An annual festival held in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula to celebrate the heritage of our district.

The Christchurch Heritage Festival is an opportunity to share the stories of the past that link us to this place. The festival sits as part of the Christchurch City Council’s Our Heritage, Our Taonga Heritage Strategy 2019-2029. He tātai muka, he tātai tangata – weave together the strands; weave together the people. 

Christchurch Heritage Festival 2025

Building Place – evolving communities

Saturday 11 to Monday 27 October (Labour Day) 2025.

We welcome new and returning event providers to be part of the Christchurch Heritage Festival 2025 programme. Applications will be open here from Friday 9 May to Monday 16 June 2025.

If you have any queries regarding the Heritage Festival or would like to be added to our mailing list for direct updates, please email heritage@ccc.govt.nz.

We look forward to working together with event providers to produce the festival this year.

The theme this year is based around anniversaries connected with the foundation of the city of Ōtautahi-Christchurch and the Waitaha-Canterbury region, the physical construction of the city and anniversaries relating to how our communities have changed and developed over time.

The place we live in continues to change, and through sharing our stories, we better understand our environment, the landscape, the people and the place.

There are local and national anniversaries occurring this year – for the purposes of developing a theme, we have worked with 25-year increments from 50 years ago: 1975, 1950, 1925, etc.

Find some of the anniversaries in the Christchurch Chronology(external link) and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage(external link).

Please note that while festival events may draw on anniversaries or the theme, this is optional.

To apply to run an event in the Christchurch Heritage Festival 2025 you need to:

  • Complete the online application form – available here from 9 May to 16 June 2025. 
  • Complete your Health and Safety plan. Attach this to your online application.
  • Please note: Christchurch Heritage Festival community grants are no longer available.

If you have any queries about the application process or would like to discuss your idea for an event please get in touch at heritage@ccc.govt.nz.

Before applying

Please read:

Health and safety plans

This should be completed first and attached to your online application. You may submit an existing plan, use your own template or use the template provided below.