The Queenstown Lakes District Council Summer Festival organisers are calling for any community events that can be included in a fun programme being planned for residents.

Alastair and Diana McIlwrick of Dinamics Destination Management have started putting together the Queenstown Lakes Summer Festival programme, which will run from Friday, December 17 to Saturday, January 22.

Summer Festival events currently included in the programme are:  Wakatipu Waka Ama Festival; pre-Christmas carol services in Queenstown and Wanaka ; New Year's Eve celebrations in Queenstown and Wanaka; a mountain biking event called 'Free Wheeling into the lakes' to be held in Queenstown and Wanaka; a 'Roll Up Bowls Tournament' around the district; Teddy Bears Picnics in Queenstown and Wanaka and a series of 'Discovery Walks'.

Junior buskers are being encouraged to consider performing throughout the Summer Festival and Dinamics is also developing a Summer Festival Theatre programme and would like to hear from anyone considering staging theatrical or musical events.

The programme is likely to include some of the district's other major events of the summer, including the Hawea Picnic Races, Glenorchy Races, international cricket (New Zealand vs Sri Lanka), the Wanaka Rodeo, Lake Hayes A & P show and the Lion Foundation National Sevens tournament.

'Everyone we've talked to about the Summer Festival has been so positive about the planned events.  We're targeting locals and also those who have holiday homes here, pay rates and spend six or seven weeks in the district over the summer,' Diana said.

Now they would like to hear from anyone who is going to stage a public event in summer to negotiate inclusion in the Queenstown Lakes Summer Festival programme.

"We've got such a vibrant community and I'm sure there are all sorts of things going on that residents would love to know about.  For families it's a great time of year to be outdoors and the events we're putting together are a chance for the community to come together to celebrate living in our fantastic district,"  Alastair said.

Anyone with an event planned can contact Dinamics at:  alastair@dinamics.co.nz or telephone 03 441 4412.

ENDS

For more information, contact Queenstown Lakes District Council Special Projects Manager Lee Harris on 441 0469 or 027 233 7934.

By: Kiri