Thousands chase a bargain at Thieves Alley
THE shouldertoshoulder shoppers were as thick as thieves at a Dunedin market.
From colossal pine cones to petite ponchos, Thieves Alley market had everything you wanted but probably didn’t need.
Dunedin Steampunk Society member JanLee Beecher said the society was selling Steampunk gear at the market on Saturday for the first time and the trading was good.
People were stopping to buy and asking members to pose for photos, creating congestion around the stall.
‘‘We are causing mayhem,’’ Mrs Beecher joked.
French Canadian tourist Carmen yelled ‘‘you’re beautiful’’ to the Steampunks as she passed.
Dunedin City Council community events coordinator Marilyn Anderson said the market had nearly 300 stalls spread among the Octagon, Bath St and George and Princes Sts, to their intersections with Moray Pl.
This year, the annual market had the most stalls in its 42year history.
Thousands of people, including passengers from three cruise ships — Seabourn Encore, L Austral and Celebrity Solstice — visited the market between 10am and 4pm. Ms Anderson said the council would retain the market’s successful model for next year and had no plans to extend its footprint to cater for the greater number of stallholders.
‘‘We were very happy and looking forward to next year,’’ she said.