French festival, wildlife birthday, brass bands
Your Christchurch week, 8 to 14 Oct
This weekend
Six picks for Saturday and Sunday
-
The Extravaganza Fair
A free-entry travelling fair with market stalls, arts and crafts, food, musical entertainment and kids' shows.
Free -
Electrify Christchurch Expo
See electric vehicles and home tech on display and bring your wheels for a free run on the museum's airstrip.
Free -
Akaroa French Festival
Enjoy three days of French markets, a parade, live music, a cabaret and a historical re-enactment.
$20 -
Orana's 50th Birthday
Celebrate the park's 50th birthday with a range of free activities and activations during the spring school holidays.
$39.50 -
National Band of New Zealand
Leading brass and percussion musicians from across Aotearoa perform under the musical direction of David Bremner.
$40 -
Resonate: Community Brass Band Showcase
Local brass ensembles share the stage with the National Band of New Zealand in a community showcase.
More events this week
Day by day
Thursday, 8 October 2026
Pegasus Arms Restaurant & Bar, 5.30pm to 7pm. A public talk on cycling topics, this week featuring Councillor Nathaniel Herz Jardine discussing cycle infrastructure. Free.
Canterbury Museum, 9am to 5pm. An exhibition of 200-year-old artworks from Singapore, brought to life through an immersive digital experience. Free. Runs regularly; check the event page for other dates.
Weber Bros presents 'THE CIRCUS'
Weber Bros Big Top, Christchurch, from 7.30pm. Runs regularly; check the event page for other dates.
Friday, 9 October 2026
School Holiday Fun: Homemade Instruments Workshop
The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, 11am to 12pm. Children can create their own musical instruments from everyday materials in these age-specific workshops. $15. Ages 5 to 8: 11am to 12pm; Ages 8 to 12: 1 to 2pm.
City Night Market Grand Opening
The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, 5pm to 9.30pm. To celebrate the grand opening, the first 100 visitors receive a free cup of regular bubble tea. Free. Runs regularly; check the event page for other dates.
Saturday, 10 October 2026
New Brighton Club, 10am to 2pm. Enjoy a warm market atmosphere with a range of food stalls, variety stalls and free face painting. Free. Runs regularly; check the event page for other dates.
Christchurch Bridge Club, 10am to 3pm. A family event featuring demonstrations, traders, a children's corner and raffles for all fibre crafts. $2.
School Holiday Fun: Sculpture Festival
The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, 10am to 4pm. Find sculptures hiding in plain sight, follow clues and complete challenges around The Arts Centre. Free. Runs regularly; check the event page for other dates.
Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, 11am to 1pm. See and try a range of recumbents, velomobiles, unicycles, penny farthings and tandems. Free.
Resonate: Brass Band Masterclasses and Workshops
Charles Luney Auditorium, 9.30am to 4pm. Join members of the National Band of New Zealand for free brass masterclasses and workshops. Free.
Sunday, 11 October 2026
Opposite Latimer Square, 1pm to 3.30pm. Join a guided social bike ride leaving from Latimer Square, followed by a social catch-up. Free. Runs regularly; check the event page for other dates.
Riccarton Racecourse, 9am to 2pm. A vibrant Sunday market with a wide mix of stallholders for browsing, shopping and eating. Free. Runs regularly; check the event page for other dates.
Dad joke of the week
What did the grape say when it got stepped on?
Nothing, it just let out a little wine.
Forwarded by a mate? Get your own.
The whole Christchurch week, free every Thursday.
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