24 Sep 2018

A top-flight Christchurch festival signals the start of the Antarctic’s summer season, underlining the city’s connection to the ice.

From the arrival of the USAF Globemaster C-17 to Antarctic Air Day, the Season Opening events highlight the city’s gateway status ahead of the five-month Austral season.

The Globemaster will touch down on Thursday, 27 September, ready for the annual airlift of people and cargo from Christchurch to McMurdo Station.

The USAF Globemaster C-17 is due to head to the ice on 1 October.

The US Air Force Globemaster is due to head south on 1 October. Photo: Antarctica NZ Pictorial Collection

It will take centre stage at Antarctic Air Day near the International Antarctic Centre on Saturday, 29 September.

Air Day visitors can also check out a Panther Crash Fire Truck, Hägglunds and a Massey Ferguson on the airport tarmac. From ice sculptors to huskies to live music and food trucks, there will be plenty to keep the whole family entertained.

The main four-day festival will get under way on Thursday, 27 September with the Christchurch Antarctic Ignite Talks by “Changemakers”, featuring 10 speakers.

A South to Antarctica church service will be held at the Transitional Cathedral on Sunday, 30 September, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of Robert Falcon Scott.

Later that day, people can gather outside Canterbury Museum for the Christchurch City Antarctic Heritage Walk.

The 3.6-kilometre walk starts with a museum visit before moving into the Botanic Gardens and on to central city streets featuring Antarctic-related landmarks.

Weather permitting, the first C-17 flight will take off from Christchurch on Monday, 1 October, officially heralding the start of the 2018 season.

The ice focus will continue in the city with several exhibitions, talks and workshops covering a range of Antarctic-related topics until mid-October.