Welcome to the QRC Downtown Sessions!
What an event to have in our own backyard! An elite winter sports competition that brings together the world's best athletes to a location with world class winterfacilities set in this stunning and accessible region. It's not that we ever need a reason to have a party here in New Zealand but this seems like a great opportunity to show the world how we do it. Because the Winter Games action doesn't finish when it gets dark - beyond the snow and ice is a festival of all things that bring us together to enjoy each others company, laugh, dance and try something new. The festival programme will be based around major public events linked by community and business initiated activities.
Tickets on sale now 
Doors open 7:30pm
Do not miss the closing event of the 100% Pure NZ Winter Games! After 16 days of non-stop action, The Jucy Winter Games Meltdown finishes the event in style with an unforgettable line up of top NZ musicians.
Headlining the concert are The Black Seeds with their legendary 8-piece show bringing raw energy and good vibes to all our Winter Games supporters. With one of the best live performances in New Zealand, their fusion of dub, funk, arfrobeat and soul is an unforgettable experience.
Methven's infamous Big Air will happen in the centre of town alongside the Blue Pub. See the best snowboarders, free skiers and motocross riders perform in front of great bands. A party not to be missed.
Beer lovers will get the chance to try a fantastic range of craft brews at the Queenstown Beer Festival on August 27th.
Held at the Memorial Hall on Saturday 27th August from 4pm - 8pm, Queenstown Beer Festival will be a fun and informative event with an emphasis on small, quality focused breweries.
Queenstown Beer Festival will include:
· Beer stalls with craft brews from the South Island and an international section including beers from Belgium, Holland, Germany and the UK.
· Masterclasses for those who want to learn more about the huge range of beer styles on offer.
· A beer keller atmosphere with a live Bavarian style band.
· The Queenstown Beer Festival will feature The Brewtec Home Brew Competition with locals able to enter their home made beers and have them judged by professional brewers.
· A wide range of food from Indian curries, German sausages, pretzels and much more.
Tickets are $25 per person and are now on sale at Ticket Direct.
10:00am - 3:00pm
Remarkables Park Red Barn
Wrap up warm and come and enjoy seasonal food, artisans, collectables, performers and more. Shop, eat and relax while listening to music in this unique mountain setting at Remarkables Park. What to bring: an extra layer of clothing to keep warm or bring some money to buy food, craft and drinks. E: market@remarkablespark.com or P: 03 442 3084 www.remarkablespark.com
Methven Heritage Centre is excited to be opening to the public the final stage of their development on the 27th August 2011. The NZ Alpine and Agriculture Encounter is a multi-media interactive visitor attraction that tells stories of the mountains, plains and the people who live there. The Encounter brings to life the tales of the tenacity and ingenuity behind the development of two very important industries central to New Zealand - snow sports and agriculture. The attraction also includes a 70 seat theatrette which shows historical ski and agricultural footage.
The Encounter is the final part of a $5.9 million community project. The community has already completed the refurbishment of the fifty year old Mount Hutt Memorial Hall, creating a modern conference and event facility, now called the Methven Heritage Centre.
The Grand Opening of the NZ Alpine and Agricultural Encounter will be held on the evening of Friday the 26th August and will be attended by various ski and agricultural identities, community leaders, sponsors and supporters.
Thursday 25 August - 5:00pm
Friday 26 - Sunday 28 August - 7:00pm
Snow Farm NZ
Free
Southern Regions Sled Dog Club will be hosting the 2011 Advance Wanaka Sled Dog Festival incorporating the NZ Sled Dog Racing Championships. This is the 20th anniversary running of NZ's premier dog sled race. Sanctioned by the New Zealand Federation of Sled Dog Sports. Come and see the dogs racing: 45 teams and 150 dogs all rearing to go; arrive early and watch the mushers prepare their teams to race Single dog Ski-jor through to 8-dog teams. Join us at Snow Farm to watch the races and enjoy a warming mulled wine. For more information contact race co-ordinator on 03 680 6558/027 680 6558 or look at www.srsdc.co.nz
3:00pm - 1:00am Slopestyle Finals, VIP After Party
5:00pm - 9:00pm Night Skiing
Free - After Party
Adult $39/Youth $17 - Night Skiing
www.snowparknz.com transport available from Wanaka and Queenstown
Snow Park NZ will this year host the Winter Games Slopestyle finals, prizegiving and VIP After Party in the stylish Woolshed Restaurant and Bar. Fireworks, live music and night skiing and more!
10am - 3pm
Remarkables Park Red Barn, Queenstown
Free
Wrap up warm and come and enjoy a fabulous day for the whole family with bouncy castles, face painting, entertainment , craft and food and local and regional delights.
