There will be high heels - and handbags - at noon tomorrow in Queenstown during the 25th annual running of the Queens.
This year 10 of the resort's businessmen will don their finery and put their pride, and ankles, on the line in the name of glory during the annual Drag Race, part of the Downtown Day, which also features the Hospitality Race.
After being pimped and preened the ladettes, representing, among others, Queenstown Resort College, SkyCity, Canyon Swing, Octane Coffee, Hoamz and AJ Hackett Bungy, will be paraded through the CBD before making their grand entrance at Earnslaw Park.
While one will ultimately walk, or hobble, away as Drag Queen 2016, awards would also be given out for Miss Photogenic, Miss Friendly, Miss Personality and Miss Best Dressed.
Yesterday's festival action included a new event, Midwinter in the Wakatipu, which raised funds for the Wakatipu Youth Trust.
The variety show-style comedy/parody event, with a distinctly Queenstown flavour, featured performers Mike Legge, Margaret O'Hanlon, Charlotte Graff, Rebecca Barnes, Nicole McLean and Fee Stephenson entertaining the crowd at the Queenstown Memorial Centre. It also included a three-course turkey dinner and an auction, raising funds for the Youth Booth and programmes it delivers.
Today, the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink is the venue for the Stars on Ice event, in which eight beginners are paired with experienced ice skaters from the Queenstown Ice Skating Club.
The beginner skaters include multisporter Steve Gurney, Dart River business manager Harald Ulriksen and Dr Milne Simpson.
The skaters will also take to the ice again tomorrow night.
The festival runs until Sunday.
