First Future Fest launches in Queenstown

Queenstown’s Future Hospitality Group is launching its first Future Fest month of celebrations with a range of fun-filled events and the chance to win a $20,000 prize pack.

Events throughout June range from celebratory parties to Brekkie Beats with a live DJ playing while you enjoy your brekkie and brunch at odd saint, Sip & Paint and coffee tasting challenges.

An epic brunch featuring drag queens from Ru Paul’s Drag Race, cocktail-making masterclasses, a Long Lunch collaboration between Little Blackwood and odd saint, new tasting menus and Matariki celebrations with a starry nights’ theme.

Hospo parties, a silent disco and fun-filled recruitment event are also on the packed events schedule, as are hospo takeover parties at Queenstown Ice Bar and silent discos in Minus 5º ICE BAR, some for kids and some for adults.

Throughout the month, locals are encouraged to sign up for the group’s first loyalty programme, and one lucky new loyalty member will win a prize pack worth $20,000 if their name pops up in a random draw on July 1.

The winner is unlikely to go hungry for a year with prizes including a taco a day for 362 days from Margo’s, a cheeseboard a week from Little Blackwood, a coffee a day from odd saint and private hire at Little Mez, Minus 5 ICE BAR and Queenstown Ice Bar with venue vouchers included.

There’s also vouchers, packages and event passes from local partners and suppliers including Snow Machine, Oxbow, Altitude Tours, Industrial Fitness, Canyon Brewing, SUNDAYS, Mons Royale and Gibbston Valley Wines.

Festivities kick off with a ‘don’t miss’ party at Little Blackwood on June 1, celebrating ten impressive years on the edge of Lake Whakatipu in Queenstown’s iconic Steamer Wharf.

Beloved by loyal locals and visitors and crowned New Zealand’s best bar in 2022, Little Blackwood is a flagship venue for the group which also operates Margo’s, Little Mez, odd saint, Minus 5º ICE BAR, and Queenstown Ice Bar throughout Queenstown.

Co-owners Bert Haines and James Ace say June in Queenstown can be a bit of a ‘holding pattern’ for some businesses and locals as the town waits for mountains to open, snow to fall and visitors to arrive.

“Future Fest is all about connecting our community as we showcase what we do, bring back events like Sip & Paint that we haven’t done in a long time and have a bit of fun,” says Bert.

“The aim is also to connect our venues for people who have a great experience at Margo’s but not understand that we also look after odd saint or Little Blackwood. If you’re a fan of when there’s a great chance you’d be a fan of the others!

“Let’s scream it from the rooftops about all the great stuff going on in Queenstown.”