Things to do  |  10 Nov 2022

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It's Canterbury Anniversary weekend and there's plenty on to keep the family entertained over the next three days. Whether you're heading to The Show, to the races or to your local pool, have a great long weekend!

Head to The Show

The Show gives children a chance to get up  close to farm animals.

The New Zealand Agricultural Show is back in all its town-meets-country glory so get the family together and head along on Friday.

There will be Best in Show competitions for livestock, farmyard fun, live music, delicious food, family entertainment, as well as fairground rides and attractions.

The gates to The Show open at 8.30am and entry for under-18 year olds is free.

The organisers of The Show have arranged free buses to take people from the bus interchange in central Christchurch to the showgrounds.  The buses will leave the interchange every 30 minutes, starting from 9am, each day of the Show. There will also be free buses to return people to the bus interchange. The buses will leave the showgrounds on the half hour, starting from 9.30am.

For those who want to bike to The Show, there is a major cycleway that will take you straight to the Canterbury Agricultural Park. There will be spaces available to lock your bikes at the Lake Turnstiles and River Turnstile entrances. 

For those who do need to travel by car, free parking will be available via the Augustine Drive, McMahon Drive and Hayton Road Underpass entrances. Parking for mobility pass holders will be available via the Curletts Road entrance.

Racing action

For fast-paced action on the track, you can either head to Addington Raceway on Friday for the Show Day races or to Riccarton Park on Saturday for the New Zealand Cup meeting.

The Show Day races at Addington are a great day out for the whole family and a fantastic way to celebrate Canterbury’s anniversary day. You will see some great racing and there is also a free kids zone on the Stables Rooftop, featuring bouncy castles, face painters, a bungy and more. There are no public surcharges and entry is by gold coin donation, with the money raised going to the Maia Health Foundation.

The New Zealand Cup meeting at Riccarton on Saturday is more of an adults affair so get dressed up and come along and enjoy high class racing, fashion, food and entertainment.

Outdoor pools open

Outdoor pools are opening this weekend.

If the weather is warm this weekend, you might want to cool off with a swim in one of Christchurch City Council’s outdoor pools.

From Saturday the Norman Kirk Memorial pool in Lyttelton, the Templeton pool, Te Hapua Halswell pool and Jellie Park pool in Burnside will all be open.  The Council’s paddling pools will also be open.

See the Football Ferns in action

Fans of the beautiful game will want to head to Orangetheory Stadium on Saturday to watch the Ford Football Ferns take on the Korea Republic in the first of the two-match G J Gardner Home series.

The matches are part of the Football Ferns preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 .

Saturday’s match kicks off at 2.30pm and tickets are priced from $5 to $10. The second match in the series will be played at Orangetheory Stadium on Tuesday 15 November at 6pm.

Miniature train rides

The Halswell Domain miniature trains will be running every day of the long weekend between 10am and 4pm. Admission is free.

Banks Peninsula Walking Festival

If you enjoy walking and exploring new places, then make sure you check out this weekend’s programme for the Banks Peninsula Walking Festival.  There is a great variety of walks offering something for people of all ages, abilities and interests.

The Extravaganza Fair

The Extravanganza Fair is parking up for the long weekend on former residential red zone land in New Brighton Road. The fair will be open from 9am and 5pm each day and will have a wide variety of stalls and family entertainment including magic shows and jugglers.

Remembrance Day Concert

On Sunday afternoon the New Brighton and Sumner Silver Bands are combing for a free concert in the Soldiers Memorial Bandstand in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens to celebrate Remembrance Day. The concert starts at 2pm.

Other events

For information about other events on over the long weekend, check out What's On.