2025 Wrap up

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Rain didn't dampen the spirits or the party at the Alexandra Blossom Festival on Saturday afternoon.

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 Thomas the tank engine, Dr Seuss, Bluey, drag racers, dancers, street performers and cultural groups wowed the crowd,

The Contact Saturday in the Park was a huge success with initial indications more than 15,500 people were in attendance - an increase from last year's record year.

Local musician Paul Foulds, followed by iconic Kiwi duo Barry Saunders and Jackie Bristow rocked the crowd, while dragon dancers from the Otago Southland Chinese Association brought some colour and fun to the main stage.

A mass Pipe Band performance followed by 10-piece band Capitol City rocked the crowd until the events ended.

In the highly anticipated official ceremony, Andrea Javier (22), representing the Central Otago Filipino Community was crowned the 2025 Alexandra Blossom Festival Queen.

Olave Czepanski (17), representing Pioneer Energy, and Keira McFadyen (17), representing Central Otago Maternity Unit were named first and second runner up respectively.

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

Blossom Festival event manager Martin McPherson said the biggest success was seeing the festival being enjoyed by people of all ages.
“I watched a young father dancing with his daughter while mum was filming it on her phone.  We are in the business of making memories,’’ he said.

Blossom Festival chairwoman Sharleen Stirling-Lindsay said the festival was “magical’’.

“The committee is so grateful to everyone who came out to support this iconic community-led event,’’ she said.

“We look forward to hosting you all again next year . . . where in the world is the best ever Blossom Festival?  Alexandra!’’

2025 Float Winners

Most Innovative/Creative Float

Grans Who Can ‘’Bluey at the beach’’

Best Contemporary Float

Alexandra BMX “The Jump Track’’

Best Education Float

Omakau and Districts Playcentre “Oh the places you will go’’

Best Education Float Runner Up

St John Youth supported by Eat Humble Pie “Life Line Limo’’
 

Best Floral Float

Central Otago Filipino Community “Princess Carriage’’

Best Small Float

Pioneer Energy “100 Years of Renewable Energy’’

People Choice

Combined Lions Club of Alexandra and Clyde “Thomas’s 80th birthday’’

Other Prizes

Bain Cup - Best decorated window: Central Interiors

Jan Belt Memorial Trophy: Alexandra Men’s Shed, presented to Trevor Goudie

Educational Floats:
A category to feature the efforts by local schools, kindergartens and early childhood
centres, and other providers of education and out of school care. This may include
children walking in costume. Floats will be judged on the day.

Contemporary Floats:
The category that encourages creativity and design. Floats in this category do not
need to be made in the traditional manner and may carry a Princess.

Small Floral Float:
A small float featuring flowers and built on a single axel domestic trailer.

Vehicles and other entries:
This category covers sports clubs, vehicles, and parade entries other than floats.
Please note: No commercial vehicles are allowed in the procession unless used as a
towing vehicle.
 

$750 Donation to your club, school, or kindergarten as a fundraising incentive to participate in this years festival. Private business and others we will donate $750 to a charity of your choice, (T and C apply)

 

PRIZES

People’s Choice: Open to all floral, school and contemporary float entries: Judged by a public vote on the day	$2000
Best Floral Float: Chosen by judging panel on the day	$1000
Best Contemporary Float: Chosen by judging panel on the day.	$500
Most Innovative / Creative Float: Chosen by judging panel on the day	$500
Best Schools Float: Chosen by a judging panel on the day   Runner up	$1500   $1000
Best Small Float: Chosen by a judging panel on the day	$500

 

Helpful Information for Float Builders

All floats are eligible up to $500 GST incl. reimbursement for costs of materials. Please find application form attached.

Each float entry will receive a maximum of 10 complimentary entry tickets to Saturday in the Park.

A float can be entered by a school, childcare centres and kindergartens, community groups, business house, sports club or by individuals.

Crepe paper is sponsored by Alexandra New World. Please contact Shane Ryan 448 6955 ext. 841 to place your order.

The Festival has a paper flower cutting press; please contact Central Stories, 448 6230 to book access to this handy tool.

If you require help in finding a suitable place to build your float, please contact Festival Management

“Men’s Sheds” (a group of experienced handymen) have volunteered to help community organisations build their floats. “Men’s Sheds” have a variety of experience in the engineering and building trades and will help out with the construction of floats. Please contact Brian Taylor 021 031 4576 or email waring@slingshot.co.nz for further information.

The Blossom Festival Committee reserves the right to refuse entry to the parade of any float the does not meet our standards, is deemed by the committee to be offensive or to fails to reflect the purpose and values of the Festival.

 

Waste Minimisation

This community is committed to waste minimisation and is working hard to divert material from the landfill and the better use of available resources.

When designing your float, please consider the following:

Reduce – Reuse - Recycle
Reduce – Can your float be built with less stuff? The ‘less is more’ principle.
Reuse – Can your materials be stored and used again next year? Can you use pre-loved materials; there are many interesting items available at WasteBusters.
Recycle – Can you break down your float into its various components ready for recycling? So long as they are separated, recyclers will take metal, cardboard, paper and plastic.
Float builders are responsible for the cost of all rubbish taken to the Transfer Station
Rethinking the design of your float, reusing last years materials, and constructing your float in a way that can easily be undone and recycled, will help you save money and use resources more wisely.
Help support this community’s goal of minimising waste and reducing negative impacts to the environment.

Centennial Avenue from Clutha Street to the war memorial and upper Tarbert Street to Bantry Street will be closed to ordinary traffic from 10.30am on the morning of the Parade. Roads will open following the parade at approximately 1.30pm.