The Arrowtown Bowling Club raised $4500 on Saturday for the Cancer Society during its inaugural Shortest Day Longest Night Wild Food Festival.
Co-organiser Kelvin Jackson said about a dozen people had ''a bit of fun'' with an unofficial Wild Food Festival last year and decided to open the event up and raise money for a charity.
About 150 people attended the event and dined on donated wild food, including muttonbird, blue cod, crayfish, venison, rabbit, duck and Canada goose.
A silent auction running throughout the day included gift packs, golf bags, pounamu and accommodation vouchers.
''We haven't had to ask for it,'' Mr Jackson said.
''It's all been donated.''
While the weather hampered plans for a fun roll-up, the Arrowtown Wild Food Charity Trophy was still presented.
The recipient this year was Arrowtown resident Murray Alexander, whose wife died recently of cancer.
Mr Jackson said the event would become an annual fixture, proceeds going to a different charity each year.
