Beating bad weather and brushing aside Covid-19 meant the annual Alexandra Blossom Festival could go ahead as usual on Saturday.
It is estimated as many as 15,000 people attended one of the first large-scale events in the country post the latest round of Covid-19 restrictions.
In perhaps another first, police reported no arrests associated with the event.
Planning the 64th festival went to the wire, with the go-ahead given only four days before its scheduled start on Friday, following the move to Covid-19 Alert Level 1.
On the eve of the festival came warnings of a southerly blast — which spared the event, arriving after it ended.
Festival event manager Martin Mcpherson said the "stars aligned" and he was "absolutely ecstatic" the event could take place despite obvious challenges.
"It was probably the most challenging event I’ve ever run, it was so touch and go for so many reasons."
Total crowd numbers would not be known until his "bean counters" had completed their work, but he estimated between 12,000-15,000 people.
A highlight of the annual event is the coronation of the Blossom Festival Queen, and it was Kathryn Smit (17) who ascended the throne in the festival’s final act.
Nominated by the Combined Lions Clubs of Alexandra and Clyde, the17-year-old then-Festival princess took centre stage on the club’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar-themed float in the grand parade earlier in the day.
