Working out American Express Queenstown Winter Festival style

JUNE 22 2014

After a weekend overflowing with festivities, Queenstown has momentarily caught its collective breath and is ready for the second half of the 40th anniversary American Express Queenstown Winter Festival celebrations.

However, this is American Express Queenstown Winter Festival and taking it slower includes Crossfit and Disco workouts, Whiskey Tasting Master Classes, community forums, a jazz night and belly laughs with the American Express Comedy Debate and the sell-out Comedy Night

“The 40th American Express Queenstown Winter Festival really is leaving no time to rest for those on a mission to pack in all the fun that they could possibly have in the ten days we set aside to celebrate the start of winter,” said Lisa Buckingham, Festival Manager.

Monday’s 70’s Workout brought out a predictably bright and brash collection of flares and flowers. The Crossfit entrants were more muted in attire but worked out just as hard – although without as many grins. The SKYCITY Winter Quiz brought out local quiz masters and visitors keen to keep their minds as exercised as their ski legs.

New event the Whiskey Tasting Masterclass at Ballarat drew a sell-out crowd to ponder the history of their favourite tipple while there was a large community turn out for the forum “Queenstown 2040, where will the snow be?” brought together by the Catalyst Trust.

Sunday afternoon and Monday night saw the first of five ZM Ministry of Sound Radio Sessions with Mikael Wills and General Lee which will happen most evenings during the week.

Tonight’s (Tuesday 24 June) Metservice Ski & Board Workshop is expected to draw a number of the snow seekers who have arrived into Queenstown for the 2014 season to tune up on ski and snowboard maintenance.

Open air evening entertainment on the waterfront comes in the form of the Embrace the Elements DB Export Evening Sessions that run every evening from 4.30pm until 7.30pm and have so far featured jazz and movies. Tonight is Acoustic Night, Wednesday night turns to the blues, Friday is Open Mic night, the evening will rock on Saturday and local musicians get time under the spotlight during the Community Carnival on Sunday night.

Day six of the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival is one of the biggest on the programme as the Downtown Day unleashes once-a-year Drag Queens on to the streets of Queenstown. The annual race brings out the feminine side of local business leaders with hilarious results.

On Wednesday night Jaimie and Becs’ Winter Kitchen with Queenstown’s hometown culinary heroines will bring some Masterchef flair to winter menus. For those with the need to move the Jagermeister Silent Disco at 1876 is the perfect nocturnal destination while Wednesday Lates with comedians Urzila Carlson and Bredhan Lovegrove at Vinyl Underground is expected to be raucous.

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

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