Things to do  |  26 Nov 2019

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The festive season starts with a bang on Saturday night as Christchurch hosts Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park.

Tens of thousands of people are expected in North Hagley Park for the popular free event, which begins at 7.30pm and ends about 10pm with a fabulous fireworks finale.

Rising pop star Robinson is headlining the Christchurch show. He will be sharing the stage with a talent-packed cast that includes Lavina Williams, Vince Harder, Tom Batchelor, Ella Monnery, Victor Hawkins-Sulfa and Nyree Huyser.

Dancers from JK Performing Arts are among those who will be taking to the stage at Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park.

A record number of young dancers will also light up the stage. Ten leading dance schools – from ballerinas to belly dancers, contemporary and hip hop - will showcase their top performers, alongside the nation’s best and brightest talent, and backed by a 20 piece band. 

The line-up, drawn from every corner of Christchurch, includes JK Performing Arts, Impact Stage and Dance School, Levings School of Dance, Silhouette Studios, Firefly Belly Dance, Garden City Dance Academy, Empress of T’s House of Dance, Studio 42 Elite, Annaliese Gilberd Academy and Rangi Ruru Girls School’s Elite Dance Company.   

"The extraordinarily talented Christchurch dance line-up has been selected for the incredible enthusiasm, energy and passion they’ll bring to the big stage. Representing a diverse range of cultures, the dancers will weave their own special onstage colour, movement and magic throughout the show,'' says head choreographer Turanga Merito.

“For many dancers the Christchurch concert will be their first appearance in front of a massive live audience of family, friends and local communities and taking part in Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park will be the realisation of a dream come true.” 

Getting there

With a large crowd expected to attend Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park, concert-goers are being advised to plan their journey and allow plenty of time to get there.

There will be no general public parking in Hagley Park on the night and the Botanic Gardens carpark will be closed to incoming traffic from 3pm, with the exception of mobility card holders.

For parking options in the central city check the Christchurch City Council website.

Park Terrace will be closed to traffic between Dorset Street and Bealey Avenue from 5pm to 11.30pm. There will also be lane drop on Carlton Mill Road and Park Terrace and a turning lane closure on Bealey Avenue

Northbound traffic on Park Terrace will be detoured right onto Salisbury Street to Montreal Street and up Montreal Street to Bealey Avenue.

Southbound traffic on Carlton Mill Road will be detoured left onto Bealey Avenue, right onto Durham Street, and then right onto Kilmore Street.

If the weather is bad on Saturday, Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park will be postponed until Sunday 1 December. Listen to 92.1 MORE FM for details.