Diwali, heritage games and big bands
Your Christchurch week, 22 to 28 Oct
This weekend
Six picks for Saturday and Sunday
-
Diwali 2026
A festival of Indian culture with stage performances, light displays, fireworks, rides and food stalls.
Free -
Heritage Festival: Heritage Fun Zone
An outdoor event with heritage games and activities from the 1800s, including skittles and quoits.
Free -
Ferrymead Alive
A living heritage park event with working exhibits, transport, demonstrations and hands-on activities.
$1 -
Orton Bradley Park Spring Fair
A family fair with food, stalls, plants, rhododendron walks, demonstrations and music, subject to weather.
$1 -
Tim Mahon & Kerfuffle
A live music gig featuring original songs and covers from a local four-piece guitar band.
$25
More events this week
Day by day
Friday, 23 October 2026
Various locations, from 12pm. A storytelling project with casual korero, activities and a story booth at various city locations. Free.
TNT! Where Big Band Meets Te Ao Māori
The Piano, from 6pm. A concert fusing big band jazz with te ao Māori, featuring waiata and jazz classics in te reo. $1.
Saturday, 24 October 2026
A Rolling Stone, 12pm to 2pm. A lunchtime event featuring two live big bands, food and drinks. Free.
Heritage Festival: Arts Centre Guided Tour
The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, 1pm to 2pm. A special guided walking tour sharing stories of The Arts Centre site and its history. $15.
Isaac Theatre Royal, from 7.30pm. A birthday concert celebrating 20 years of the jazz festival with two premier big bands. $1.
Sunday, 25 October 2026
Bands at Court Theatre - Performing Arts Precinct Open Day
The Court Theatre, from 11am. Enjoy free big band jazz performances in the theatre foyer as part of the performing arts precinct open day. $1.
Bands at Turanga - Performing Arts Precinct Open Day
Tūranga, from 11am. Free impromptu big band jazz performances at Tūranga for the performing arts precinct open day. $1.
Isaac Theatre Royal- Performing Arts Precinct Open Day
Isaac Theatre Royal, from 12.15pm. A free half-hour jazz orchestra performance as part of the performing arts precinct open day. $1.
Christchurch Art Gallery, from 7.30pm. A gala ball with three big bands, dancing and food to celebrate 20 years of the jazz festival. $1.
Monday, 26 October 2026
Big Band Picnic on the Archery Lawn
Christchurch Botanic Gardens, 10am to 4pm. A picnic event with 12 big bands performing live music throughout the day. Free.
NPC GRAND FINAL: Canterbury v Northland
One NZ Stadium, from 2.05pm. The NPC Grand Final rugby match between Canterbury and Northland.
Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Christchurch Art Gallery, from 6pm. A film festival screening classic and contemporary Japanese cinema. Free.
Dad joke of the week
What did the baker say when his favourite bread was finished?
That's the yeast I could do.
Council and roadworks
Roadworks: SH 76 Brougham Street at the intersection of Strickland, Antigua Streets. SH 76 Brougham Street at the intersection of Strickland, Antigua Streets. Roadworks (services). From 8pm Monday 12 October to 6am Friday 23 October. Due to waste water upgrade work, the road will be closed to eastbound traffic with a 30km/h speed restriction in place until Friday 23rd October between 8pm to 6am. Take extra care and expect delays of up to 10 minutes. Detour: Follow the signed detour route for eastbound travel.
Detour for Mairehau Rd road works. Detour for Mairehau Rd road works. Until further notice. Routes 7, 135, 66, 79. From Tuesday 9th June there will be road works on Mairehau Rd that will require the Route 7 service to detour from its usual route until further notice.
Detour for Harrow St road works. Detour for Harrow St road works. Until further notice. Route 80. From Wednesday 29th July there will be road works on Harrow St that will require the Route 80 service to detour from its usual route until further notice.
Detour for Saint Albans St road works. Detour for Saint Albans St road works. From Thursday 22 October to Thursday 22 October. Route 100. On Thursday 22nd October for 1 day there will be road works on Saint Albans St that will require the Route 100 service to detour from its usual route.
Forwarded by a mate? Get your own.
The whole Christchurch week, free every Thursday.
Got something on in Christchurch?
Send us your event for next Thursday, or sponsor an issue and reach locals in their inbox.
Get your event or business in next Thursday's issue.
Submit an event Sponsor an issue