Central Otago hosted an array of events and activities this Labour Weekend, attracting crowds - both local and out of town - despite the unsettled spring weather.

An inflatable obstacle took over the lane pool at the Cromwell Pool on Saturday (October 25), Sunday and Monday. 

Kids - big and little - donned lifejackets to have a watery play. It’s the first time the ‘Waterworld’ waterpark, which travels around the country setting up at beaches and public pools, had visited the council-owned complex.

It was also the first market of the season at the Cromwell Heritage Precinct on Sunday, as crafters, foodies, and growers set up stalls at the market square above Lake Dunstan. The market will run every Sunday from 9am until 1pm until the end of April.

Cromwell’s Heritage Precinct hosted its first market of the season.

Dogs, and their human friends, featured on the winners’ podium this weekend as the 2025 New Zealand Dog Agility Championships took over the Cromwell Racecourse. 

Dogs from across the country were put through their paces, competing on courses that had them jumping fences, running through tunnels and balancing on benches.

The Dog Agility Champs took over the Cromwell Racecourse.

Aerial circus acts were among the entertainment at Cromwell’s annual street party and fireworks on Sunday evening. 

Festival-goers converged on the gardens around McNulty House, making the most of food trucks and entertainment, including stilt walkers, college bands, and hula hoopers. 

Cromwell’s annual street party took place on Sunday evening.

Locals flocked to grab seasonal seedlings and support horticulture students.

Cromwell Polytechnic’s annual plant sale drew strong community support over Friday and Saturday, with both days enjoying fine weather despite forecasts.

There is still plenty of vegetable seedlings in stock, including tomatoes, lettuces, onions, and peppers, along with a wide range of perennials and native plants.

The fireworks were shifted front and centre this year, launched from a floating barge secured off Cornish Point, giving the audience at the heritage precinct a top-notch view of the glittery action. 

Cromwell’s fireworks were launched from a floating barge.

It was touch-and-go early in the night as organisers were on weather watch, but the wind had dropped and passing rain moved on by the time the sky darkened enough for the fireworks action to begin.

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Photos: The Central App