Attempts by the Queenstown Times for a quick chat during the festival's busy afternoon programme were repeatedly interrupted by people needing help, direction or advice while the cellphone on her hip rang regularly.
But not once did she get flustered or lose her train of thought - six years on the job as festival co-ordinator teaches you to cope with being run off your feet.
So, why would you put yourself through this year after year?
"Because I love this town [she's a fifth-generation `local']. Yes, it's really busy, but this event has grown hugely since I've been involved. There are lots more events now.
"It helps that I know so many of the locals and they don't mind working for me. There are lots of volunteers and it's great fun. It's just something people want to be part of," she said.
The value of that voluntary help was emphasised soon after by festival chairman Lex Perkins when he told a 200-strong crowd at the senior citizens "Mad Hatters Tea Party" that it takes about 1000 volunteers to help run the events over the 10 days. "And I can name all of them - isn't that something?"
As an example, Ms Hughes had a team of eight volunteers working in the kitchen during yesterday's afternoon tea, while she also has a full-time "chair committee" of 10 people to move chairs at each of the venues.
Among the volunteers in the Athenaeum Hall yesterday was her mother, Alma Stevenson ("just say I'm in my 60s"), who has seen most of the town's 24 previous autumn festivals.
The night before, at the same venue, there were three generations of her family helping out, this time during the Mactodd Brides Through the Ages wedding expo when Alma's 11-year-old granddaughter Megan was roped in to do a spot of modelling on the catwalk.
The expo also attracted a sellout crowd of about 200, which saw Amy-Clare Howie, of Kelvin Heights, named Bride of the Year, winning a $2000 package of prizes.
There was also a Bride to Be event, worth $3000, which resulted in Queenstown Times photographer Emily Adamson's name being drawn from a box containing about 30 entries.
Ironically, a major part of the prize is a $1500 wedding day photography package by photographer Sue Williams, which helped solve a dilemma for Ms Adamson, who had been wondering who she would get to take the pictures on her big day in the Queenstown Gardens next March when she marries long-time partner Joseph Cowie.
Yesterday's full programme of events drew a good-sized crowd to Arrowtown for day five of the festival. The festival ends on Sunday.
• Autumn Festival programme
TODAY
From 10am, departs hourly: Environment 4WD exploration, meet behind museum, adults $25, children $15.
10am: Arrow Ambles, meet at the museum.
10am-3pm: Children's writing workshop, Lakes District Museum, $10.
11am-2pm: Pony rides, Butlers Green, $5; No.8 wire competition, Buckingham Green, free.
Noon-1pm: Street entertainment, Buckingham Green, free.
1pm: Arrowtown Bowling Club, mixed fours tournament.
2.30pm: Wild Rubbish, meet at back of museum.
3pm: Beer festival, Oak Courtyard, Buckingham St.
8pm: Shotover Country Music Club concert, Athenaeum Hall, $25.
TOMORROW
8am: Breakfast with the kids.
10am-noon and 1pm-3pm: Kids cooking classes, Arrowtown School, $12 per child.
10am: Arrow Ambles, meet at the museum.
10.30am-noon: Kids variety concert, Athenaeum Hall, gold coin entry.
Noon-1pm: Free street entertainment, Buckingham Green.
Noon-1pm: Going for Gold, Dorothy Browns Cinema, $5.
3pm: Arrowtown Wildflowers, Willows Cafe.
7.30pm: An evening with Richard Till, Athenaeum Hall, $15.
FRIDAY
9.30am: Arrowtown Bowling Club, mixed fours tournament, $30 per team.
10am: Arrow Ambles, meet at the museum.
11am-3pm: Lodge Arrow Kilwinning No 86, Masonic Lodge, Wiltshire St, open day, free.
11.30am-noon and 1pm-1.30pm: Local retailers' fashion show.
Noon-1pm: Street entertainment, Buckingham Green, free.
7pm: Evening with lip-synching show and After Hours Band, Athenaeum Hall, $25 single or $200 for a table of 10.