What to bring: an extra layer of clothing to keep warm or bring some money to buy food, craft and drinks. For more information email market@remarkablespark.com or call 03 442 3084, www.remarkablespark.com, Facebook: Remarkables Market.
Tickets on sale now
Ashburton - Ashburton Events Centre
19 August NZ Made Session * 7pm $20
Queenstown - Memorial Hall
19 August Last Paradise 5:30pm $15
19 August Action Session * 8pm $20
20 August Kids Session * 11am $5
20 August Ski/Board Session * 2pm $20
20 August Just One More Session * 7pm $20
21 August Environmental Session * 11am $20
21 August NZMFF Awards Session * 2pm $20
21 August Short Film Competition & Final Session - The Best of Kendal 6pm $20
Methven - Methven Heritage Centre
24 August Action Session * 7pm $20
The Winter Games Adventure Film Festival brings the excitement, adrenalin and danger of adventure sport to the big screen in Central Queenstown, Methven and Ashburton. Proudly sponsored by NZONE Skydive, the event will run for six days with matinee performances, workshops and guest speakers.
The festival starts with a full length screening of Last Paradise, the biggest NZ adventure film ever made and the international favourite of this year's adventure film tours. The excitement and adrenalin continues throughout the weekend with a selection of screenings from the NZ Mountain Film Festival - www.mountainfilm.net.nz
Thanks to the NZ Mountain Film Festival for supplying the sessions marked with the *
New in 2011 is the Short Film Competition. More details on the film festival can be found at www.facebook.com/adventurefilmfest
Doors open 8:00pm till midnight
Dunedin Town Hall
Starting at $45
Rhythm & Vines in association with OUSA and ENSOC is proud to present R&V Origins, Dunedin Town Hall, Friday 19 August 2011.
This August, the award winning Rhythm & Vines Music Festival is teaming up with some of New Zealand's top musicians and returning to Dunedin for one special show in the place where the R&V dream began. With a stellar kiwi line-up (check www.octagonrailjam.co.nz for announcement) R&V Origins will be the night to celebrate R&Vs beginnings and prepare for a Rhythm & Vines New Years Eve in Gisborne.
Tickets available from OUSA, ENSOC and www.1-night.co.nz starting at $45. For more details check out www.octagonrailjam.co.nz
Friday 19 August - Cardrona
Saturday 27 August - Mt Hutt
Throughout the day
Speedriding is an exciting new winter sport that combines skiing/paragliding and skydiving into one. Mal Haskins and Zac Morris will be giving demonstrations of their sport. The pair are building up to a world first expedition in October when they will attempt to summit and fly from an 8000m peak in Nepal, Manaslu. More info www.speedfly8000.com
Tickets on sale now
18 August Memorial Hall, Queenstown 8pm
19 August Lake Wanaka Centre, Wanaka 8pm
20 August Methven Heritage Centre, Methven 8pm
21 August Mayfair Theatre, Dunedin 8pm
Bought to you by the producers of the NZ International Comedy Festival, the Canadian Club Winter Games Comedy Roadshow promises a night of world-class comedy.
NZ Comedy Guild's Best Male Comedian and local luminary Brendhan Lovegrove takes the stage as MC, hosting performances by 4 local & international comedians of the highest standard.
Brendhan is a true comic genius; his quick fire delivery and razor sharp wit will have you literally LOL-ing. 'Terrifyingly good.' says the NZ HERALD.
NZ's punniest comedian and parody maestro, the marvelously musical Gish's rendition of "Don't Go with the Big Girl in the Corner" (or Hotel California as it is sometimes known) is just one example of the musical voodoo what he do.
They'll be joined by master mimic and stand-up sensation, Simon McKinney. Simon's impressions of Schwarzenegger, Stallone, and "that movie guy" make him a crowd favourite each and every time.
And from across the ditch, we welcome two brilliant Australian comedians - Justin Hamilton & Greg Fleet.
Fresh from three months gigging in the US, Justin Hamilton is a gifted writer with brilliant timing. "an unforgettable performance... his jokes are intelligent, witty and very entertaining." Adelaide Advertiser
Greg Fleet is a living legend of Aussie comedy, one of the most experienced and popular stand-up comics currently working the world stage. The Scotsman calls him "brilliant... utterly fresh, utterly hilarious". We think you'll agree.
This year we will hold the awards ceremonies downtown in the town centres of Queenstown and Wanaka. Using prime locations we will start each evening with a busker style street performance before starting the awards and prize giving. A local band will then play for an hour or two as spectators enjoy mulled wine and hot food.
