Queenstown Winter Festival
The temperature may be icy, but the entertainment is definitely hot as the arrival of winter and the ski season ushers in Queenstown’s most famous festival – the American Express® Queenstown Winter Festival. That means only one thing – a winter party like no other, as locals and visitors kick up their heels to celebrate the snowy season in style. If you're heading down to Queenstown to join the fun, we’ve chosen some festival highlights to get you in the spirit.
From street parades and a dog derby to flying machines and racing queens, Queenstown's zaniest celebration of the winter season has become an iconic fixture on New Zealand's social calendar. The festival was a more modest affair when it was first staged back in 1975. These 
days, it is one of the largest winter festivals in the world, with more than 60 events over a 10-day period that are guaranteed to warm the cockles of your heart.
Alongside traditional adventure activities such as jetboating, mountain biking, ice hockey, skiing and snowboarding, you'll see birdmen flying, people racing in their underwear, frisbee 
golf, a dog barking competition and a drag queen derby. Then there is the famous Mardi Gras street parade, plus fireworks, live jazz, comedy and a host of variety shows that promise non-stop entertainment.
This year's festival swings into action on 27 June with the American Express® Opening Party & Fireworks. Crowds flock to Earnslaw Park for live music and a spectacular fireworks display that gets the celebrations going with a bang. Things take a wacky turn at the SkiDealsNZ.com Day on the Bay on 29 June, as teams and individuals attempt to defy gravity in the hilarious Birdman challenge, and c
ompetitors run in their underpants and bras for the Undy 500.
The rhythm is going to get you when the popular Mardi Gras takes to the streets on 1 July, with a huge line-up of live bands, DJs and MCs along with stilt walkers and fire dancers.
The emphasis switches to the zany on 2 July, with The Breeze Downtown Day at Earnslaw Park. Watch as wigs fly and high heels snap as respectable pillars of the community fight it out for top cross-dressing honours in the Festival Drag Race. And it's every dog for itself on 3 July as local shepherds and their dogs race down Coronet Peak at the annual Speight's Dog Derby. The competition gives new meaning to the phrase 'barking mad' as the dogs then have to prove their singing prowess by barking out a melody before the panel of judges.
It’s the Big Night Out come 5 July with gigs by the Checks, Opshop and Evemore, international rock acts in a class of their own. If that’s not your cup of tea, you’ll have the opportunity to get up close and personal with Jackie Clarke and Frankie Stevens who are all set to take you on a journey of music with their inimitable showmanship. Other notable performances during the festival include indie rockers Lucid 3 and actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand who will pay tribute to Marlene Dietrich. On the comedy front, Te Radar, Ewen Gilmour, Dai Henwood, Jeremy Corbett, Justine Smith and Irene Pink are just some of the comics you can expect to see in three comedy shows and the Great Comedy Debate.
What?
The American Express® Queenstown Winter Festival
www.winterfestival.co.nz
Where?
Queenstown
When?
27 June to 6 July 2008
What's Happening?
Check out the Festival Programme
How Do I Book?
Book online at the Festival site
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