Media release from the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival

American Express Queenstown Winter Festival sparks into action

Queenstown was a buzz of excitement this evening with close to twelve thousand people lining the edge of Lake Wakatipu to help celebrate the official opening of the 38th annual American Express Queenstown Winter Festival.

American Express Queenstown Winter Festival Opening Fireworks. Photography Stefan Haworth

Visitors and locals gathered in Earnslaw Park in mild winter conditions to experience the excitement and entertainment from some of the town’s most talented performers and watch the magnificent fireworks display.

Local acts including The Fletcherz, Calico, and Holly Arrowsmith got the crowd warmed up before Mayor Vanessa van Uden officially declared the festival open.

Right on cue the highly anticipated fireworks display lit up Queenstown Bay in spectacular fashion. This year’s display included a number of giant flames lining the wharf which gave the crowd an added element of surprise and enjoyment.

Festival Director, Simon Green, said he was delighted with the festival opening which had a very Queenstown flavour.

“The turnout was fantastic, everyone was having a good time and looked excited about the festival getting underway. It was also great to see our local entertainers up on the big stage to showcase the amazing calibre of talent we have in Queenstown.”

Earlier in the day the first festival event for 2012 saw local businesses hear from New Zealand tourism industry heavyweights including Bruce Parton from Air New Zealand and Kevin Bowler from Tourism New Zealand at the Gen-i Business Luncheon.

The festival fun continues from 11am tomorrow (Saturday 23 June) with an action packed schedule of events downtown including the Auckland Airport Family Fun Day, Frontrunner Golden Mile, American Express Festival Street Parade and MoreFM Birdman. Meanwhile the on-mountain excitement kicks off on Coronet Peak with the Mophie Mountain Bikes on Snow.

Saturday’s huge line up of events will culminate with the New Zealand premiere of Ice Age 4: Continental Drift at Reading Cinemas in the Queenstown Mall before the Oaks Hotels and Resorts Comedy Gala gets underway in the Queenstown Memorial Hall at 8pm.

To see the full line up of the programme 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.

ENDS

© Scoop Media