Central city, Things to do  |  19 Jun 2019

Swing into the longest night of the year at a Solstice Swingathon in the central city or jump on your bike for a well-lit spin around Hagley Park.

Christchurch social enterprise Gap Filler, in partnership with Fletcher Living, has installed two giant orange frames suspending three swings on the corner of Armagh Street and Manchester Street opposite the Margaret Mahy Family Playground.

Pippin Wright-Stow tests out the new Gap Filler swings.

F3 Design's Pippin Wright-Stow tests out one of the Gap Filler swings to be launched on Saturday during winter solstice.

It is holding a free Solstice Swingathon to launch the new swing project, #chchswing, this Saturday and inviting people to come along and keep the swings in constant motion from sunrise (8.03am) until sunset (5pm) to mark winter solstice.

Hawke’s Bay teenager Charlie O'Brien, the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the longest continuous swing, 32 hours in April this year, is going to join the Swingathon event. 

The perspective swings are designed to be camera-friendly and provide an opportunity for taking fun photos. A professional photographer will be there for the launch and people are also encouraged to share their own photos on social media.

The swings will remain on the site until it is developed. The design work was carried out by F3 Design and Calibre Group engineering, and NZ Red Cross was also involved in the planning stages.

Gap Filler Project Developer Helen Holyoak says the swings, which are part of Placemaking at One Central, are another drawcard for the city.

“We think it's a great way to get people swinging into the central city, and they’ll be able to take some amazing photos of themselves having fun to post on social media. Everyone is welcome,” she says.

The Christchurch City Council supports Gap Filler to deliver some of its projects around the city through its Enliven Places Programme.

Also celebrating the shortest day is the annual Christchurch Winter Solstice Night Light Bike Ride. Put on some bright lights and a helmet and cycle around Hagley Park in the darkness with your friends and family.

The ride, organised by Venduco, starts just inside the park at the Armagh St Mickle Gates at 5.30pm and ends at the Pegasus Arms.

People taking part in the Winter Solstice bike ride.

Light up your bike for the Winter Solstice bike ride.

The ride heads counter clockwise around the park, either on the footpath or the road.

“Deck out your bike, helmet and body with as many lights and bells as you can, we want to really brighten up the park,” the ride’s founder, Ian Wells, says.

This is the eighth time the event, which aims to promote cycling in Christchurch, has been held. 

Registrations can be made through Venduco’s Facebook page.

In other local solstice events, Flash in the Pan is a chance to hear hot short fiction on the shortest day as part of National Flash Fiction Day in Christchurch from 2pm until 4pm at the city's central library, Tūranga.

A Family Fun Night is being held in the main street of Oxford, north of Christchurch, on Friday night from 4pm until 8pm as part of the Oxford Winter Lights Festival.