Things to do  |  11 Nov 2020

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If you're staying in Christchurch for the holiday weekend, there's lots on to keep the whole family entertained.

Visit a farmyard

Children still have a chance this weekend to get up close and personal with farmyard animals. Gloucester Green, 221 Gloucester Street, is hosting the Hazletts City Farmyard where there will be lambs, calves, bunnies, ducklings, chickens and more. There will also be live entertainment and food trucks on site.  Entry to the farmyard costs $7 and due to limited capacity you must buy tickets online through Eventbrite.

Go for a swim

Cool off on Saturday with a swim. All five of Christchurch City Council’s outdoor swimming pools – Normal Kirk Memorial in Lyttelton, Templeton, Te Hapua Halswell, Waltham and Jellie Park in Burnside – open for the summer season on Saturday. The city’s paddling pools also open for the summer on the same day.

Find out about pool opening hours.

Cycle action in the city centre

Cyclists compete in last year's Criterium.

Head into town on Sunday and cheer on the country’s top cyclists as they vie for street honours in the Vantage Criterium National Championships.

The riders will be competing on an inner city street circuit that takes in Cashel Street, Montreal Street, Gloucester Street and Cambridge Terrace. There will be plenty of thrills – and maybe some spills.

There will be age-group national title contests ahead of the pinnacle races for the elite riders at about 4.50pm (women) and 5.35pm (men).

Sample Korean culture

Overseas travel might be off the cards but you can still get a taste of Korean life and culture this weekend.

The Korean Day 2020 festival from 11am to 3pm on Saturday is a family-friendly event that will introduce you to various aspects of Korean culture. There will be K-pop dancing, taekwondo demonstrations, traditional dances and Korean food to sample.

The festival is being held at Burnside High School’s Aurora Centre and entry is free.

Head to the races

Have fun at the races.

Pack a picnic and take the kids to the Show Day Races at Addington on Friday. Entry will be by gold coin donation to the Maia Health Foundation and there will be a free kids entertainment zone.

Alternatively, leave the kids at home and get glammed up for the races at Riccarton Park Raceway on Saturday. You can cheer on the country’s top gallopers as they compete for the Christchurch Casino 157th New Zealand Cup or just people watch. There will be a best-dressed competition as well as plenty of fast-paced action on the track.  The gates to the raceway open at 11.30am.

Have fun at the fair

Richmond Playground, in Stanmore Road, is hosting the Extravaganza Fair from 9am to 5pm each day of the long weekend. There will be live music, food trucks, stalls selling hand-crafted wares, and entertainment throughout the three days from the Ashton family Circus. Admission is free.

Tennis anyone?

If you fancy some sporting action, you can enjoy watching the country’s best tennis talent competing in the Canterbury Tennis Open at Wilding Park over the weekend. Play starts at 10am daily.

Other events

You can find details of other events on in and around Christchurch on our What's on webpages.