Organisers and the Alexandra community are celebrating a record breaking weekend at the 67th Contact Alexandra Blossom Festival.

The annual The News Round the Clock Race and Fulton Hogan Mardi Gras returned on Friday night after severe weather forced their cancellation last year.

Hardy individuals and teams of runners lined up to tackle the climb to the Alexandra Clock, with tutus, high school track suits and bright colours the order of the day.

Across the street, a packed-out Mardi Gras lit up the night with Paul Foulds band playing while street performers and illuminated fairies stunned the children. The addition of interactive lighting installations, including an entire garden bed of sunflowers and inflatable flowers were definite favourites, leaving the crowd astounded.

The daredevil FMX antics of Freestyle NZ brought the high octane thrills and the night wrapped up with a fantastic fireworks display lighting up the skies above Alexandra.

Yesterday, thousands of people lined the streets for the Contact Grand Parade as an array of trucks, floats, florreys, marching and pipe bands, street performers and community groups made their way down Alexandra’s Centennial Ave.

A colourful display of Rainbow Fish, Kung Fu Panda, Lego, BMX bikers, SteamPunk enthusiasts and cultural groups wowed the crowd.

Olympic silver medallist Nicole Shields took part in the parade, riding in a red Bentley with Olympic rings on the side, surrounded by children from Clyde Primary School. She took time in the afternoon to walk through Pioneer Park, talking with the masses who stopped to congratulate her.

The Contact Saturday in the Park was a huge success with more than 15,000 people attending.  

Bands The QFO Experiment, Paul Foulds Band, Jody Direen, rocked the crowd, before an emotional kapa haka performance by Central Otago primary school pupils stole the limelight.

Simon Green’s Neil Diamond Tribute “A Solitary Man’’ and Highland Storm rounded out the night with everyone up on their feet dancing and singing.

The crowd rang out in support as two historic firsts took place: joint winners for the highly anticipated 2024 Blossom Crown - and the Festival's first ever Blossom King.

Blossom Royalty . . . From left 2024 Alexandra Blossom Festival King Nate Alexander, 16, 1st Runner Up Kimberley Dacosta, 16, and Alexandra Blossom Festival Queen Lily Kain, 16.

There was not a dry eye in sight as the pair were announced, with fellow contestants jumping up to congratulate them.

The weekend wrapped up with the Delta Garden tour, a self-driven tour of eight spectacular gardens around Alexandra and Clyde.

Blossom Festival chairwoman Sharleen Stirling-Lindsay said she was thrilled with the weekend’s success.

“It was an absolute stunner of a day in every way! The community really came out to celebrate,’’ she said.

“We are so grateful for all the support from the sponsors, the volunteers and our wonderful community.’’

2024 Float Winners

• Best Contemporary Float - Wall-e Saving the Planet by Puna Rangatahi Alexandra & Districts Youth Trust
• Best Education Float -The Art of Childhood by Omakau & Districts Playcentre
• Runner Up The Wiggles by Little Oaks
• Best Floral Float - Kung Fu Panda by Combined Lions Clubs of Clyde & Districts, and Alexandra
• Best Small Float - Flower Basket by Central Otago Filipino Community
• People Choice - Rainbow Fish by Grans Who Can

Other Prizes

Bain Cup - Best decorated window: Jamies Jewellers and Paper PLus

Jan Belt Memorial Trophy: Dave Ramsay