Things to do  |  27 Nov 2020

Race towards summer with stunning images, a triathlon, live music, a home and garden tour, a pool party and Christmas in the city.

GoLive! Festival in Victoria Square

Dance along to Christchurch’s inaugural free Go Live! Festival, featuring multi-talented Kiwi performers.

Offering a mix of roots/dub/reggae and rock, Dusty Hustle will get the party started in Victoria Square on Saturday from 1pm, followed by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Jason Kerrison, reggae rockers Dolphin Friendly and reggae roots co-operative One Waka.

On Sunday, The Eastern, Ranchsliders, Deep Water Creek and Katie Thompson will take the stage to deliver country, folk and alternative rock and pop.

Check out the Go Live! line-up online.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Take a walk on the wild side as Canterbury Museum hosts the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition direct from the Natural History Museum in London.

The stunning images celebrate the diversity of the natural world, featuring 99 of the best photographs from this year’s competition. Among the images is the winning photo, The Embrace by Russian photographer Sergey Gorshkov, focusing on a Siberian tiger marking her territory.

Rose display

The Canterbury Rose Society is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a rose display in the Tea Kiosk in the Botanic Gardens. Come along and see beautiful blooms and get inspiration for your own garden.

The display is open on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm and entry is free.

Christmas in the City

Join the family parade alongside the Avon River as Santa travels by punt to the City Mission Christmas tree launch by the Bridge of Remembrance on Saturday.

Enjoy live music, choirs, face painting and market stalls and check out the fantastic Christmas tree.

The parade leaves from the Margaret Mahy Playground at 11am.

Inside Out Garden Tour – Banks Peninsula

Enjoy a wonderful Akaroa wander with the Inside Out Garden Tour offering the chance to see stunning homes and gardens this weekend.

You can visit striking peninsula properties, with some open to the public for the first time.

Tickets cost $30 and are available online or at Akaroa Museum, Akaroa i-SITE and the Little River Gallery.

Swim into summer this weekend.

Pool Party at Jellie Park

The pool party season gets under way at Jellie Park on Saturday from noon.

With water walkers, giant obstacles, water slides and inflatables, there is plenty on offer for the whole family.

Zine Workshop: Diary Comics with Bryce Galloway

Join artist/zine-maker Bryce Galloway at the Arts Centre on Saturday in creating loose comics that explore the autobiographical every day.

Book tickets online.

Canterbury v Wellington at Hagley Oval

Head to Hagley Oval for a free day of entertaining one-day cricket as Canterbury bowls up to battle Wellington on Sunday from 11am.

Musical matters

Join the Jazzamatazz Choir at the Ara Auditorium for this evening’s toe-tapping concert or the Resonance Ensemble on Sunday afternoon for Heroes and Anti-Heroes at The Piano.

You can also take in UC CYO presents Concertos, Conductors and Composers at Cashmere High School on Saturday night or It’s Almost Christmas with the Christchurch Liedertafel Male Voice Choir on Sunday afternoon.

Triathlon Festival at Lake Rua

Line up for the PAK’nSAVE Triathlon Festival at Lake Rua on Sunday, offering events for all ages and abilities.

Displays light up for Christmas

Marvel at the Christchurch Christmas Lightshow this weekend from 8.30pm.

Entry costs $5, with a range of displays in the Shands Road setting.

You can also enjoy the Notenoughlights Christmas display in Dunluce Place.

Other events

You can find details of other events on in and around Christchurch on our Whats on webpages.