Spring into the weekend

Celebrate the first weekend of spring with friends and whānau and enjoy these low-cost activities.

Food by Fire - Fire on High

Christchurch's most highly-awarded and recognised chefs descend on High Street this Fathers' Day weekend to reclaim the street for a food festival with a fiery-flavoured twist. The south-eastern section of High Street in the city's SALT district will be 'pedestrianised' for the day on Saturday with kai (food) on offer from 11am to 9pm. Fire on High showcases the fantastic hospitality community in Christchurch with an assembly of top-notch creators. 

The recently renovated Smash Palace will provide the beer garden for the event as well as a liquid refreshment. Festival goers can expect everything from a slow-cooked whole hog and Akaroa salmon, to vegan plantation and foraged dare of acorn waffles with BBQ wild boar. The stellar lineup includes the masterminds behind the likes of Butter, Table Bloom, and 5th Street as well as recent Cuisine Awards Two Hat recipients Simon Levy of INATI and Olly le Maite of Black Estate. Explore the sights, smells and tasty creations from 16 of the city's best chefs, alongside pop up stores from some of the surrounding businesses. 

Volunteer Plantout – Lincoln

Join Te Ara Kākāriki planting native Greendots to link the mountains to the sea! Join us in planting 1600 native plants from 10am to 3:30pm Saturday. Two groups will plant at separate sites in the morning before meeting up in the afternoon to plant at Waihora Reserve Park in Motukara.

Free buses can pick you up from Rolleston, Lincoln University, Canterbury University and a few other options. Lunch, snacks and drinks will be provided for you along with spades, gloves and instructions. Registration is essential.

Peace Train

Christchurch's Peace Train is back for another season, with operations beginning this Sunday and continuing until April 2024. In early 2021, the Yusaf Islam Foundation offered to donate a model, ride-on train, to the people of Christchurch, in recognition of the extraordinary response of support and compassion that followed the terror attacks on March 15, 2019. This gift was conditional on the train being free to ride for the citizens of Ōtautahi Christchurch and run in a central location. 

The free to ride Peace Train leaves from behind the kiosk in Christchurch Botanic Gardens and follows the loop pathway around the playground following the Ōtākaro-Avon River. Ride the train between 10am - 2pm with each trip taking approximately 8 minutes. More here. 

Pegasus Bay Art Show

New World Ravenswood presents this year’s Pegasus Bay Art Show, with over 50 artists exhibiting a wide range of art for sale and guest artist Joel Hart. The art show is a community event and fundraiser with 25% commission from the art sales coming back to their kira.

A portion of this money goes towards art supplies for students, and the rest is put towards subsidising the costs of camps and other trips for students! Opening night Is 7pm Friday, and $25 tickets are available from the Pegasus Bay School Office. More here.

Tiny Door launch

New Zealand's first-ever 'hole-in-the-wall' food ordering service has arrived, with an official launch this weekend! Tiny Door opens in Christchurch's Guthrey Centre laneways, near Riverside Market this Saturday. With time slots dedicated to breakfast, lunch and dinner, Tiny Door works by having different food producers and restaurants serve from the kitchen on a rostered basis. Like a revolving door with some of the best foodies around town, the menu changes every few hours so there's a bit of mystery to it! 

Order online or by scanning a QR code on-site, and food will be delivered to hungry patrons through a tiny blue door on the wall. Behind it, a small but fully functional state-of-the-art kitchen.Popular restaurants Mr Wolf, Miro and Bar Yoku are among the food partners to come on board, as well as the team behind Smokey T’s, who will be introducing their new brand, Ando’s, which specialises in slow-cooked, smoked meat sandwiches with a Kiwiana twist. 

A tribute to Bach – classical jazz

The Piano presents, A Tribute to… Celebrate the joy of live music in a one-hour concert series on Sunday evening! The classical jazz quartet is composed of Cathy Irons (violin), Barry Brinson (piano), Dougal Canard (double bass) and Dough Brush (drums).

Each a recognised musician in their own field, the four musicians revel in getting together, ignoring convention and freely crossing the boundaries of music with conviction and delight. Grab a ticket from $15.

The Palms Spring Market

The Palms Spring Market is on this Saturday from 9am to 6pm at The Palms Shopping Centre! Head over to shop local artisan crafters, florists, makers, bakers and artists. The market will be a fun day out for the entire family with free kids face painting.

Stallholders include The Aroma Studio, Lorelle Botanicals, Borrowed Kitchen and more. Find more information here.

Shabby Chic Market Day

Christchurch’s Shabby Chic Market is back for September, taking place in and around the Historic Rochester Villa Circa 1860 in Woolston. Enjoy over 40 stalls surrounding the villa, plus two rooms to explore inside, a tinkershed full with gardening tools, flower jugs, books and more!

Vintage treats and treasures include clothing, china, kitchenalia, collectibles, art, artisan bread, plants and so much more. The market will take place from 11am to 3pm Sunday.

Al Park and The Unknown Legends: Supported by Fraser Ross

Al Park and Unknown Legends, the Lyttelton based four piece band will be performing a show at The Folk Club on Sunday! Unknown Legends repertoire features songs written by Al Park, taken from his three albums plus some new songs written for and soon to be recorded with Unknown Legends.

Supporting the band at Christchurch Folk Music Club on Sunday evening is Christchurch-based folk musician Fraser Ross. Grab a ticket at the door from $5.