Christchurch SummerTimes Is Here

(PR.co.nz) The Garden City SummerTimes booklet launches this Friday 10 December with details on events in Christchurch from New Year’s Eve through to March 2011.

The Christchurch City Council coordinates an exciting programme of events each summer with this year’s line up to include Treetech New Year’s Eve in the Square, ASB Classical Sparks, Anthony Harper Lawyers Summer Theatre and Tip Top Kite Day.

Christchurch City Council Events Production Manager Mark Hadlow says after the shakes and tragedies of spring, Cantabrians have good reason to rally together for community fun this summer.

“From partying at our New Year’s Eve event in Cathedral Square to spending a lazy Sunday listening to local music in the Botanic Gardens, we just want everyone to get out and enjoy our wonderful city this Summer,” he says.

Hadlow says a key highlight in next year’s line up will be ASB Classical Sparks in North Hagley Park on Saturday 5 February.

“There will be special guests making a grand entrance, 66 members of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra entertaining young and old, and a choreographed fireworks display to a sensational 70’s classic rock number to finish off the night with a bang.

“We’re really trying to keep a few things under wraps because you can make a good event even better by adding a few surprises – so we’ll keep people guessing about the entertainment right up until the night,” he says.

In addition to the main events, there will be a number of community Summer in the Suburbs events, including activities in local parks and streets across the city.

The World Buskers Festival will also be hitting the streets of Christchurch from 20 to 30 January and the Ellerslie International Flower Show from 9 to 13 March at North Hagley Park.

The Garden City SummerTimes booklet, which will be available at libraries, service centres and delivered to letterboxes around Christchurch this weekend, is a complete guide to free Council events on offer this summer.

“The SummerTimes programme adds real value to local communities because it encourages people to enjoy our city’s beautiful parks, gardens and historic spaces through quality events and entertainment,” says Hadlow.

Key Garden City SummerTimes events for 2011:

Treetech New Year’s Eve – Kicks off the SummerTimes programme on Saturday 31 December in Cathedral Square. A family, alcohol-free event with entertainment from 9:30pm to 12:30am. Around 15,000 people are expected.

The Breeze Lazy Sundays – Sunday 9 January to Sunday 6 March (except for 23 and 30 January) at the Archery Lawn in the Botanic Gardens. Live music featuring a variety of local acts from 4 to 5:30pm. Approximately 1,500 to 2,000 people attend each weekend.

Tip Top Kite Day – Saturday 29 January at New Brighton beach from 3:30 to 6:30pm. Buskers entertainers will be there along with plenty of Tip Top ice-cream.

ASB Classical Sparks – Saturday 5 February (Sunday 6 if wet) in North Hagley Park from 8pm to 10.30pm. With around 100,000 people expected, it is one the largest outdoor concerts in the South Island.

The Anthony Harper Lawyers Summer Theatre – Wednesday 9 to Sunday 27 February (but not 14 or 21 February) on the Daffodil Lawn in the Botanic Gardens. The performance, entitled The Complete History of World Rugby Abridged, will be a fun take on the history of rugby in the lead up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The show runs from Tuesday to Friday at 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday with two performances at 2pm and 7pm.

Sunday Bandstand – Sunday 16 January to Sunday 6 March in Hagley Park, Band Rotunda for the Brass Bands and the Weather Lawn for the Pipe Bands, as well as at Scarborough Park in Sumner. Performances run from midday through to 1:30pm.

Media Release 8 December 2011 from Christchurch City Council.