Crowds citify town at open day

"It's like bloody Auckland." That heartfelt comment by a visitor summed up the huge support for the Winton open day yesterday.

A wide-ranging programme based on entertainment, displays and extra business opportunities attracted crowds all day.

Harley Davidsons, vintage machinery, mini jeeps and car displays, a teddy bears picnic, cliff climbing, an auction and bushcraft were some of the attractions of the day.

Shops, many not normally open on Sundays, were thronged.

Queues, normally unknown in Winton, were common.

Carparks were at a premium for several blocks extending back from Great North Rd and the Anzac Oval.

Organised by the Winton Business Association, the annual event gives many organisations the opportunity to show their wares.

One of these was the Winton Area Promotions, which attracted 51 stallholders to the Memorial Hall for the Country Marketeers art, craft, clothing and toys fair.

An art exhibition featuring 39 regional painters was held in the former Catholic presbytery and helped widen the site base to the south end of the town.

The day officially started with a combined church service at Anzac Oval.

A festival of praise, in which floral artists interpreted spiritual quotations, was held in the Anglican Church throughout the day.

Chairman of the Winton Business Association Nigel Lowe was pleased with the amount of support given by the public and the advertisers.

"More of the businesses offered specials for the day," Mr Lowe said.

"The crowd was definitely bigger this year."

Winton Lions club auction organiser Graeme Anderson was also pleased with the public's response.

Proceeds will go the the Central Southland netball association for its covered courts appeal.

Form cutters including Craig Unahi, Antony Stodart and Nelson List were prominent in the Central Southland Lodge bushcraft meeting.

This opened the competitive chopping and sawing season and gave them a chance to test their blades before the Canterbury A & P meeting later this month.

- © Fairfax NZ News