This year's American Express Queenstown Winter Festival has 16 new events on the programme, which was released this week.
Festival director Simon Green said the committee wanted to add variety to the festival, which is in its 36th year.
"People always look to what's new and what's fresh. This year we have been lucky with what's come our way and what we have been able to create ourselves," he said.
"It's an exciting time for us. All the tickets are now on sale and the response has been really good. Tickets to new events are selling really well, which gives us an early endorsement that changes are being well received," he said.
A new purpose-built venue called the Ice Box would be set up on the Ballarat St car park.
"Having the ice box as a dedicated venue to use for events will make a lot of the new events possible," he said.
It would replace the Crystal Palace but would be more economical and user friendly.
"It will be a heated, silked and chandeliered marquee to fit up to 300 people and decorated with an icy theme," he said.
It would take a week to set up as bollards would need to be removed and the car park surface regraded.
Another change to festival venues was the stage at Earnslaw Park.
"This year we will have a stage over the water. It's something I've wanted for a long time. It will be a scaffold structure mounted in the water in Queenstown Bay facing Earnslaw Park," he said.
It would be bigger than last year's stage.
"It will open up the park and give us much more space for the bigger crowds we are anticipating. It will also include Steamer Wharf bars and restaurants that were usually hidden behind the stage and also gives us the Remarkables as our backdrop," he said.
New events included a family fun day at Earnslaw Park after the opening parade on June 26.
Michael Hill's exclusive golf course would also be open to 50 people for a brunch, with last year's violin competition winner, Josef Spacek, as special guest on June 27.
Violinists from last year's competition would also be giving a recital at Queenstown Memorial Hall on June 27.
Last year's comedy debate would be replaced with a comedy gala stand-up show hosted by funnymen Ward and Tuthridge and featuring Jeremy Corbett, Steve Wrigley, Paul Ego, Dai Henwood, Ben Hurley, Jeremy Ellwood and Michelle A'Court.
A new closing concert featuring dDub would be held at Coronet Peak on July 4.
NEW EVENTS
• Russian Standard Platinum Party, June 25 at the Ice Box.
• Oaks Hotels & Resorts Family Fun Day, June 26 at Earnslaw Park.
• Snow Sports NZ Annual Awards Night, June 26 at the Ice Box.
• Brunch at The Hills, June 27.
• Michael Hill International Violin Competition recital, June 27 at Memorial Hall.
• Thriller in the Chiller - Charity Boxing, June 27 at Queenstown Events Centre. Canadian Club Comedy Gala, June 28 at Memorial Hall.
• Canadian Club Lake Night Laughs, June 29 and June 30 at the Ice Box.
• Dodgeball championship finale, June 30 at Earnslaw Park.
• Poker tournament, June 30 at Skycity Casino.
• Cabaret Night, July 1 at Skycity casino
• Air New Zealand Invitational Rail Jam, July 2 at Earnslaw Park.
• Russian Standard Big Chill dance party, July 2 at the Ice Box.
• Closing concert, July 4 at Coronet Peak
