Get ready for New Year's Eve

“It’s true, New Year’s Eve is only round the corner and plans are already well in hand for a fantastic celebration of the night at Wanaka and at Queenstown,’ Queenstown Lakes District Council arts and events facilitator Jan Maxwell said.

The traditional Summerdaze New Year’s Eve celebrations will once again take place at Queenstown and Wanaka waterfronts from 8.30pm-1am.

“We have some fantastic acts lined up this year,” Mrs Maxwell said.

In Queenstown the evening would ‘kick-off’ with an Actionflite ‘acrobatic fly-by’, then taking the main stage at Earnslaw Park would be legendary New Zealand rock/roots reggae band dDub, which has recently returned from a successful tour of Australia. The support band would be Dr Blade and the Medicine Man, a ‘local’ up-and-coming three-piece rock and roll band from Queenstown. Complimenting the main act, the second stage by the Memorial Gates would feature DJ Hand Solo, along with guest DJs.

Wanaka’s main stage on the foreshore would also be rocking with five-piece, The Crystal Set from Christchurch performing a wide range of well known material from the 70’s to the present.

“This dynamic live band has been receiving an incredible response each time they perform,” Mrs Maxwell said. The night would continue with renowned Queenstown band The Master Blasters led by well known local musician Nigel Hirst.

Spectacular fireworks displays were planned to erupt into the night sky in both Wanaka and Queenstown at midnight to welcome in the New Year.
In Queenstown, Connectabus would be providing New Year's Eve transportation between Sunshine Bay and Arrowtown with buses departing from outside O'Connell's Pavilion every 30 minutes until 4am.

As in previous years there would be a total liquor ban (liquor can be sold and consumed on licensed premises) and road closures in place for both town centres, check website for further details: www.summerdaze.co.nz
The Summerdaze Festival, from 31 December to 1 Feb, was a fun-filled programme of over 30 events set to entertain locals and visitors to the Queenstown Lakes District.

For programme details see: www.summerdaze.co.nz