Media Release from American Express Winter Festival
23 June 2012
Family fun hits the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival

Thousands of festival-goers flocked to central Queenstown today to enjoy a fun-filled line-up of events on Day 2 of the 2012 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival.

An impressive procession of 25 community and corporate floats including everything from costumed characters, school children and a cow with shoes to mini jet boats, rafts and a vintage steam tractor, made their way through Queenstown’s streets this morning for the annual American Express Street Parade.

Photo caption: 1) Ice Age float at the American Express Parade

Festival Director Simon Green was delighted with the turnout.

“It was great to see such strong representation from local businesses, and the Ice Age 4 characters Sid and Scrat were an absolute hit with the kids.”

Queenstown Preschool was awarded the prize for best community float by Queenstown Lakes District Council Arts and Events Facilitator Jan Maxwell for its Manny and the Hunters float. Queenstown Primary School’s Ice Age Bus float was placed second and Google the cow was highly commended. Meanwhile, Shotover Jet and Southern Discoveries will have to share the coveted business section Ngai Tahu Trophy after they were announced joint winners. Each business will have the hand carved wooden trophy which represents the Maori warrior Matakauri from the local legend of Lake Wakatipu for six months. Artbay Gallery was highly commended in the business section.

Prior to the parade, the inaugural Frontrunner Golden Mile race featured some of the resort’s fastest legs sprinting their way around the streets in the hope of posting the fastest time.

Both the men’s and women’s divisions were fiercely contested with only seconds separating the runners.

Daniel Balchin took first place in the men’s division with a time of 4 minutes 30 seconds, with Oska Baynes hot on his heels for second (4.33) and Nick Ronme taking third place (4.35). In the women’s’ division, Emma Smith took line honours in a time of 6 minutes and 22 seconds, followed closely by Ali Uden (6.27) and Tamsin Browne (6.30).

In the afternoon, the Auckland Airport Family Fun Day in Earnslaw Park kept all ages entertained with face painting, music and a magic show.

Tonight Queenstown Mall will be transformed into a winter wonderland for the Air New Zealand premiere of Ice Age 4: Continental Drift at Reading Cinemas, with a spectacular ‘blue’ carpet experience from 6-7pm featuring movie characters, fire dancers and other entertainers. Some of New Zealand’s finest comedians, along with a few up-and-comers, guarantee giggles galore tonight at the Oaks Hotels and Resorts Comedy Gala at Queenstown Memorial Hall at 8pm.

Festival fun continues tomorrow (Sunday 24 June) with an action-packed MoreFM Day on the Bay, R&R Sport Skin to the Summit and the two events postponed today - the Mophie Mountain Bikes on Snow at 11am and the More FM Birdman at 2pm.

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

ENDS

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.

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