American Express Queenstown Winter Festival

Icons don't just happen overnight. The American Express Queenstown Winter Festival 2011 has been 37 glorious years in the making.

Way back in 1975 a bunch of locals decided that the start of winter was a great excuse to have a party. They organised races on the mountain and in town, lollies for the kids, beers for the grown-ups, a concert or two and a town-wide ball, all of which made the Festival a great success. News spread quickly and the next year people came from further afield to join the festivities.

Since then the Festival has evolved into New Zealand's biggest winter party, and some say the biggest winter party in the Southern Hemisphere! It's a 10 day celebration of Queenstown's unique culture and community with street parties, fireworks, international and local acts, jazz, comedy, a Mardi Gras, family fun, Masquerade Ball, an Invitational Slopestyle event and plenty of Mountain Mayhem.

From June 24th to July 3rd this year the town will be abuzz with around 45,000 people celebrating the arrival of winter in true Queenstown style.

Winter starts here, and we’re proud of it!