Winter Festival Announces Event Line Up: Programme Goes Live!
Festival-goers, Queenstowners and holiday-makers from around the world can check out the programme for the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest winter party, the 2012 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival (June 22 – 1 July), at www.winterfestival.co.nz.
A combination of hotly anticipated classics and a real coup or two will once again deliver a programme that’s pure entertainment for both locals and visitors.
The New Zealand movie premier of Ice Age 4: Continental Drift is confirmed for Saturday 23 June – The Air New Zealand Premiere kicks off as the conclusion of the Auckland Airport Family Fun Day. The following evening, Sunday 24 June, New Zealand comedic export Flight of the Conchords (Oscar winning Bret McKenzie and his co-star Jermaine Clement) touch-down to perform live at the Queenstown Events Centre.
Comedy continues on Wednesday 27 June with TV3’s infamous ‘7 Days Live’ comedy satire show broadcasting live to the nation from Queenstown’s Memorial Hall.
As always celebrations kick off with the American Express Opening Party & Fireworks on Earnslaw Park (Friday 22 June) - this year Fire & Ice themed. The next morning (Saturday 23 June) events can be wild or mild as people decide between the Auckland Airport Family Fun Day and Festival Parade or the decidedly physical Mountain Bikes on Snow, Frontrunner Golden Mile or More FM Birdman, or any combination of the above.
Similar decisions will need to be made on Sunday 24 June between cultural pursuits such as the American Express Big Brunch and the More FM Day on the Bay for example. The following weekend promises sporting fun on and off the mountain with the Air New Zealand Mountain Mayhem on Saturday 30 June, rugby on the Rec Ground, Ice Hockey at the Ice Arena and Night Skiing at Coronet Peak. On Sunday 1 July winter sports continue with the Quiksilver Invitational Slopestyle and the National Cyclocross.
Following its successful debut last year Winter Festival 2012, welcomes back the Wonderland Ice Rink on the Village Green. The Rink will host a dazzling performance from the Australian-based Stars on Ice team (Tuesday 26 June).
Back again due to massively popular demand is the Mountain Scene’s Thriller in the Chiller (Saturday 30 June) and worth noting is that Sunday is the new Tuesday as the Auckland Airport International Mardi Gras is this year to be staged as a closing party on Sunday 1 July.
Festival Director Simon Green said the programme was comprehensive and streamlined to make the most of the two weekends.
“Once again this is about fun. It’s about celebrating who we are and where we are and sharing that with our visitors.
“We’re delighted with the programme line up and invite everybody to start planning their trip to Queenstown to join the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest winter party.
“We just need to remind people that Mardi Gras is now to be on Sunday night. We made this change in response to feedback from local people and visitors over the past few years. Primarily we want this event to be really accessible to local families - it was hard for some to fully enjoy Mardi Gras on a school night – then we considered comments from visitors who arrive for the last weekend of festival which is school holidays for New Zealanders and many Australians. It’s a PG rated event designed to bring families and community together and by moving it to the Sunday, it’s more accessible for locals and now available to the many people who arrive in town for school holidays.”
Mr Green said out of 50 programmed events a massive 30 of them were 100% FREE to attend.
For full programme details check out the complete American Express Queenstown Winter Festival calendar online at www.winterfestival.co.nz.
Festival programmes will be distributed and available to pick up at information outlets throughout the region from 19 April. Tickets to the few Winter Festival events that require tickets go on sale from Monday 30 April.
Winter Starts Here! From 22 June to 1 July the 2012 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival celebrates 38 years of winter fun and festivities with 10 days of totally outrageous and uniquely Queenstown events. Join us on Facebook, become a Friend of Festival and keep an eye on www.winterfestival.co.nz to be first with the latest news and hot updates. For more information about Queenstown visit www.queenstown-nz.co.nz.