Thousands of people attend the sold-out Dunedin Midwinter Carnival held on Friday night at First Church in Dunedin. The event centers on lanterns and winter-themed light displays, with attendees hoisting illuminated lanterns into the night sky. Photos and descriptions from coverage depict glowing creatures and other lantern-lit scenes casting light across the venue as the crowd gathers. The programme also includes stories and performances, with the atmosphere described as focused on celebrating light “in the darkness of winter.” Families and community members are shown taking part, including a child pictured holding a lantern, highlighting the event’s audience appeal. Overall, the sources describe a large turnout and a visually immersive winter celebration that combines lantern installations with live entertainment, all staged at First Church during the evening session. The reporting does not identify specific performers or details of the individual stories, but it consistently characterizes the carnival as a coordinated night of illuminated displays and accompanying performances.