The inaugural Queenstown Lakes District Council Summerdaze Festival, to be formally launched tomorrow (Friday December 17), is a first for the Queenstown Lakes District.

"This is a first for the community, a dedicated, district-wide summer festival pulling together many of the existing key celebrations from the Christmas and New Year period and introducing some new ones," festival organiser Alastair McIlwrick.

The festival was a chance to showcase the diversity, vibrancy and talent of the local community district-wide, he said.

"What is unique about this festival is that it ties in events from throughout the district and it takes events throughout the district, including Wanaka, Arrowtown, Hawea, Glenorchy, Cardrona and Queenstown," Mr McIlwrick said.

Teddy bear picnics, New Year's Eve fireworks, Reggae in the Gardens, Super Fly and the Skate Jam events would all be replicated in both Queenstown and Wanaka, with a Skate Jam event also held at Arrowtown, while the Shakespeare selection of comedy An Error of Comedies would be toured from Hawea to Glenorchy and 'Barefoot Bowls' would be held at all the bowling clubs in the district.

"The official opening at Earnslaw Park on Friday will offer a sneak preview of some of the highlights to come, including the new Waka Ama Festival and would be followed by community carol singing," Mr McIlwrick said.

Festival details can be found at www.summerdaze.net.nz. The festival ends on January 23 with a final performance of Hair in the Queenstown Gardens.

ENDS

For further information please contact Alastair McIlwrick 03 441 4412.

By: Kiri