Mulled wine is being prepared, winter woollies are on standby and Queenstown is ready to party.
Tonight, the 37th Queenstown Winter Festival will begin with its traditional bang - a fireworks display over Lake Wakatipu from 7pm, signalling the beginning of 10 days of fun.
While there may not have been many reasons to celebrate so far in 2011, festival director Simon Green reckons that is reason enough to "let off a bit of steam, let our hair down and take our minds off everything".
The party proper will begin at 5.30pm at Earnslaw Park, with a 100% New Zealand music show.
Included in the line-up is a guest appearance from the Dukes and local talent Anna Leat and Sarah Foley.
Prime Minister John Key would be on hand to officially declare the 2011 festival open, before the "most cracking fireworks display the resort has ever seen".
Mr Green said he was confident this year's opening party and fireworks would be "truly spectacular" and be a fitting start to the festival.
There will be four fireworks launch sites - three on Lake Wakatipu and one on the beach at Queenstown Gardens, which necessitated a security-enforced exclusion zone and restricted access to the gardens between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.
"There's a substantial set up involved in this year's fireworks display and we need to keep an area clear around the launch site that will be positioned on the beach directly opposite Earnslaw Park.
"The best viewing places for the fireworks will be at Earnslaw Park or anywhere along Marine Pde," he said.
Following the fireworks, New Zealand rocker Jordan Luck would take to the main stage to get the party - one of the highlights of the festival - started.
"This is an all-ages event, where people can meet, eat and dance together.
"We're delighted to welcome the Prime Minister, who's also the Minister of Tourism, once again and of course, Jordan Luck is a festival favourite.
"The festival, and particularly the opening party, is a superb opportunity to celebrate the town's unique culture and community," Mr Green said.
After the opening party, celebrations will move indoors to the Memorial Hall - dubbed the Ice Box for the duration of the festival - where the Absolut NZ Party would be held, with the Dukes and People of Paris playing live.
Festival highlights tomorrow will be the festival street parade, featuring New Zealand Olympians Ben Griffin and Tim Cafe, world champion freeskier Jossi Wells and brothers Byron and Beau-James and 2011 Bruce Grant Youth Trust recipient Taylor Rapley; the Teddy Bears picnic at Earnslaw Park and the sold-out Burlseque-themed masquerade ball.
Those interested in some sporting action could take in the ice hockey southern derby, where the Southern Stampede will play the Dunedin Thunder at the Queenstown Ice Arena in the first of a double-header.
On Sunday all eyes will be on Queenstown Bay and Earnslaw Park with the Day on the Bay, featuring the birdman competition, jetsprints, a paddle-board race, the splash and dash and Hundy 500 taking place from noon.
The Stampede will play the Dunedin Thunder on Sunday afternoon before local residents face off in the boxing ring during the second annual Thriller in the Chiller at the Queenstown Events Centre.
The winter festival will run until July 3.
