At the halfway mark of the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival sun and snow, comedy and crowds are the stand out features in 2013.
“American Express Queenstown Winter Festival has had a great run in the first five of New Zealand’s ten coolest days of winter,” said Lisa Buckingham, Festival Manager.
While weather conditions caused drama around the country just prior to the beginning of the Festival, nothing was disrupted despite the need for circuitous travel for some visitors. The snow on Queenstown’s surrounding mountains is the best at the start of the season for a number of years.
“Crowds have gathered at all free events and virtually all American Express Queenstown Winter Festival ticketed events are sell outs,” said Lisa Buckingham.
The American Express Winter Wonderland Ice Rink has been as popular as ever, already attracting more than 1000 people.
Last night some of New Zealand’s best stand-up comedians Dai Henwood, Paul Ego, Ewen Gilmour, Urzila Carson and Jeremy Corbett joined host Brendan Lovegrove had Queenstowners belly laughing and leaving them with aching jaws.
Word of the raucous NZ Comedy Gala last night has given tonight’s audience a heads up that this year’s show will be all that they are anticipating. Both shows in the newly renovated Memorial Centre sold out within 24 hours.
Visitors and locals looking for a peaceful lunch spot on Monday instead saw a sea of Lycra and costume-clad Zumba enthusiasts taking part in the Alpine Health & Fitness Zumba Mania.
Those that like to keep the old brain ticking went to the first SKYCITY Casino Winter Quiz night. With heaps of prizes up for grabs it was a chance for boffins and their mates to pit themselves against Queenstown’s brainiest.
After a day up the mountain in pristine conditions festival goers are partying long into the night with sounds from a series of George FM regular DJs. Kirsteen MacKenzie opened the George FM Après Ski Sessions at Barmuda bar on Monday, Nick D at The Spire tonight and Dean Campbell at Zephyr tomorrow night.
Things get lively again tomorrow lunchtime with the Downtown Day at Earnslaw Park starting at noon, and the infamous MoreFM Drag Race at 12.30pm.
Local personalities and businesspeople fiercely vie for the title year after year in this invitation-only event which pits them against each other in a high-speed dash around the park. Stilettos will fly, the hair will be big and handbags will be out in force as spectators whoop and cheer for their favourite ‘lady’.
Other events include a twist on the good old egg and spoon race in the Cup & Cake Challenge and the QRC Hospitality Race which sees teams from Queenstown’s top hotels compete to be crowned the ‘Hosts with the Most’.
In another sell out, motivational stylist and style guru Lisa O’Neill presents her ‘Warm up your Wardrobe’ musings at the Millennium Hotel. It will be a night for the girls with giggles and good times as Lisa explains how to make the best of your body, regardless of age, size, shape or season.
The first of three performances of Picasso at the Lapin Agile takes place in the International Departure Lounge of Queenstown Airport. For the next three evenings, the Storming Theatre Co-op presents Steve Martin’s hilarious and moving story of a meeting between Einstein and Picasso, set in a Paris bar in 1905.
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