Giant fireworks displays will launch the Summerdaze festival on New Year's Eve with a full programme of entertainment in downtown Queenstown and Wanaka.
Queenstown Lakes District Council's arts and events facilitator Jan Maxwell said there would be two musical line-ups on Queenstown's main stage this year, local favourites The Master Blasters and The Crystal Set, while the DJ stage is back at the Memorial Gates.
At Wanaka, local heroes The Station Agents will be followed by Mercury Crowe, from Wellington.
As far as tradition goes the fireworks will streak into the sky at midnight with the party finishing at 1am.
Last year's popular kite-making workshops and grand kite display would also return to Wanaka and this year visit Queenstown.
"The workshops were a huge hit in Wanaka last time around and we're sure Queenstowners will relish the opportunity to get involved too," Mrs Maxwell said.
Workshop numbers are limited so bookings were encouraged and those who did make their own kite are invited to the grand kite display at Pembroke Park in Wanaka.
Summerdaze runs all January and Mrs Maxwell said something was scheduled to take place on most days.
"It's an extremely full calendar this year, featuring everything from big music events like the Earthtonz new year's eve music festival to tea dances for the elder set."
Mrs Maxwell said the ever- popular teddy bear's picnics would return with the new Chinese brush painting workshops."
Copies of the Summerdaze programme can be found on the Summerdaze website.
