Large crowd enjoys festival

TANIA BUTTERFIELD

The seventh annual Picton Maritime Festival is being hailed as the best so far as stunning weather and a wide range of entertainment and activities attracted more than 6000 people to the town on Saturday.

Picton Maritime Festival Trust chairwoman Beryl Bowers said she was blown away with how well the day came together.

"It was just fantastic. It was better than other years. I've had people call me saying it was the best ever, that it was fantastic and just congratulating the committee on such a wonderful event."

While the festival officially began at 11am, crowds began gathering in Picton earlier to visit navy ship HMNZS Pukaki.

Lieutenant Sam Turner said there had been about 500 visitors on the ship by 10.30am.

The inshore patrol vessel was named the most efficient ship in the navy on Friday and awarded the Monowai Trophy for operational effectiveness which acknowledged the help it provides for Ministry of Fisheries, and police among other things.

Navy personnel showed visitors the control room, defence weaponry and firefighting equipment. Children and adults alike got to feel how heavy some of the equipment was and hear what the navy does. "It's really good being able to show people what we actually do," Lt Turner said.

Jack Zimmerman, 12, from Blenheim said the ship was "pretty awesome". His favourite part was seeing the guns.

Lucy Learned, 11, from Darfield said the ship was amazing.

"I really liked the control station," she said.

By noon the festival was in full swing.

Children lined up patiently at the Walk on Water attraction which was back by popular demand for its second Maritime Festival.

Children's entertainment The TMI Effect and Gerry and the Crocodettes got the young children up on stage dancing while parents relaxed on the foreshore.

Teresa Thompson of Wellington said the festival was just fantastic.

"It way exceeded our expectations. Picton is so child friendly. We will definitely be coming back."

Peter and Birgit Rapp from Germany heard about the festival from the Motueka I-Site.

"We're just enjoying what's going on. We watched [kapahaka] and the Star Dance. We bought matching necklaces from the market. It's been great," Mrs Rapp said.

Stallholders also reaped benefits of the festival.

Smoked Marlborough stallholder Tina Samson who was selling bacon and avocado rolls said they were rushed off their feet all day.

At one point they ran out of buns and cleared out Picton Fresh Choice's stock to meet demand.

"We weren't expecting it to be this busy," she said.

Hanna Ryan-Falcon of The Quest Catering Company agreed.

"We've done better business than we were expecting.

"Everyone just seems really happy," she said.

Mrs Bowers credited the stunning weather and MCs Brett Tutheridge and Scott Radovanovich with making the festival the best so far.

The evening entertainment and fireworks attracted about 3000 people to the foreshore.

Sergeant Kris Payne of Picton said the crowd was very well behaved during the night.

One man in his early 20s was arrested for disorderly behaviour for jumping on someone's property but let off with a warning.

Anyone with feedback about the festival is welcome to get in touch with organisers via facebook, www.pictonfestival.co.nz or email Beryl Bowers at bowers@xtra.co.nz

- The Marlborough Express