Hundreds of hours of preparation and dollars went into the weekend's Oamaru Performing Arts Society's 79th Annual Festival.
The three-day event, held at the Oamaru Opera House, started on Friday and drew 284 performers from throughout the South Island's dance, drama and music competition circuit.
Dunedin's Zara Anthony-Whigham (15) won the festival's top award, the most versatile competitor in all arts.
It was the second time Zara had won the title. She first won it in 2014. Zara wasoverwhelmed by the recognition.
"I didn't go into the competition having that as a goal.''
Her mother, Desley Anthony, said Zara was lucky to be at the event as she was still recovering from an injury.
Zara is also an ice skater and when completing some off-ice training sprained her ankle, taking her out of Mosgiel's recent ballet dance competition the day before it started.
"It was touch and go.''
The night before Oamaru's competition started, Zara's ankle was still not fully cleared by a phyiso, Ms Anthony said.
"We went up with the information if she felt she couldn't manage it we just stop it and just carry on with the singing.''
The title win was an amazing accomplishment under the circumstances, Ms Anthony said.
"Getting this is icing on the cake.''
Zara has danced since she was about 2, played music since she was about 5 and has sung since the age of 11.
The competition's publicity officer, Rosemary Zwies, said feedback from competitors and the general public about the event was positive.
"A Queenstown lady thought it was the best competition they ever come to and that's why they keep coming back so we're delighted about it.''
She said the festival ran smoothly, with a lot of help from the society's members and staff from the opera house.
After about four days of rest, society members would debrief and start planning next year's event, she said.
Roz Swete, of Temuka, had travelled down to Oamaru to support her daughter, Ella (8), in tap-dancing.
Mrs Swete said one of the reasons parents got behind events such as the performing arts festival was the opportunities it provided children.
