Olaf and Aya save the day

A dance number at the Shotover Jet Christmas Cracker at Queenstown Events Centre yesterday....
A dance number at the Shotover Jet Christmas Cracker at Queenstown Events Centre yesterday. Photos: Jackie Gray/Still Vision.
Tallulah Penetito (8) sings Howard Blake’s We’re Walking in the Air.
Tallulah Penetito (8) sings Howard Blake’s We’re Walking in the Air.
Father Christmas brings the house down.
Father Christmas brings the house down.

Christmas is cancelled so Mrs Claus can go on a yoga retreat in Queenstown — and the kids are not happy.

Hundreds of children booed, cheered and danced along to the 10th annual Shotover Jet Christmas Cracker at Queenstown Events Centre yesterday. A cast of 120 volunteers put on the festive show, which followed Icelander Olaf (Ollie McLean) and Queenstown girl Aya (Aya Moetaua) as they try to track down Santa and convince Mrs Claus to un-cancel Christmas.

There were Christmas songs, a Shotover Jet boat sleigh, and dance numbers, including the Remarkables Men’s Ballet of local good-uns.

Jan Maxwell, arts and events facilitator for the Queenstown Lakes District Council, has been involved with the show since it began.

"It’s fantastic — every year we come up with something fresh and it’s great to share with families in the Wakatipu.

"It takes months of work but it’s a great team effort — the crew, the creative director, everyone."

Many of the cast are youngsters, including members of Queenstown’s School of Dance and local schoolchildren.

Olaf and Aya eventually convinced Mrs Claus to have a change of heart, as a cold southerly brought unseasonable snow to the resort.

With the help of Rudolph they tracked down Santa, and the snow came down as 8-year-old Tallulah Penetito gave a spine-tingling rendition of Howard Blake’s We’re Walking in the Air.

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