What is Culture Galore?
Culture Galore is a multi-cultural festival that provides an opportunity for different ethnic groups in our community to showcase their culture. This is achieved through performing arts, ethnic food, crafts, demonstrations, sports, games, and language.
Culture Galore is a prime opportunity for the people of Christchurch to experience and celebrate the diversity of cultures that exists in our community.
Event objectives
- Raising the profile of ethnic communities
- Engagement and participation
- Exposure to different cultures
- Fundraising opportunities
- Access to information and services
- Positive collaboration and understanding
- Family-oriented environment
Event format
The event includes various groups performing on the main stage, with each performance scheduled for 10 minutes. This will take place from around 12.10pm to 4pm.
In addition, there are chances for groups to showcase their culture through exhibits, ethnic food stalls, craft stalls, and interactive information stalls.
There are also various children's activities available, such as face painting, cricket, football, netball, a police radar run, bouncy castles, soft archery, and more.
Performance area
Performances must be no longer than 10 minutes, including getting on and off the stage.
The stage is 9m wide, 7.2m deep, and 1.2m high. There is a marquee for changing, with separate areas for males and females.
If you are a performing group, please also provide a brief performance description when you register for the event. If you are unsure of what your performance will be, we will contact you at a later stage for MC notes.
Please note that there is no guarantee that all groups will be able to perform on the day. We try to include a variety of performances and only have limited spaces.
Active information and craft stalls
Please note that groups are to provide their own shade structure, gazebos, tables and chairs.
For the few groups that absolutely cannot access their own gazebo, a few will be available, and these will be allocated to those who apply first.
Spots are limited in this area and groups that register must provide a have-a-go, hands-on activity, games, competitions, or the selling of crafts that are especially related to cultural aspects of your country.
Providing information on services that are relevant to the refugee and migrant community is vital. The Council information tent can display information resources if you wish these to be available at the event. Please note though this is not the forum for promoting political or religious views.
Food stalls
Please note that groups are to provide their own shade structure, gazebos, tables and chairs.
Culture Galore is part of the Sustainable Events Canterbury (SEC) initiative, previously known as the CFPE or Compostable Food Packaging at Events. This means that all food packaging handed over to your customers must be from the new Sustainable Events Canterbury Guide which is on the registration page, and we will also email it to you.
The main change to the manual includes the removal of some approved packaging that contained contaminants unknown previously, and we can no longer accept coloured inks. This includes coloured napkins, straws, and custom branding with colour – it must all be plain or minimal black ink.
Sustainable Events Canterbury Exhibitor Guide [PDF, 393 KB]
All rubbish is hand-sorted at the event and sent to be composted or recycling.
Everyone who has a food stall is encouraged to attend a compulsory 45-minute training session on SEC-approved packaging. This training is a one-time session, if you have completed training before, you do not need to attend again, unless you would like to attend as a refresher, especially with the updated restrictions.
The details are as follows:
- Date: Wednesday 12 February 2025
- Time: 6pm to 6.45 pm
- Location: Fendalton Library and Service Centre, 4 Jeffreys Rd, Fendalton
Helen Miles will be your contact for everything relating to SEC so please contact her if you have any questions – 03 941 5409, 027 4907618, oe helen.miles@ccc.govt.nz.
Rachel Dunford from Council or Jaz Etherington from WasteCo will be auditing your packaging onsite before the event, so please remember to either have boxes or receipts with you.
The cost of a standard food stall is $35 and food caravans will be charged $60. Fees will be collected on the day and a receipt given.
Each stall will be allocated an area of 5m x 4m. Food stalls must provide their own shade structure, gazebo, table and chairsand adhere to all other health regulations.
Electricity is available and groups are asked to state their electricity requirements on the registration form if it is greater than a standard 10amp plug.
For safety reasons, if your group is using electrical devices, they must be tested before the event. All appliances should display a current electrical test tag to ensure they are safe.
On the event day, there will be a thorough check, and if your appliances lack these tags, on-site electricians will prevent their use, or you will incur a $10 charge per appliance for testing. Caravans must also follow this process and have an electrical warrant of fitness.
You can get your appliances tested at Electro-Tech Services, 72 Mowbray Street, phone 03 374 3211, for $5 per appliance or by any qualified electrician.
Stalls should also be aware that power usage must not exceed 10 amps or 2400 watts. Check your appliance, as it will indicate its power consumption. If you have multiple appliances, add up their total watts, if it exceeds 2400, please inform us. Additionally, if you need more power or have a plug different from the standard 10 amps, kindly let us know.
All food groups must acknowledge when they return their registration form that they have read and understand the food health regulations. If you are a moveable premises or a caravan, you must provide a copy of your registration certificate.
Please note that commercial vendors are not eligible. If there are spaces available after registrations have been received from community groups, commercial vendors might have an opportunity to be involved.
Registration of interest
If your cultural group is interested in participating, can you fill out the online Registration of Interest form no later than Friday 6 December 2024. We will be accepting registrations from community groups first.
Car parking
Parking is available at Ray Blank Park for stall holders, volunteers, and performers only this year. There will be no public parking.
If you are a stall holder, volunteer or performer please enter the park via Gothic Place. Please do not arrive before 10am as electricity connections are still in progress.
For performing groups, a designated area will be roped off. You will receive two parking passes. After your performance, kindly vacate the parking area for the next groups.
Food and information stalls are asked to park behind your stall, or in the main carpark. Please note that there is no vehicle movement allowed from 11.30am to 4.15pm.
If you have any questions
Please contact:
Lisa Gregory
Community Recreation Advisor
Fendalton Customer Service Hub and Library
Cnr Jeffrey’s and Clyde Road, Fendalton
03 941 6729 / 027 2273064
lisa.gregory@ccc.govt.nz
Helen Miles
Community Recreation Advisor
Riccarton Customer Service Hub
199 Clarence Street, Riccarton
03 941 5409 / 027 4907618
helen.miles@ccc.govt.nz
Event location
The entrance to the park is from Gothic Place at the back of the park
