Culture: Go guide
Summer movies kick off
The Arts Centre’s summer season of outdoor cinema kicks off for another year this evening with a double bill of The Polar Express (6pm) and Love Actually (8pm). The event will be held in the centre’s restored North Quad. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and audiences are advised to come early and bring something comfortable to sit on. A gold coin donation – which will go directly towards the Arts Centre restoration programme – would be appreciated. For more information, see artscentre.org.nz
Seaside Santa
The New Brighton Seaside Market’s annual Christmas parade and concert will take place tomorrow morning. Santa will arrive by boat on New Brighton Beach at 10.15am, before joining the parade, which starts on the corner of Marine Parade and Hawke St at 10.30am. Then, on Sunday, the Santa action shifts to Rangiora with a Christmas party in Victoria Park from midday until 6pm and a Santa parade along High St from 2pm.
Live in the Park
Shapeshifter, Shihad, Kora, Dub FX, Drax Project and Sunshine Sound System are all set to perform at the Live in the Park!gig in Hagley Park tomorrow. Gates open at 2pm, and organisers are promising at least eight-and-a-half hours of music. For more information and tickets, see dashtickets.co.nz
From Bach to The Beatles
The Garden City Orchestra’s Christmas concert will take place at Oxford Tce’s St Michael’s and All Angels Church tomorrow night. Featuring the Canterbury Cellists, Jazzamatazz Choir and harpist Ning Chiang, the show will include works by Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens, Dvorak, Bach, Barber and The Beatles. Tickets for the 7pm concert are available at the door.
Handel two Messiahs?
A Christmas tradition returns to the St Margaret’s College’s Charles Luney Auditorium tomorrow night. Now in its 26th year, the Christchurch City Choir’s presentation of Handel’s Messiah will take place from 7.30pm. This time around, they will be joined by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, with John Linker as conductor. Soloists include Madeleine Pierard, James Clayton, John Longmuir and Cassandra Seidemann. Tickets from eventfinda.co.nz. Meanwhile, Manchester St’s St Mary’s Pro- Cathedral will host CBS (Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament) Music’s performance of Messiah on Sunday at 2pm. Natalia Lomeiko will lead the Cathedral Orchestra, while the choir will be joined by soloists Elizabeth Emeleus, Louisa Pilkington, Theo Moolenaar, Wally Enright, Ken Joblin and Chris Whelan. Admission is by programme donation of $20 (adult) or $15 (concession) at the door.
A celebration of dance
DJ Trillion returns to Christchurch for a concert at the Opawa Church community hall tomorrow night. Billed as a drug and alcohol-free event, Ecstatic Dance encourages participants to ‘‘release stress, forget your worries, get out of your head and into the moment’’ while listening to electronic and world music beats and rhythms. Entry to the 7pm event is $10 (under-14s free).
Double bill
West Melton’s Nut Point Centre will celebrate Christmas with a special double bill of Blues Mamas and Molly’s Remedy on Sunday from 2pm. Tickets include wine and afternoon tea. For bookings, see nutpoint.org
Winners in concert
Still buzzing from their victory on this year’s The Naked Choir TV show, Christchurch a capella group Voice Co will perform a Christmas fundraising concert at The Arts Centre’s Great Hall on Sunday. The 2pm show will feature a mix of festive classics and other favourites. For more information and tickets, see artscentre.org.nz
Bold as Brass
Woolston Brass will be joined by their Academy players for their Christmas Wonderland concert at St Margaret’s College’s Charles Luney Auditorium on Sunday. Tickets for the 3pm show are available from dashtickets.co.nz or at the door.
Charity cricket
The Crusaders’ annual switch of codes will take place at Christchurch Boys’ High School on Sunday. Now in its 35th year, the Cystic Fibrosis Charity Cricket match this time sees the red-and-black rugby representatives take on a team of Olympians and stars from other sporting codes in a Twenty20 game. The first delivery is scheduled for 11am. Other activities include a charity auction, bouncy castle and children’s cricket academy.
Densem’s debut album
Jonathan Densem will celebrate the release of his debut album I’m Saying It Now at St Margaret’s College’s Charles Luney Auditorium. Twenty-five years in the making and one year in recording, it was put together thanks to those who gave to a Givealittle campaign after Densem was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. Tickets for the 7pm concert are available from eventfinda.co.nz
Nerd Wars
Live comedy panel show The Nerd Degree will present a Star Wars & Christmas Special at Ferrymead’s Orange Studios on Wednesday from 7.30pm. Two teams of comedians will answer impossible questions about pop culture and geeky trivia and the show is recorded for a podcast. Information and tickets, eventbrite.co.nz