Live music and New Year's Eve fireworks in Queenstown and Wanaka tonight will herald the 2010 Summerdaze Festival in the Queenstown Lakes district.
Dunedin band the Oxo Cubans and Wakatipu group the Medicine Men will entertain on Queenstown's Earnslaw Park stage from 8.30pm.
DJ Asbro and DJ Hand Solo will play sets on stage by the Memorial Gates.
Christchurch covers band Retrosonic, and Queenstown group the Cartel, will play on the Wanaka stage at the Ardmore St waterfront, from 8.30pm.
Festival co-ordinator Nicole Fairweather, of Wanaka, said yesterday preparations were on track.
There was a good mix of activities and attractions for all ages, she said.
"We're looking forward to kicking off the festival with the New Year's Eve parties.
"Then we have a fantastic programme of events throughout January."
Highlights include the 48th annual Glenorchy Races on Saturday, from 11am.
There will be live music "Summer Sessions" at Earnslaw Park every Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.
Wild About Water Pool Parties are set for Alpine Aqualand and the Wanaka Community Pool on the afternoon of Friday, January 8.
Television comedian Te Radar is the special guest at the Lake Hayes A and P Show on Saturday, January 9.
The Pub Charity Rugby Sevens tournament returns to the Queenstown Recreation Ground on Saturday, January 9 and Sunday, January 10.
The Frontrunner Sky Run and Outside Sports Sky Ride will be held at the Snow Farm on Saturday.
Top international competitors will contest the Wakatipu One Day Horse Trial.
This will be held on the pony club grounds on the corner of Speargrass Flat and Hunter Rds, on Sunday, January 10.
Young international talents from the Queenstown Violin Summer School serenade in a series of concerts from Monday, January 11.
The Grand Finale Concert, in the Queenstown Memorial Hall, will be held on Friday, January 22.
Shakespeare on Location guides patrons around some of the most famous scenes and sonnets by the Bard.
These will be performed by Remarkable Theatre, in the Queenstown Gardens on January 15 and 16.
The world's best 16 under-19 cricket teams compete for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup at the Queenstown Events Centre oval between January 15 to 20.
Southern sounds abound when the second annual live music and DJ festival Homelands returns to the Queenstown Gardens on Sunday, January 17.
• Visit the Summerdaze Festival website, www.summerdaze.co.nz, to view the programme.
