Over the next two weeks Queenstown will be filled with music, comedy, and mountain mayhem.
Tonight's festival opening party is expected to attract 10,000 people from around town and the world, according to festival director Sally Feinerman.
The opening party begins at 5.30pm in Earnslaw Park and features a fireworks display starting at 7.30.
The fireworks will go for "about eight minutes" and be a spectacular start to the festivities.
"It's going to start with a big bang," Ms Feinerman said.
After months of planning and anticipation, Ms Feinerman said everything had come together "smoothly" over the past few days.
"The pavilion has gone up according to plan and the weather hasn't held us back."
"Everything is going well."
Many of the ticketed events had already sold out - one of the first was the Jazz Night.
The opening night After Party had sold out too and the comedy shows were also selling fast, Ms Feinerman said.
However, there were plenty of shows that still had seats available and also a number of fun unticketed events, she said.
"For people who missed out on the Jazz Night I would recommend the Lucid 3 concert . . . it is music with a similar vibe and a more laid-back cabaret setting."
Ms Feinerman credited the "100 or so" volunteers with making the festival possible: "That is one of the most satisfying parts of this job - handing things over to the volunteers, who are absolutely fantastic.
"We could not do this without their support."
Programme
Queenstown Winter Festival programme for today:
5.30pm: American Express Opening Party at Earnslaw Park. Free
7.15pm: TicketDirect Southern Stampede v Dunedin Thunder at the Queenstown Fun Centre. Tickets $10 to $20.
7.25pm: American Express Fireworks Display over Lake Wakatipu.
8.30pm: American Express After Party at the Kawarau Falls Station Pavilion. SOLD OUT.
