28 June 2012

Huge weekend ahead for festival goers

The final days of the 2012 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival promise to provide plenty of entertainment for festival goers of all ages with some of festival’s biggest events scheduled to round out the ten day programme.

“We’ve definitely left plenty in the tank for the final weekend and with the school holidays commencing as well there is no doubt we will be going out with a bang,” Festival Director Simon Green, said.

Highlights include the highly anticipated sold-out Mountain Scene Thriller in the Chiller event which will see local personalities go head to head in the boxing ring for charity on Saturday night at the Queenstown Events Centre. A long running crowd favourite, the Air New Zealand Mountain Mayhem event, gets underway earlier in the day at Coronet Peak with events including the hotly contested Suitcase Race and Dash for Cash starting at 11am. The fun continues on Sunday with the Auckland International Airport Mardi Gras kicking off at 4pm.

“There’s still loads of free events for everyone both up the mountain and downtown and anyone who hasn’t done so needs to get their skates on if they want to experience the American Express Ice Rink before it closes on Sunday night.”

Timed well to coincide with both the New Zealand and Australian school holidays, festival organisers expect a large crowd to converge on Queenstown for the annual Mardi Gras in downtown Queenstown from 4pm on Sunday.

“Following feedback from the community we have moved the Mardi Gras to Sunday afternoon/evening to enable as many families and local workers as possible to attend. Mardi Gras is going to be a great way to send off what has so far been a great festival,’’ Mr Green said.

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.

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.

ENDS

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