Your guide to the busy weekend ahead

With the Christchurch Lantern Festival, Culture Galore and two one-day international cricket matches on, it is shaping up to be a busy weekend in Christchurch.

St Asaph Street will be closed between Antigua Street and Hagley Avenue this weekend due to major road works so if you are planning on heading into the city centre for the cricket or the lantern festival allow extra time and plan your journey using tfc.govt.nz.

Experience a taste of Chinese culture at the Lantern Festival.

Christchurch Lantern Festival

The Christchurch Lantern Festival is back in the heart of the city, celebrating the Year of the Dog. Bring along your family and friends and experience a taste of Chinese culture amidst hundreds of vibrantly coloured lanterns imported from China.

From 6 to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday nights the Avon River Precinct will become home to delicious Asian food stalls, crafts and non-stop entertainment including Chinese shadow puppetry, acrobats and Old Tune music by Liao Qiang band from Shaanxi Province.  

The Lantern Festival has been part of the Chinese New Year celebrations since the Han Dynasty and marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities. 

International cricket

Cricket fans are spoiled for choice this weekend with two one-day internationals being played at Hagley Oval.  On Saturday the Blackcaps will take on England in the fifth one-day international of the series, while on Sunday the White Ferns will play the West Indies.

The Blackcaps game is a sell-out but you can head along to the White Ferns match on Sunday for free.  

Culture Galore

Enjoy a cultural showcase at Culture Galore this Saturday.

Culture Galore, a multicultural festival that celebrates our city's diversity with food, arts and crafts, music and dance performances from the many cultures who call Christchurch home, is on this Saturday at Ray Blank Park.

Come along and sample ethnic cuisines and enjoy stage performances ranging from Japanese drummers to colourful traditional dances. Have a go at stone carving or flax weaving or get a henna tattoo. There will be face-painting and a bouncy castle for the kids.

The festival is supported by the Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood and Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Boards and entry is free, but you will have to pay for food and craft items.

Culture Galore is on from midday to 4pm.

Canterbury Police public open day

Fancy a tour of the the police cells? Then head along to the Canterbury Police's public open day on Sunday at the Justice Precinct.  

There will be plenty of family-friendly activities happening to showcase the different aspects of policing, including displays from the local police dog squad.  You can also tour the new building , including the cells, and meet local police staff. The open day is on from 10am to 2pm.

 

Join the final splash down at Jellie Park.

Final splash down at Jellie Park

The last pool party of the season is being held at Jellie Park this Sunday between midday and 4pm.  Take the kids along so they can enjoy hot dogs, pool games and a lolly scramble. Normal pool admission charges apply.

TMC Trailers Trucking Show

If you're into big shiny trucks then head along to the Canterbury Agricultural Park on Saturday for the TMC Trailers Trucking Show. Billed as the biggest trucking event in the South Island, the show will feature more than 400 trucks from all over New Zealand and 80+ trade exhibitors. There will be working displays and an awesome kids zone. 

Entry is $5 for adults, with all proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House South Island and Child Cancer Canterbury. The show is on from 9.30am to 5pm. On site parking will be available via the Curletts Rd entrance.

Outdoor sculpture exhibition

The Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden is hosting an outdoor sculpture exhibition this Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 3pm.

Come along and see works by some of the stalwarts of New Zealand sculpture and some emerging early career artists.

Exhibitors include Graham Bennnett, Bing Dawe, Neil Dawson, Andrew Drummond, Alison Erickson, Mandy Cherry Joass, Llew Summers, Marté Szirmay, Johnny Turner, Olivia Webb, Robyn Webster and Matt Williams.

The owners of the Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden have planted more than 8000 natives since 2010 and created three ponds in what was a barren pony paddock. The Garden is a sanctuary to native birds and sculpture lovers alike.

Admission to the Garden is $10 for adults. The Garden is pram and wheelchair friendly. All tracks are grassed and the terrain is mostly flat. Picnickers are welcome.

Nga Taonga Whakapeke

If you've got primary school aged children, why not take them on short discovery treasure hunt around the Tawhairanui Trail in Victoria Park.

During the treasure hunt they will be introduced to manu (birds), ngārara (bugs), rākau (trees), and a few special taonga (treasures).

The treasure hunt is free and is aimed at children aged five to 11 years. It leaves at staggered times between 10 and 11.15am on Saturday morning. Registrations are required because numbers are limited.

Other events

You can find details of other events on in and around Christchurch on the Council's events webpages.