Steampunk fashion and a ball is creating such interest in Oamaru that tickets for the June 5 ball are selling fast - even before being printed.
One of the organisers of the event, Helen Jansen, yesterday said entries for the fashion show, which close on April 27, were already coming in and there had also been a lot of inquiries.
The combined fashion show and ball builds on Oamaru's reputation as the Steampunk capital of New Zealand, following a successful exhibition at the Forrester Gallery last year.
The fashion show has six categories - women's working outfit, women's evening wear, men's evening wear, adventurer-explorer, inventor-scientist and children's.
All entries need to combine elements of science fiction themes with Victorian fashion.
Ms Jansen hoped for between 70 and 100 entries for the fashion show, which has attracted the interest of all ages, including a 16-year-old.
"People are excited at being able to take part in such a creative event.
"They are Steampunk aficionados in the making," she said.
There are 100 tickets for the ball, limited because of the size of the venue.
They go on sale on Saturday, but already about 60 were spoken for.
