Category: Events in Christchurch

Christmas 2018 in Christchurch

It’s that time of year again when not only are Christchurch locals gearing up for the season of festivities, but also when we have lots of visitors coming to the city for their summer holidays.

So if you are not used to having Christmas in the summertime, you might be curious to know what events are on around Christchurch over the next month or so. And if you are used to a Southern Hemisphere Christmas, you are also likely looking for where you can shop and get truly into the festive spirit.

Santa Parades in the region

santa parade chch

Highlights around the city include the Annual Santa Parades in Christchurch, New Brighton and Rangiora – the dates range from December 2nd to December 9th, so get right on top of this one! For the first time in many years (since the quakes) the Christchurch parade will be back in the city centre, so don’t miss it.

Light Displays

The annual Christmas Lightshow put on by a local couple with a lot of energy and commitment to making each year’s display bigger and better than the year before is another highlight – along with the many suburbs which also like to get dressed up with Christmas lights for visitors to enjoy.

Christmas lightshow Christchurch

The Christmas lights list has just gone live for 2018 so check back as more streets are added – and add your own if you have made an effort this year and want some visitors!

Carols by Candlelight, Christmas Eve 2018

carols by candlelight

Perhaps one of the most Christmassy events of all, to really get you in the spirit (and away from the shopping malls!) is the annual YMCA Carols by Candlelight, which this year will be back in beautiful Victoria Square – again, the first time in many years it has been back in the central city. This is truly a special evening and a beautiful one to bring the children along to.

Christmas Markets

tannery xmas market

There are a multitude of special Christmas markets happening over the next month – once again giving you the chance to buy locally made products to make your Christmas a little more special and individually tailored, while at the same time supporting small local businesses.

Check out the Night Markets at Ferrymead, the Christmas Makete in the Arts Centre, and the Tannery Christmas Market just to get you started!

Christmas Village, 6-8 December

For the first time this year, Ferrymead and Plunket are working together to create a special Christmas themed experience for families, including their very own version of the Polar Express!

You can buy tickets online for the Ferrymead Christmas Village and find out more information.

Ferrymead Christmas Village

 

What’s New on the Streets of Christchurch?

Electric Scooters (download the iOS app here)

lime scooters chch nz

Over the next three months, anyone moving around Christchurch will have the chance to pick up an electric scooter from Lime and use it to ride to their next destination.

The location of individual scooter is easy to find on the Lime app, and once you have used the scooter you can take a photo of it at the location you have parked and upload back to the app again, ready for the next user. there are hundreds of scooters all over the city during the trial, so look out for them and enjoy a trying a different way to get around the city for a change! They are for use on footpaths only at this stage, so keep a good eye out for pedestrians and ride safely.

Giant Video Games

space raiders arcade game chch
Space Raiders arcade game High Street Christchurch

One of many awesome Gapfiller initiatives around the central city, the Street Arcade on the corner of High Street and Tuam Street (just across the street from Little High Eatery) has been a highlight for many visitors to the city – and locals alike. For a totally unique experience, head on down for a game with a friend or two – use the human size controllers to play a game of Space Raiders, inspired by the original Space Invaders video arcade game.

Gapfiller say this installation won’t be here for ever, so make sure you get down to High Street and try it out – you won’t regret it!

Kahikatea Common

One of the very newest space filler initiatives to open in the city is Kahikatea Common, part of the South Frame and located between the one way streets of Durham and Montreal. The site includes a roofed area, a community pizza oven available for anyone to use, and a Monarch butterfly hatchery.

Creators of this space hope it will encourage groups to use the area and that the community in general will find it somewhere they can connect with others in the central city. And of course, visitors to the city are most welcome!

Kahikatea Common Christchurch
Kahikatea Common Christchurch

Good Spot car parking

good spot carparking chch

If you are planning to drive into the CBD, you might want to try out a different sort of car parking for your visit. You can of course use any of the brand new parking buildings, or you can support the “good sort” car parks run by the Gapfiller team which has their own volunteer parking attendants happy to hold an umbrella while you pay for your parking, always has a happy greeting to share, and you also know that your parking fees go directly towards supporting community group initiatives.

You can find the two car parks right here (set your GPS):

GOOD SPOT Bedford – 107 Lichfield St, Christchurch
GOOD SPOT Civic – 192 Gloucester St, Christchurch