Wanaka - Corner of Ardmore & Helmore Street, from 4:30pm
15th Freeski Slopestyle
17th Freeski Halfpipe
18th WSF Para Snowboard Cross
19th Snowboard Cross
20th Freeski Big Air
24th Snowboard Big Air
26th Ski Cross
27th Winter Triathlon
28th Snowboard Halfpipe & Closing Ceremony
Queenstown - Village Green, from 5:15pm
22nd Giant Slalom - Men
23rd Giant Slalom - Women & Adaptive
24th Slalom Men & Women
25th Slalom Adaptive
Natural luge is a variation of the more common Olympic luge which takes place on the same artificially refrigerated tracks used by bobsleds. Natural luge tracks are unbanked, have a base of ice and are enclosed within low wooden walls. In a world first, the Naseby Luge Track utilises refrigeration from the adjacent skating and curling rinks to ensure that a perfect surface is available for the whole of its season.
Natural Luge competition will be held on the 14th August as a demonstration sport at the Natural Luge track in Naseby as part of Winter Games 2011.
Wine Down is back for a second year with a consumer wine tasting showcasing producers from New Zealand and overseas on Sunday August 14th from 1-7pm. Ticket Direct
Wine Down 2011 will feature over 15 producers from Central Otago, New Zealand and the rest of the world. Attendees will be able to meet the people behind the wines, taste a wide range of styles and purchase wines at fantastic prices. Activities include:
· Two tasting floors with over 80 wines to taste
· A Winemakers Lunch hosted by Ben Batterbury of The Rees and Grant Taylor of Valli wines
· BBQ lunch and a Cheese Station prepared by QRC Catering
· Masterlcasses with Hawkes Bay reds from the 1998 vintage, screw-cap vs cork, seven vintages of Valli and two classes on international wines
· Order wines for delivery to your door at fantastic prices
· Your own tasting passport to record your favourites
· Excellent recommendations from QRC's own sommelier Paul Tudgay
Tickets are $25 which includes 20 tastes and can be purchased from Ticket Direct. Masterclasses and lunches are extra.
For further enquiries for masterclasses and the winemakers lunch please email paul@winedown.co.nz
10am till 7pm
New to the 2011 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games is the Adventure Expo sponsored by AJ Hackett Bungy. Join us for this free event and find out all there is to know about adventure experiences, merchandise and product in the Southern Lakes region.
The expo is a highly interactive experience where you can play, taste wine and sample at a wide range of exhibitions. Loads of prize giveaways and freebies!
The Volkl Vintage Ski Suit Fashion Show will be held at 6pm, registration from 5:30pm. Come dressed in your retro ski gear to be in to win a brand new pair of skis!
Where better to host an Adventure Expo than right here in the Adventure Capital.
13th - 15th 8:00pm - Arrowtown Hall
16th 8:00pm - Lake Wanaka Centre
$35
Tickets available Ticket Direct
Underground Productions presents an evening of song, dance and multi-media extremes as we explore the British Invasion in music from The Beatles to Punk. Featuring the Rock and Roll Suicide Choir (Pearly McGrath, Max Gunn, Margaret O'Hanlon, Sam Hillman, Martin Grounds and more).
"London Calling" revisits the music of The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Bowie, T-Rex, Zombies, Donovan, Lulu, Rod Stewart, Elton John, The Sex Pistols, The Cure, The Buzzcocks and New Order.
Drawing on the style they developed with the 2010 sell-out show, "Rock And Roll Suicide - A Rock Opera", Underground Productions presents a multi-media song and dance experience that explores the music against the backdrop of social conditions from the UK that inspired the music.
Queenstown Events Centre
8:00pm - 1am
$69 plus booking fee from Ticketek
Featuring Shihad, Kora, Tiki, Optimus Gryme, and Sunshine Soundsystem.
Wanaka, Methven, Dunedin and Queenstown – 12th – 28th August Venues in all four cities will be offered the opportunity to become Downtown Sessions Venues throughout the Winter Games. These venues will have at least 3 music events on during the festival providing an array of music for partygoers.
Qualifying from 6pm
Earnslaw Park, Queenstown
The 100% Pure NZ Winter Games will officially open during the Parklife Invitational in downtown Queenstown. For this iconic winter event, snow is trucked in from The Remarkables to downtown Queenstown where freestylers will compete on a special purpose-built stair feature in front of thousands of weekend revellers. Enjoy food and drink stalls and pumping tunes from the DJ while the Parklife Team bust their latest tricks alongside some of New Zealand's top skiers and riders. The entertainment goes on until about 9:30pm, and is free to all spectators. The Parklife Invitational is a great event for all the family. It brings some of the country's best freestyle talent into town where everyone can see what they do. The opening of the Winter Games will happen at 7:15pm prior to the start of the competition.
Featuring Antiform DJs
9:00pm - late
Subculture Queenstown
$5 Earlybird Door Sales
Antiform DJs hit Queenstown to kick off the Winter Games Downtown Sessions with their unique fusion of breakbeat, rock, hip-hop, drum &bass, metal and contemporary styles of music
