Starting a day earlier than usual, following the official proceedings the first events of this year’s five-day festivities got under way, harking back to the days of old.
They included the ‘‘dishery dash’’, previously known as the pub-to-pub challenge, in which teams of four participated in a light-hearted race down Buckingham St vying for bragging rights and a trophy, before judging of the beard-growing competition — first held in 1987.
A group of hardy blokes had been preparing for about eight weeks for the hairy showdown at The Fork and Tap and were judged last night across several categories, including people’s choice.
A special street party, including a fireworks display, was also held last night to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the much-loved community festival.
Highlights of the event programme include Saturday’s ever-popular market day and street parade, expected to attract 20,000 people and Sunday’s pie, pint and pinot event.
Former Lakes District Museum director David Clarke said it was ‘‘pretty rare’’ for small-town festivals to continue running for four decades, particularly given what had happened to other such events since Covid.
An earlier iteration of the festival did fall over in the 1970s before Queenstown Promotion Bureau executive director David Bradford suggested it be revived.
The refreshed event launched on April 20, 1985, under organising committee chairman, the late Ross Martin, after just eight weeks’ preparation.
‘‘It was a pretty low-key thing at the start, but it soon gathered this huge momentum that’s never stopped,’’ Mr Clarke said.
In the early days, Arrowtown was surrounded by farms, hence events such as sheep races up Buckingham St — ‘‘things you wouldn’t get away with today’’ — which was closed by barrels and a couple of planks.
While earlier festivals had lasted 10 days, in recent years they have been held for four due to compliance costs.
Festival co-ordinator Vanessa Williams said the festival usually cost about $200,000 to stage.
‘‘If we break even we’re happy and any extra we make we usually give to a community group.’’
She was particularly grateful to sponsors and the wider community for their support.
‘‘Everyone just gets behind the festival and I think that’s kept it alive for the past 40 years.’’
