Whanganui's accommodation industry is stretched to the limit and probably beyond as the city gears up for one of its biggest entertainment weekends yet.
While vintage weekend is the major attraction, the visit of a steam train and the opera school have also been cited as reasons for an upsurge in demand for beds. And for at least one provider, the annual celebrations at Ratana starting on Monday, means their "full house" sign will be up into next week as well.
All the accommodation outlets the Chronicle contacted yesterday said they were booked out tonight while some were fully booked for tomorrow night as well.
While the Vintage weekend is probably the major attraction, the transfer of a major athletics event to Cooks Gardens from Wellington tonight has compounded the demand for beds.
A spokesperson for the Kingsgate Hotel said all 55 rooms were "pretty much" booked up for the Anniversary weekend.