Arrowtown’s trees are turning on a show, just in time for the town’s biggest show of the year.
Last February, Arrowtown Autumn Festival organisers had no choice but to cancel the 2022 event due to Covid restrictions in play, and no guarantees they’d be lifted in time to stage the 37th festival.
This year, though, it’s all on.
Officially opening today and running till this coming Tuesday, the programme features more than 50 events, 75% of which are free to attend.
New festival coordinator Catherine Fallon says there’s been massive support for this year’s festival from the community, including an over-
subscribed volunteer roster, and huge interest from outside the region.
‘‘We’ve got lots of bus tours coming in … the numbers are looking good.’’
While international visitors will be welcomed back with open arms, Fallon says domestic tourism’s still holding strong, ‘‘which is great’’.
She’s most looking forward to Saturday’s annual market day, which will be single-use cup-free, including the ever-popular street parade at 2pm, featuring 40-odd floats and groups, expected to attract about 10,000 people, and that night’s Highland Fling at Arrowtown’s Athenaeum Hall.
On parade: Arrowtown’s Buckingham Belles will again be entertaining crowds at this year’s Autumn Festival, which starts today
Fallon says a skate jam’s also been added to the programme — organised by Wānaka’s Rad Skate School, there’ll be free lessons from 10am till noon on Saturday at the skate park, before a display, with an Arrowtown school pupil enlisted to DJ for the event — while she’s also amped for Sunday’s sold-out Pie, Pint and Pinot event at the Library Green.
That’ll include Queenstown performer Simon Green’s Celtic fusion rock band, Celtic Storm, which combines some of the south’s leading musos and bagpipes.
‘‘I’m pretty excited, actually, now I think all the planning’s come together — there’s the last-minute bits and pieces, but we’ve got a great committee, they’re all over it.
‘‘There’s just huge support from the local Arrowtown community [and] there’s something for everyone.’’
Fallon says some parking’s being provided at Johnsons Common, on Norfolk Street, but says people should walk or take public transport if possible.
For the full festival programme, see bit.ly/40m3pvk
