Family fun takes over at Queenstown Winter Festival

Thousands of festival-goers lined the streets of Queenstown’s CBD to cheer on the streams of multi-coloured traffic in the American Express Street Parade today (Saturday 25 June).

A record-breaking forty community and corporate floats took part, delighting the crowds with superheroes, storm troopers, gymnasts, a steam engine, truckloads of children and New Zealand sporting snow stars including Olympians Mitchey Greig and Tim Cafe.

The coveted prize trophy of a hand-carved wooden head representing Maori warrior Matakauri from the local legend of Lake Wakatipu was presented to Bumbles Backpackers owner Mark Simpson by Ngai Tahu Tourism Southern Regional Manager David Kennedy. The winner gets to keep the trophy for 12 months. The community trophy was presented by QLDC representative Jan Maxwell to Queenstown Primary School headmaster John Western. The Primary School entry featured the school band singing together on a winter wonderland themed float.

Highly commended were Queenstown pre-school and Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park Creeksyde for great use of recyclable materials and promotion of waste awareness.

Hundreds of children packed out Earnslaw Park with their favourite cuddly toys following the parade to watch a magic show with Ronald McDonald at the McDonald’s Teddy Bear’s Picnic on Earnslaw Park.

Summer Wedderburn (age 6) from Lakes Hayes won the prize for bringing the most teddy’s (6).

Elsewhere excitement got underway in Queenstown Gardens for the Frisbee Golf Doubles Winter Wind Up tournament and quirky bargains were snapped up at the Creative Queenstown Arts and Crafts Market.

Festival Director Simon Green said he was delighted with the fun and atmosphere of the day.

“Congratulations to all those who took part in the parade and competitions today, it’s been a day full of excitement and enchantment that puts us in great stead for another stellar eight days,” he said.

As night falls, Festival-goers will be donning a mask in preparation to get sexy for the Burlesque themed Deutz Masquerade Ball at the American Express Ice Box, while over at Queenstown Ice Arena the Southern Stampedes take on Dunedin Thunder for the first in a series of clashes.

Tomorrow, wild and wacky activities are set to dominate the programme with hilarity and hi-jinks for the More FM Day on the Bay which gets underway at midday.

The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest winter party, the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival returns from 24 June to 3 July for ten days of winter fun in Queenstown New Zealand.

To see the full programme line up and individual event details check out the complete American Express Queenstown Winter Festival calendar online at www.winterfestival.co.nz or pick up a programme at information outlets throughout the region.

Tickets for all events can be bought from TicketDirect online at www.ticketdirect.co.nz, by phone 0800 224 224 (03 450 9110), or in person at the Queenstown Events Centre or Queenstown i-Site (corner of Shotover and Camp streets)*.

Winter Starts Here! From 24 June to 3 July the 2011 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival celebrates 37 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.