Celebrating Winter: The Story of Queenstown’s Iconic Winter Festival

There was a time when Queenstown’s winters were quieter and more low-key. The town was smaller, the ski season started later, and life moved at a slower pace. But in 1975 a group of friends sitting in Eichardt’s Pub came up with an idea - why not throw a party for locals and celebrate the arrival of winter.

From that casual conversation, the Queenstown Winter Festival was born - an event that would grow from a grassroots community carnival into one of the world’s most iconic winter celebrations.

Humble Beginnings

Those early days were as Kiwi as it gets. Locals organised races on the mountain and in town, handed out lollies to kids and beers to grown-ups, and danced the night away at a community ball. “It was just a chance for everyone to have a bit of fun when town was quiet,” remembers founding committee member Peter Doyle. “We did it all for ourselves.”

Queenstown’s small population embraced the idea wholeheartedly. Skiers flocked to Coronet Peak for competitions, while downtown buzzed with quirky events and impromptu parties. By the early 1980s, traditions like the Dog Derby, where high country farmers and their dogs raced chaotically down the slopes, and the Birdman Contest, where costumed locals launched themselves into Lake Whakatipu, had become legendary.

From Local Party to International Must-Do

Word of this uniquely Queenstown celebration spread quickly. By the mid-1980s, the festival had outgrown its volunteer roots and become a major event on the town’s calendar. In 1987, the newly formed Queenstown Promotion Board took the reins, turning the Winter Festival into a key part of the town’s winter marketing strategy.

Sponsorship deals followed, notably with American Express, which became the official card of Queenstown in 1993. “It was a turning point,” recalls Fraser Skinner, who led the negotiations. “That partnership gave the festival the resources to step onto the world stage.”

As the event grew, so did its reputation. International media descended on Queenstown, celebrities walked the streets, and winter lovers from around the world added the festival to their travel bucket lists.

Outrageous, Uniquely Queenstown

At its heart, the Winter Festival never lost its playful spirit. Each year brought a mix of the old favourites and wild new ideas, from spaghetti-eating contests and drag races in Earnslaw Park to ski dummy races, Mardi Gras parades, and glamorous winter balls.

Some moments have become the stuff of local legend: Sir Tim Wallis swooping low over Lake Whakatipu in a Spitfire during a dramatic opening ceremony; the chaos of the Peak to Park Relay, where teams raced from mountaintop to lakeside through a series of challenges; jetboats spraying water in the bay, the chaos of Downtown Day and the renowned fireworks display.

“The festival was always about celebrating winter with a uniquely Queenstown twist,” says former festival director Simon Green. “It was a chance for our tourism and hospitality community to let their hair down and for visitors to feel part of something truly special.”

More Than a Party

At its peak, the Winter Festival attracted around 45,000 visitors each year and pumped more than $57 million into the local economy. It was a signal to the world that Queenstown was “open for winter” and was a celebration of the town’s character, creativity, and community spirit.

Even as it evolved into a 10-day extravaganza of street carnivals, fireworks, live music, comedy, theatre, family fun, and on-mountain mayhem, it remained true to its roots: a festival by the community, for the community.

For many Queenstowners, the Winter Festival is woven into the fabric of the town’s story. It’s remembered not just for the events, but for the shared moments, the laughter, the camaraderie, the sense of place.

As ex Destination Queenstown CEO Graham Budd once put it, “The Winter Festival has always been more than an event. It’s how we’ve celebrated who we are - together.”