Thousands of residents and visitors lined the streets of downtown Queenstown to enjoy the colour, music and spectacle of the 2010 Queenstown Winter Festival parade today.
The Queenstown and Southern Lakes Highland Pipe Band led a procession of community groups around the central business district, including Frankton Playcentre, St John Wakatipu and Wakatipu Scouts, to the delight of the crowd.
Businesses joined in the fun, including Shotover Jet, Cookie Time, Lakes Leisure and Coronet Peak and Cardrona skifields.
The Oaks Hotels & Resorts Festival Parade and Family Fun Day ushered in the Snow Sports NZ awards, at the Ice Box, and the Moulin Rouge-themed Lindauer Masquerade Ball, at the Millennium Hotel, tonight.
Large crowds were expected at the MoreFm Day on the Bay, at Earnslaw Park tomorrow, which is renowned for its wacky costumes and crazy antics.
The action kicks off at noon with the infamous MoreFm Birdman competition, followed by the Jetsprints, Splash for Dash and H&J's Undy 500.
See Monday's editions of the Otago Daily Times and Queenstown Times for more Winter Festival coverage.
The American Express Queenstown Winter Festival runs until July 4.
