Queenstown Winter Festival 08 - PHOTOS & REPORTS

What a blast! This is just a brief report to get the ball rolling, we'll post more personal reports and photos later. Photos may not be up for a couple of days as most of them were taken by the Chur-Chur crew.

Friday involved re-unions, final test fitting of the float, Antony's home brew Bourbon, the opening Fireworks, late minute armour parties (which essentially meant Hugh working on his armour while everyone else sat around and drank ) and a late night private screening of Speed Racer, which a couple of troopers saw as the perfect opportunity to catch up on sleep

Saturday started with the thought that perhaps watching a movie until 3am the night before a troop was not the best idea and Chef Cen cooking up a Big Brekkie. Hugh continued with his theme of '07, making last minute armour pieces and arriving at the last minute after everyone else had headed down. No paint drying this time though, just hot glue.

Everyone else assisted in assembling the float on the ute and headed down to get kitted up. The weather was overcast but fine, up until about 15 mins before the parade when a light drizzle set in. This stopped about 15 mins after the parade!

Our final tally consisted of 1 501st Clone Trooper, 1 Royal Guard, 1 Darth Vader, 3 Tusken Raiders, 2 TK's, 1 Scout Trooper, 1 Zam Wessel and 1 Gamorrean Guard.

The parade was only 1 lap around the streets this year, making the first stretch the more populated, so kind of a different feel. Our sound was a little drowned out by other (noisy ) floats, but could still be heard as we went past, so overall a pretty cool effect. We trooped in front of, beside and behind the ute, so that the general effect we had was of people seeing a Tusken or Trooper first, then realising that Darth Vader and Royal guard were present as the float came past them which had a cool surprise effect.

As always, excellent reactions from the crowds, lots of high-fives and interaction from the troops. A big shout out to our 3 Tuskens and Scout Trooper who were all new to this (apart from Chris from Morrisons who helped fill a costume again) and did a marvellous job at getting into character and having fun.
One Tusken made the online web pictures and will hopefully be in the Otago Daily Times also, pic at this link.

Afterwards, we headed back to the shop where the 2pm - 4pm time slot got thrown out the window, as we started having pictures taken straight away and were in the pub knackered by 3pm
There weren't as many people at the shop as previous years, most likely because I was unable to promote the shop event very well this year due to having no free time to do so.

5 of us and our float driver headed out for the traditional dinner, then it was home for more bourbon, more armour repairs and good laughs.

Sunday we were up and down at the shop by 9am, 7 of us kitted up and then wandered over to the cinema for the charity showing of Kung Fu Panda. Some great responses from the kids, about 150 -170, some a little nervous at first, then most wanting photos. The Gamorrean Guard was a huge hit with all, especially when he did the odd dance to make the kids smile and had his big belly jiggling with a jolly laugh. Not to mention Pig-Hugs!

After they were all in the cinema, we headed down the waterfront for the traditional scenic shots and more photos with public.

More stories to come and anecdotes no doubt, not to mention photos, and all in all a highly successful parade and troop.

A big thanks from me to all involved for making the effort, filling costumes, having fun and doing the shop and the 501st proud.

Hugh's personal quote of the day, overheard more than once by parade crowd members as I walked by: "That one's all munted!"

Found another couple of photos of Antony and Dex in parade: here.

Firstly I'd just like to say a huge thankyou to Hugh, Sarah and their flatmates Richard and Amelia for putting up with me at short notice due to my accomodation plans going out the window. Hope you all enjoy the rest of that bourbon (I'm enjoying one as I type this post). Dex and I just arrived home after 8pm and were talking about the troop all the way home as well as future trooping plans, costumes etc. We both had an absolute blast and just as keen to do it all again next year. Sadly I got no pics on my camera, but between Dex's camera and video camera as well as Cen and Wendy's cameras, there will be no shortage of photos appearing here in the next few days.

Cen and Wendy, I look forward to catching up with you both again on Tuesday.
Big thanks again to everyone involved. Good times!

Hope you all enjoy the rest of that bourbon (I'm enjoying one as I type this post).

Surely are, the last drop has just disappeared into Cen's glass while we play Singstar

Surely are, the last drop has just disappeared into Cen's glass while we play Singstar

Damn, are you serious? you must have been thirsty.

Damn, are you serious? you must have been thirsty.  

Yes, we've just raided the bottom of our liquor cupboard to see what we have to continue with.
The bourbon was good for teh voice though...

and as i type theres a chorus of Nirvana wannabes from the lounge, and our resident barman has started making B-52's in the kitchen....

... and now, to the meandering tones of INXS, Cen and I are attempting to piece together a TK lid under the influence

Can one of you folks with the power put up a shared album for WInter fest 08? Then I can post some pics

Thanks!
The first of the festival photos are now up in the shared gallery.
More to come, these are mostly Day 1 post-parade and Day 2 photos. Parade photos will come from Dex later.

Antony and I showed up with 7 costumes between us. Add to that 2 local and 2 flown in from ozzy (great effort C&W) and we got ourselves a lil' ol' convoy. The float was simple but effective if a little slippery in the rain. Morris' truck kinda looks like a TK. Ants boombox case is an awesome bit of kit. For those of you who havn't seen Zam Wendy before check out the craftsmanship on this labour of love. Hughs clone is amazing to see up close and incorporates some clever designs. Thanks to G and Nigel for coming over from wanaka at thier own expense to help fill Vader and take photos, they both now have caught the bug. here is a pic, I'll put up more soon

Attached thumbnail(s)

Awesome to have you here Dex! You and Antony turning up in Ant's van was like a costumers dream!
Here's today's Otago Daily Times, front page of the Regions section:


(The report was average with no mention of us. Oh, and we didn't win any prizes )

Same old same old then huh?

choice pic! truth is I saw the cameraman and came over to "set up" that shot cos I knew they would print it. They did come and get my name but it must've confused them or something. Too bad as I too could use the promotion. I've just resized a bunch of pics to post, should I put them here or in the shared gallery?

Attached thumbnail(s)

you guys n' gals look great !!
more pix !!..more pix !!

[i just gotta make it next year down to queenstown !!]
dex:your gam guard looks freekin' sa-weet dude !!

yo ant !!..and a shout out to all the bros down south !!

righto gonna put em' here

Attached thumbnail(s)

I'm just loving the pics of the Gamorrean Guard it is the best & by the looks of things a costume I could fit into

Great mix of costumes the 3 Tuskens just look awesome.

Someone seems to be a one man Outpost then from what I've read here

Next year there is always next year I've just got to get down there.

a few more for now, I'll do more tommorow

Attached thumbnail(s)

Looks like a really good bunch of costumes, and sounds like a successful event.