Driving rain accompanied the bagpipes and drums echoing around the Octagon, as the bands in the Annual Octagonal Day competitions stoically played on in the miserable conditions.
Fourteen bands were taking part in the competition organised by the Otago centre of the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association.
Men, women and children dressed in tartan kilts huddled under their Inverness capes on street corners as they rubbed their hands and laughed and joked with each other.
"We must be bloody mad," said one competitor, while another complained of cold fingers and slippery instruments.
Rain forced the cancellation of the massed bands street march at the end of Saturday's competition.
Otago centre president Lyndsay Rackley said bands had travelled from Christchurch and Invercargill to take part.
The Otago-Southland competition was held in the grounds of John McGlashan College yesterday.
