New Zealand’s 10 coolest days of the year will kick off in downtown Queenstown tonight when the 2012 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival gets underway.
As per tradition, the multi award-winning festival will open with a bang at the American Express Opening Party in Earnslaw Park. The free event will see thousands of locals and visitors congregate along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to celebrate the official start of winter with live entertainment, a stunning fireworks display, mulled wine and plenty of laughs.
Festival director Simon Green says for 38 years the Winter Festival has been an event that celebrates the community, the mountain environment, and the arrival of winter “Queenstown-style”.
“The opening night party is always a lot of fun for the whole family. This year we have a ‘Best of the Basin’ theme featuring a fantastic all-local line-up of entertainment and of course the fireworks which are always a favourite.”
Entertainment guaranteed to get the crowd dancing and singing along includes popular bands The Fletcherz, who will warm up the crowd from 5.30pm, LA Social Club, Sequin Sisters, and The Master Blasters plus super solo singers Pearly McGrath and Charlotte Graf.
Mayor Vanessa van Uden will officially open the festival at 7pm and then the skies will light up with a spectacular fireworks display. The entertainment then continues until 9pm with a set from covers band Mojo featuring plenty of Kiwi favourites.
Festival fun will continue throughout the week with the wacky birdman competition where people create amazing costumes and attempt to fly across the freezing waters of Lake Wakatipu, the iconic dog derby, ice hockey, charity boxing, night skiing, cyclocross, slopestyle and ‘mountain mayhem’ on the slopes of Coronet Peak.
New international events this year include the New Zealand movie premiere of ‘Ice Age 4: Continental Drift’ and a performance from New Zealand comedic export Flight of the Conchords.
Festival-goers will also get the chance to be part of a live studio audience for TV3’s infamous ‘7 Days’ comedy satire show which will be pre-recorded at Queenstown’s Memorial Hall and broadcast to the nation on Friday 29 June.
Following a successful debut last year, the American Express Ice Rink on the Village Green will once again provide a magical downtown hub and offer public skating sessions throughout the festival.
On the final Sunday, vintage steam train The Kingston Flyer will make a special trip for the festival. Mulled wine and roasted chestnuts will be served onboard and there will be live entertainment for all ages and prizes for the best period costumes when the train rolls back into the station.
The festival will conclude on Sunday 1 July with the spectacular Mardi Gras which celebrates the diversity of Queenstown’s community.
Destination Queenstown CEO Graham Budd says Winter Festival sports a reputation for being fun, outrageous and a must for locals and visitors of all ages.
“We love to celebrate winter in Queenstown and our stunning lake and alpine scenery and cosmopolitan vibe provide the perfect backdrop for the festival. For locals it’s a great chance to get together and enjoy ten days of non-stop winter fun and for visitors it’s a great time to come because town is absolutely buzzing, the ski fields are open and there’s a real party atmosphere.”
