Queenstown will mark the earliest-ever start to winter with the launch of Snow Fest, a new two-day celebration held over King’s Birthday Weekend.

Led by NZSki and supported by local partners across the business and tourism sectors, Snow Fest brings a fresh, community-focused take on the much-loved former Queenstown Winter Festival, which ran annually from 1975-2023 and was renowned for celebrating the arrival of winter and the vital role the snow season plays in the district’s economy.

Snow Fest revives beloved seasonal traditions such as the Queenstown Business Lunch and Coronet Peak’s renowned Suitcase Race, while also introducing fresh activities like the Polar Plunge lake dip with a retro ‘80s warm-up, MC’d by Dominic Bowden, and a downtown rail jam.

This year’s festival is made possible by Coronet Peak’s Snow Factory snowmaking technology, which produces snow at any air temperature and has enabled skiing to open earlier than ever before in Queenstown.

“Snow Fest is about celebrating winter in a way that feels authentic to Queenstown,” NZSki CEO Paul Anderson explains. “Thanks to Snow Factory technology we’re able to welcome winter earlier than ever, and that has real benefits for our community, our businesses and our people. Snow Fest rekindles the festive spirit while highlighting how snow continues to drive confidence, connection and momentum across the region.”

Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism CEO Mat Woods adds: "Queenstown has a long history of welcoming winter in a way that brings locals, visitors and businesses together. It’s fantastic to see NZSki continuing that tradition in a condensed two-day format, which will build excitement for the season ahead.”

The Queenstown Business Lunch, themed ‘There’s No Business Like Snow Business’ is hosted by the Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Skyline Queenstown. The lunch will be held at Skyline Queenstown’s Stratosphere Restaurant on Friday May 29 and will feature a panel discussion with Paul Anderson and RealNZ CEO Dave Beeche, alongside Dominic Bowden and Winter Festival stalwarts Mark Wilson and Simon Green.

“The start of the winter season is worth celebrating,” Queenstown Business Chamber CEO Sharon Fifield says. “It’s great to welcome the snow and beam those images internationally, as winter is a high-value economic engine for our business community.

“And who doesn’t have a great memory from Winter Festival days? With the support of Skyline, we’re stoked to be able to support NZSki and Snow Fest by bringing back the popular Queenstown Chamber Winter Business Lunch. The lunch will include plenty of nostalgia from winter fests gone by and it’s the perfect opportunity for the business community to come together and toast a bumper season ahead.”

From 3pm on Friday, the focus shifts downtown for the Remarkables Park Rail Jam at the Ballarat and Stanley Street carpark, showcasing local riders on a larger rail setup than previous years, alongside food trucks, family entertainment and live activations.

Saturday’s programme centres on Coronet Peak, with a Family Fun Day from 10am to 2pm celebrating the Snow Factory and the limited ‘Winter Made Early’ opening of the mountain. Highlights include the return of the iconic Suitcase Race, sponsored by Queenstown Airport, kids’ snow digs using Snow Factory snow, face painting, a bouncy castle and a wide range of prizes from event partners. The full mountain opening will be two weeks later on June 13.

Snow Fest wraps up on Saturday afternoon with an Altitude Après Session at Altitude Brew Room on Frankton Road from 4pm, featuring a DJ, happy hour drinks and ski pass giveaways.

Snow Fest: Event programme

Friday 29 May
7.30am – Polar Plunge, Lake Wakatipu (Queenstown lakefront), sponsored by Watershed:
An early‑morning community plunge to kick off Snow Fest, with a retro 80s warm‑up, MC Dominic Bowden, spot prizes and free coffee and pastries at the Bathhouse. Open to locals, businesses and visitors.
12pm – Snow Fest Queenstown Business Lunch:
There’s No Business Like Snow Business at Skyline Queenstown’s Stratosphere Restaurant, featuring industry leaders, winter nostalgia and discussion on the importance of snow to the regional economy.
From 3pm – Downtown Rail Jam, Ballarat and Stanley Street carpark, sponsored by Outside Sports:
Local riders take on a large rail setup in the heart of Queenstown, with food trucks and family‑friendly entertainment bringing winter energy downtown.

Saturday 30 May
10am–2pm – Family Fun Day, Coronet Peak:
Celebrating the Snow Factory and the official opening of the mountain, featuring the return of the iconic Suitcase Race, kids’ snow play, prizes, face painting and family activities.
4pm – Altitude Après Session, Altitude Brew Room:
Snow Fest wraps up with a DJ, happy‑hour beers and ski pass giveaways at a relaxed après‑ski session.

About NZSki
NZSki is New Zealand’s premier ski company and the owner and operator of Coronet Peak and The Remarkables in Queenstown, and Mt Hutt in Canterbury. Together, the three mountains offer world‑class alpine experiences and play a vital role in regional tourism and local economies. Known for exceptional natural snow conditions, premium terrain and world-class facilities, NZSki regularly invests in lift infrastructure, snowmaking technology and trail development. All three ski areas are part of the global IKON Pass network.

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