The Dunedin Midwinter Carnival organisers plan to double the length of the procession route next year because it is "outgrowing'' its Octagon circuit.
Carnival trust secretary Paul Smith said the carnival had reached its capacity and had outgrown its present route, which circles the Octagon twice.
However, the route for the carnival next month would remain the same as previous years, the procession starting at Bath St before circling the Octagon.
The trust had wanted to create a longer route for this year's carnival on June 18 but lacked the money for the necessary work, such as arranging for more streetlights to be switched off and more roads to be blocked.
The carnival had grown too big to circle the Octagon twice without difficulty, Mr Smith said.
Last year it attracted about 10,000 spectators and Mr Smith expects the same size crowd this year.
Next year's new route will start and finish at First Church in Moray Pl, travelling to the Octagon up lower Stuart St, before returning along Princes St.
"It's doubling the size of the route and it means people can spread out and see what we created.''
The new route would not include a full circle of the Octagon.
"Going around the Octagon and creating a big ring of light is quite a unique special thing and it will be sad to change that but at the same time we need to look after the needs of our audience, which keeps growing.''
The trust had lodged a funding application to the Dunedin City Council to make next year's event "bigger and better''.
The theme for the carnival this year was "future worlds'' and it would have a galactic feel, he said.
Council events special projects co-ordinator Tammy Jackman said the council supported the route being extended.
