Plenty on show over long weekend

Not sure how to spend your three day weekend? With NZ Cup and Show Week festivities in full swing there is no shortage of places to go and things to do.

Get up close to farm animals at the Canterbury A&P Show.

Canterbury A&P Show 

Pack up the kids, the hats and the sunblock and head to the Canterbury Agricultural Park on Friday for the final day of the 155th Canterbury A&P Show. All the Show traditions will be there: baby animals, candyfloss, fairground rides, shearing demonstrations, wood-chopping competitions, tractor displays and pens full of award-winning livestock.

Catch Ladi6 performing live in the ASB Village Green or watch some of Australasia’s best battle it out in the EnduroCross Open Champs. And make sure you hang around for the Ballantynes Grand Parade, where the best of the best from the livestock and equestrian sections will parade their ribbons.  The New Zealand Army Band will lead the parade, which starts at 3.45pm in the Main Arena. 

The gates to the Show open at 9am and there is free, on-site public parking. Check out the website for more information.

Show Day Races

Celebrate Canterbury Anniversary Day with a laid-back day at the races. The Show Day Races at Addington are the ultimate harness racing day out so bring the kids and a picnic and sit back and relax. There will be plenty of entertainment for the kids and a heap of action on the track.

Gates open at 10.30am and the first race is at 12.15pm. There is no charge for general admission tickets to the Show Day Races but racegoers will be asked for a gold coin donation to support the Maia Health Foundation.

Racing at Riccarton

Join the fashion-in-the-field competition at Riccarton.

On Saturday the racing action shifts to Riccarton Park Racecourse for the running of the 3200 metre Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup. This is one of the most popular racing events in the country and always attracts a large crowd.

While the stakes will be high on the track, on the field there will also be plenty to play for, so dress to impress. Only the most stylish and visually sumptuous will catch the eye of the judges in the Fashion in the Field competitions, run in association with Millennium Hotels and Resorts.

The gates to the racecourse open at 9am. A temporary alcohol ban will be in place around the racecourse from 7am to midnight. The ban will apply to the area bounded by both sides of Yaldhurst Road to Middlepark Road; Epsom Road to Racecourse Road; Buchanans Road to Masham Road to Yaldhurst Road.

Rugby League World Cup 2017 quarter final

Christchurch is hosting the Rugby League World Cup 2017 quarter final match between Tonga and Lebanon on Saturday.  The match is being played at Christchurch Stadium at 5pm and tickets are available from $15. Find out more and buy tickets at Rugby League World Cup 2017.

Banks Peninsula Walking Festival

If you’ve over-indulged during Cup and Show Week and are in need of some fresh air and exercise, join one of the walks on offer as part of the Banks Peninsula Walking Festival. There are walks to suit all ages and fitness levels so check them out on the Banks Peninsula Walks website. 

Celebrate Bishopdale

For some free family fun head to Bishopdale Park on Sunday for Celebrate Bishopdale. There will be entertaining stage performances from local school groups, artists and organisations, as well as have-a-go activities and stalls selling food and arts and crafts. The event is on from 11am to 2pm.

Other events

There are heaps of other events on over the long weekend. Check them out on the Council's events webpage.