Things to do  |  2 Feb 2024

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A free fireworks extravaganza, the Lunar New Year Parade and Waitangi Day commemorations - check out what's on in our region this weekend and on Waitangi Day.

Christchurch Year of the Dragon Parade 2024

Christchurch’s annual Lunar New Year Parade will be back in the CBD for the Year of the Dragon. Join the parade on Sunday afternoon, full with colourful costumes, tradition dancers, lions and of course dragons. The event will begin with the opening ceremony at the Bridge of Remembrance at 3pm. The parade will wind through Cashel and High Street Mall before arriving in Cathedral Square for further performances. Find more information here.

Mitre10 Sparks 2024

One of Christchurch’s most loved events, the free Mitre10 Sparks, is back. Get your friends and family together to celebrate the 41st year at our city’s dazzling fireworks extravaganza, featuring the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. New Zealand vocal legend Annie Crummer will also take the stage alongside local Christchurch singers Roslen Ulaula and Harry Burt. Mitre10 Sparks will be held from 6:30 – 9:30pm Saturday at North Hagley Park.  

Summer Sundays – Got the Blues

Chill our and enjoy ‘Got the Blues’ with Penny Blues Band and Mudfish at the second Summer Sundays afternoon session in Archery Lawn. Summer Sundays is Christchurch’s outdoor summer music series, supported by The Hits. The free session will be on from 2 – 4pm, picnic food, drinks and chairs are welcome. Get to know the artists with more information here.

Linwood Village Market

Come along to Linwood Community Arts Centre car park, 288 Worcester Street, for the monthly Linwood community market. Check out crafts, clothes, books, garage sale stalls, fundraisers for local community projects and more. There’s also a free box in the interest of waste minimisation. The market will run from 10am – 1pm Saturday.

Have a Go at the Heritage Park

Come down to Ferrymead Heritage Park on Sunday for a chat with the sixteen societies running out of the park. The trains will be running, along with a special appearance from Cog & Compass Inc. showcasing their Steam Punk attire with a fashion show. Come on down from 10am – 4pm, have a beer or wine from ChinChiller, and have a chat with friends old and new. Entry is $5 or free for children fifteen years or under, more here.

Samoan Kirikiti Tournament

Samoan Kirikiti Christchurch Tournament

The Canterbury Samoan Minister’s Fraternal presents the yearly Samoa Kirikiti Christchurch Tournament. With summer comes the sport of kirikiti - a form of cricket, played Samoan style. Kirikiti is said to have been introduced to Samoa in the nineteenth century by visiting sailors and missionaries, and is a major summer sport for Samoans. In Samoan kirikiti, each team has two wicket keepers and numbers can range from ten to twenty players, involving all ages. The two-day event will be at South Hagley Park, with men’s matches on Saturday 3 February and women’s matches on Tuesday 6 February/Waitangi Day, games begin at 9am both days. This will be two action packed days to find the kirikiti champions for 2024!

I <3 Brighton 2024

Head over to Thompson Park this Waitangi Day (Tuesday 6 February) to celebrate the New Brighton community. The Active Zone will be packed with free activities including archery tag, wipe out, bull rush bouncy castle and Canterbury Cricket inflatables. The event will be opened by the talented tamariki from Rāwhiti School Kaka haka group, followed by plenty of other local favourites. Wander through over twenty market stalls and grab a bite from vendors. I <3 Brighton 2024 is on from 11am to 3pm.

Waitangi Day Commemorations 2024

Join us at Okains Bay Museum and Ngāi Tahu Reserve on Waitangi Day for a special free event supported by the Council and Manatū Taonga/Ministry for Culture and Heritage. The Museum gates will open at 9am, guests will then gather opposite the Old School on the Ngāi Tahu Reserve at 9:45am, the Pōwhiri begins at 10am, followed by the Governor General’s message at 10:30am, and the Kāi Tahu waka, Kōtukumairangi will arrive at 1:30pm. Food and drink will be available for purchase, picnics are welcomed, more here.