American Express Queenstown Winter Festival director Simon Green said it was "shaping up spectacularly", particularly in light of the announcement yesterday that former multiple world boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard, would be flying to the resort for the inaugural Thriller in the Chiller boxing event at the Queenstown Events Centre.
To date, about 100 applications had been received for media coverage of the event, including several television crews from overseas.
Every year Mardi Gras proved to be one of the most highly anticipated and enjoyable Winter Festival experiences, but the announcement Dragon would be performing on the stage erected on Lake Wakatipu meant it was likely to be "the biggest Mardi Gras crowd we've ever seen", Mr Green said.
Two new structures would be used for this year's festival.
The American Express Ice Box, which would be erected in the Ballarat St car park, would be a 30m x 18m marquee, fitted with production, stage and lighting equipment, to be used for a variety of events.
The second new structure would be the stage built over Lake Wakatipu.
"The platform is 12m x 10.8m.
"We'll put concrete blocks into the lake bed and it's all [scaffolded] on top of that."
Queenstown Winter Festival programme
Friday, June 25
• Noon: Gen-I Business Luncheon at Crowne Plaza
• 6pm: Opening Party at Earnslaw Park
• 7pm: Fireworks
• 8pm: Platinum Party at Icebox
• 8.30pm: Warren Miller's 60th movie, Dynasty, at Reading
• 9.30pm: Lipstick at SkyCity
Saturday, June 26
• 10am: Queenstown Markets at Earnslaw Park
• Noon: Street Parade
• 1pm: Family Fun Day at Earnslaw Park
• 1pm: Frisbee Golf at Queenstown Gardens
• 6.30pm: Snow Sports New Zealand Awards at Icebox
• 7pm: Southern Stampede v Canterbury Red Devils (ice hockey) at Fun Centre
• 7pm: Lindauer Moulin Rouge Masquerade Ball at Millennium
• 8.30pm: Dynasty at Reading
• 9.30pm: Pearly and the Oystermen at SkyCity
Sunday, June 27
• 10.30am: Brunch at The Hills
• Noon: Day on the Bay at Earnslaw Park
• 4.15pm: Stampede v Red Devils at Fun Centre
• 5pm: Dynasty at Reading
• 5pm: Michael Hill International Violin Competition - Josef Spacek and Michael Houstoun at Memorial Hall
• 7.30pm: Thriller in the Chiller at QEC
Monday, June 28
• 7am: Pulse Fitness Retro Aerobics at Earnslaw Park
• Noon: Millbrook and Brown at Millbrook
• 1pm: Lindauer Ladies Fashion Afternoon at Icebox
• 5.30pm: Pulse Fitness Bodyjam in the Park at Earnslaw Park
• 7.30pm: MSC Avalanche Awareness Seminar at Crowne Plaza
• 7.30pm: Canadian Club Comedy Gala at Memorial Hall
Tuesday, June 29
• Noon: MacTodd Seniors Luncheon at Memorial Hall
• 5.30pm: Mardi Gras (feat: Dragon)
• 9pm: Jason Schmidt and The Rockers at SkyCity
• 9.30pm: Late Night Laughs at Icebox
Wednesday, June 30
• Noon: Downtown Day at Earnslaw Park
• 5pm: Dodgeball Championships at Earnslaw Park
• 6pm: Pop to Pagliacci at Icebox
• 7pm: Winter Poker Challenge at SkyCity
• 9.30pm: Late Night Laughs at Icebox
Thursday, July1
• 12.30pm: Dog Derby at Coronet Peak
• 4pm: Dog Barking at Village Green
• 6pm: Skyline Murder Mystery at Skyline
• 7pm: Cabaret Night at Icebox
• 9pm: Brett Strachan at SkyCity
Friday, July 2
• 3.30pm: Pool Party at Alpine Aqualand
• 6pm: Top Bloke Ladies Night at Memorial Hall
• 6pm: Rail Jam at Earnslaw Park
• 7pm: Southern Stampede v West Auckland Admirals (ice hockey) at Fun Centre
• 8pm: Big Chill at Icebox
• 9.30pm: Thunderbirds at SkyCity
Saturday, July 3
• 10am: Markets at Earnslaw Park
• Noon: Mountain Mayhem at Coronet Peak
• 7pm: Stampede v Admirals at Fun Centre
• 7pm: Old Farts Ball at Memorial Hall
• 7.30pm: Jazz Night at Skyline
• 9.30pm: Groova at SkyCity
Sunday, July 4
• 10.30am: Winter Worship at St Peter's
• 11am: Mountain bikes on Snow at Coronet
• 11am: Cookie Time Teddy Bear's Picnic at QEC
• 4pm: Night Skiing at Coronet
• 4pm: Closing Party
• 5pm: Dynasty at Reading
• 7pm: Top Bloke Finale at Memorial Hall
Winter Festival road closures
The Ballarat St car park will close for the duration of the 2010 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival, while several other streets around the CBD will close temporarily during the 10-day festival.
The car park will be closed from June 21 to July 4, allowing for the pack in and pack down of the American Express Ice Box, a new venue for this year's festival.
Alternative parking is available at the Man St car park.
Friday, June 25
American Express Opening Party and Fireworks
• 2pm to 10pm: Beach St (Rees St to Shotover St).
Saturday, June 26
Oaks Hotels and Resorts Festival Street Parade
• 9am to 2pm: Camp St (Shotover St to Earl St), Beach St (Camp St to Shotover St), Athol St, Cow Lane, Rees St, Marine Pd, Church St, Earl St, Searle Lane.
• 9am to 3pm: Beach St (Rees St to Shotover St - will remain closed for completion of the Family Fun Day).
• 11am to 2pm: Shotover St (Stanley St to Beach St), Camp St (extended closure from Man St to Earl St), Duke St, Lower Brecon St, Ballarat St (Stanley St to Camp St).
Sunday, June 27
- (contingency day, Monday, June 28)
MoreFM Day on the Bay
• 9am to 3pm: Beach St (Rees St to Shotover St).
Tuesday, June 29
- (contingency day, Wednesday June 30)
Air New Zealand Mardi Gras
• Noon to 1am: Beach St (Camp St to Shotover St), Cow Lane.
• 3pm to 1am: Rees St (Shotover St to Ballarat St), Marine Pd (Rees St to Church St).
Wednesday, June 30
Speights Downtown Day and Dodgeball Champs
• 11am to 8pm: Beach St (Rees St to Shotover St).
Friday, July 2
- (contingency days, Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4)
Air New Zealand Invitational Rail Jam
• 9am to midnight: Beach St (Rees St to Shotover St).
• 8am to 1pm (Saturday): Beach St (Rees St to Shotover St).
