The Dunedin Midwinter Carnival is back after being iced by a snowstorm last year.
It was the first year poor weather had forced the cancellation of the annual winter celebration since it started in 1997.
The 2008 carnival will be held in the Octagon on the weekend of the winter solstice, on Saturday, June 21, and will again feature a night-time procession of hand-held and giant lanterns.
"It's a fantastic way to celebrate winter and it's great to see a wide range of people engage in a creative activity that is totally unique to Dunedin," carnival trust member Juliet Novena Sorrel said.
A feature of the festival will be the belated debut of a series of giant bird lanterns, which were originally crafted by Dunedin artist Katrina Thomson for last year's carnival.
"The giant lanterns are always a highlight of the carnival, so we are really looking forward to bringing these birds to life. We also work with local performance groups to add musical and dance elements to the procession.
"The whole event is specifically designed for the Octagon, which becomes a really magic place."
A highlight is the public lantern-making workshops, which will be held in the Community Gallery in Princes St on the weekends of June 7 and 8 and June 14 and 15.
The carnival is appealing for volunteers to help with the workshops, carry lanterns in the procession, and other duties.
A volunteer meeting will be held at 5pm on Wednesday, May 28, in St Paul's Cathedral crypt.
