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No No 434 605
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20 June2014 2017 27ththJune Jan - 26 3rdthFeb
LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN
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43 years ago, most of Queenstown’s hospitality staff were not born yet. Star Wars wasn’t scripted and someone called Ray Stevens was in the charts with a song called ‘The Streak’. In Queenstown there was only one local commercial ski area, Coronet Peak, but locals still saw fit to throw a party in celebration of winter. 43 years ago, the Queenstown Winter Festival was a community celebration of winter. Over the years, the festival became a marketing tool speaking to the Australian market and beyond. A reminder that Queenstown is here and open for business. But as Queenstown’s reputation has grown, not only as a ski town but a year-round resort, the need for the festival as a marketing tool has waned. We have the internet for that now, there’s no need to use fireworks as smoke signals. The ten-day-long festival reminded me of university fresher’s week; a challenge to survive as many events and social occasions as possible. The timetable was overwhelming and the celebrations seemed to drag on and on like a Christmas party gone wrong. It was no longer a community festival, because only holiday makers and tourists had the energy and time to attend events every day. Local families and workers couldn’t keep up. Then, in 2016, festival organisers announced that they were cutting the festival down from ten days to four. There were many complaints about the festival having lost its touch and that the historic parties which once marked the festival had become just that – history. But for me, cutting the festival down to four days was an excellent idea. Queenstown and the world has changed a lot in 43 years and it’s time the festival modernised too.
#winterishere NZ Ski mascots Spike and Shred celebrating the opening of the resorts 2nd ski field, Coronet Peak with Mohavi and Indianna Broadbent on Saturday.
(Photo: Jodi Walters)
From Thursday, there’ll be fireworks, a comedy night, wine and cheese tasting, dog barking competitions, mayhem on the mountains and much more. An eclectic mix of events which have graced the festival for many years and new events which appeal to modern festival-goers of all ages. The vibrancy and atmosphere of excitement will now be squeezed into four days, rather than spread thinly over ten. A condensed festival means only the best events have made the cut. More pressure is placed on organisers and sponsors to curate and create events which local audiences are going to love. There’s no time now for lack-lustre events catering only to those with time to squander. It’s an opportunity for locals to re-engage in a big way and reassert the community spirit which initiated the festival. Whether you attend Pecha Kucha, the iconic opening party, the mountain bikes on snow or all of the above, you’re in for a treat, this could be the best Winter Festival yet. Get amongst it!
with special guests
ESPRESSO MARTINI NIGHT Saturday, 24th June 4pm-8pm
Bethany G. Rogers Geordie Off-Shore
LIVE AND LOUD 1ST TEST MATCH
littleblackwood.com Steamer Wharf Queenstown Lakefront
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JOHN RAVENS WEATHER Last week John was 99% correct
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Cloudy with rays of sun coming in
Sunny with light showers
Ocasional rain with clouds
Rain, possibly clearing later
Plenty of rain
Cloudy. Light Winds
Rain with Light Winds