ONLY THREE WEEKS AND COUNTING TO THE LINDAUER QUEENSTOWN WINTER FESTIVAL

The countdown has well and truly begun, as Queenstown’s biggest party of the year kicks off in only three weeks time.

The stage is set as celebrities and entertainers dig out their glad rags and festival gear for the start of the 33rd Lindauer Queenstown Winter Festival on June 22.

Excitement is building with tickets for ever-popular events such as The Lindauer Jazz Night on Saturday 30 June almost sold out – and only one ticket remains for The Boys Night Out at the Lindauer Laugh Fest on Thursday 28 June.

Festival manager Sally Feinerman said ticket sales were also pumping for the International Whiskey Experience presented by SKYCITY, Millbrook Resort’s Quick Smart Entertaining Cooking Class with Ray McVinnie, and the Lindauer Masquerade Ball.

“They’ve been flying out the door and they’re very likely to sell out before the festival kicks off,” she said.

However local businesses and community groups still have time to enter family-favourite event the Bayleys Festival Parade on Saturday June 23, which is taking entries until early next week.

“It’s a fantastic way for Queenstown businesses or groups to showcase what they do around the streets of the town while adding to one of the most colourful and well-supported events on the festival calendar,” said Ms Feinerman.

One of the festival’s crazier events, the More FM Birdman (part of the SkiDealsNZ.Com Day on the Bay on Sunday June 24) is the perfect opportunity for the more crazy Queenstowners in town take flight (or not) and plunge into the crisp waters of Lake Wakatipu.

“It’s not too late to enter, so get those crazy machines out of the garage, or put your thinking caps on and see if you can outdo last year’s winners at one of the festival’s most hilarious and action-packed events,” said Ms Feinerman.

The festival opens with a bang on Friday June 22 with the Lindauer Opening Party in the Park and American Express Fireworks, promising to take crowds into outer space with the biggest festival firework display Queenstown has ever seen.

Tickets to the festival can be booked through the Lindauer Queenstown Winter Festival website on www.winterfestival.co.nz , at the Queenstown Events Centre or at any Ticket direct outlet.