radio cook Annabelle White was "an absolute comedienne" who "kept people enthralled with her antics" and with her autumnal cookery tips and recipes.
Mr Perkins said the Arrowtown Entertainers should be very proud of themselves for staging the nostalgic musical Cribbies, which sold out its evening show.
The talent on display in the festival art exhibition, in the Lakes District Museum, was "amazing". However, Mr Perkins said his favourite event was always the senior citizens' afternoon tea, to see the enjoyment on their faces, as they sang along with the Arrow Miners' Band and Arrowtown Entertainers.
Mrs Husheer yesterday paid tribute to the more than 100 volunteers who helped make the festival come together.
Feedback had been "really positive" about the broad range of events. Ticket costs were kept low, a bumper 53 floats formed the street parade and a capped limit of 25 stalls did a brisk trade in the market, she said.
"You always learn from events and you want to improve, but we're ending the week on a high," she said.
