What’s on in Christchurch this weekend and beyond
Port Noise
Lyttelton’s Port Noise Festival is back for a second year tomorrow.
Performances will be at three venues and an outdoor stage. There will be food and drink available and unannounced performances in various town spaces.
Artists performing include The Bats, Mykki Blanco, Clear Path Ensemble, Coolies, MC Mā, PollyHill x Samara Alofa, Soaked Oats and Wurld Series.
Last year’s event sold out and final release tickets can be found online at Undertheradar.
Off Centre
This eclectic festival celebrates the best of the arts and everything Christchurch loves about the Arts Centre.
Over two nights and one day, the centre is humming with music, comedy, circus, theatre and food.
There’ll be family-friendly and free events, plus ticketed performances.
Headliners include 1 Drop Nation, Icelandic-Kiwi singer-songwriter Hera, Shay Horay presents Katakata Club comedy show featuring Dai Henwood, Prince Orlofsky’s Masquerade Ball with Toi Toi Opera, Sole with Jolt Dance, and the premiere of a new theatre work, Kā Mōrehu by Juanita Hepi.
Check out artscentre.org.nz for tickets and the full line-up of events.
Big Art: to view and to buy
The annual Christchurch Art Show - one of the biggest exhibitions of its type in New Zealand - returns to Te Pae Convention Centre today for three days.
Visitors have the chance to view and buy thousands of high-quality original artworks, meet the artists and view live art demonstrations. From paintings to sculptures and everything in between, this event offers art to suit all tastes.
Tickets are available from The Art Show website.
Meet Kiwi popstar PRINS
New Zealand’s latest pop phenomenon, PRINS, is back where it all started.
PRINS’ singles have topped charts in New Zealand, allowed her to tour four continents, and led her to some of the biggest festival stages.
Now, she’s returning to Christchurch to perform at the James Hay Theatre tomorrow.
“I’m beyond thrilled to bring my most exciting show yet back to Christchurch it’s going to be my biggest and most unforgettable headline show to date,” she says.
PRINS will be joined by Popstars NZ winner Christabel and local singer Amber
Carly Williams. Tickets are available from Ticketek.
Morgan La Fae live in Lyttelton
Local singer-songwriter Morgan
La Fae is performing her brand of indie dream-pop at the Wunderbar in Lyttelton today from
8pm.
La Fae aims to create an immersive experience for her audience to lose themselves in, bringing together intimate storytelling, dramatic theatrics, and sonic sandness to draw listeners into her sparkly dream world.
Holly Kimber will open the show, before La Fae takes to the stage, backed by Adam Hattaway on guitar, Sam White on drums, Leo Suggate on bass, and Alice Steele on violin.
Tickets are available from Undertheradar.
Weekend markets
Celebrates the amazing cultural diversity in our community at Culture Fest today.
There’ll be local food trucks, cultural music, dance, and community groups at Riccarton High School from 4.30pm to 8.30pm. Entry is free.
Meanwhile, Christchurch has a brand new market launching tomorrow - and it’s all about fun for the whole family.
Kids in the City features a range of stallholders, food and dessert trucks, face painting, and more, allowing the kids to play while their parents and caregivers shop.
The event is pram and dog friendly and there’s lots of paid parking lots or streetside parking available nearby.
Kids in the City is at The Welder on Welles St in central Christchurch from 10.30am to 3pm.
Entry is by donation.
The Dutch Market is also on this weekend, celebrating everything Dutch.
Think erwten soup, poffertjes, oliebollen, cheese and groceries from Stanmore BinIn, rookworst, games and free books. Dutch lessons are also offered in a small group.
The Dutch Market is at the Netherlands Society Cultural Centre (637 Marshland Rd, Christchurch) from 10am to 12.30pm monthly, including this Sunday.
Recycling facility open day
Ever wondered what happens to the contents of your yellow recycling bin after it’s been collected?
EcoSort opens its facility up to the public once a year to teach people about its recycling processes.
This free event - happening again tomorrow from 9am to 1pm on Parkhouse Rd in Wigram - aims to be a fun and education event for people of all ages.
Visitors can also chat to the team about recent changes to rubbish and recycling rules nationwide, find out about EcoSort’s recent $16.8 million facility upgrade, and win prizes.
Parking is available on Michelle Rd, with limited on-site parking for mobility permit holders.
Lady Sings the Blues
Lady Sings the Blues is a powerful tribute to the women of the blues who have given us heartfelt tunes and influenced generations of singers.
This show featuring a top line-up of talented local musicians will cover the greats, from Bessie Smith, Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Aretha Franklin, right through to Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi, Amy Winehouse and Billie Eilish
The concert is happening at the Eyreton Hall (4 Mandeville Rd, North Canterbury), from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Friday, March 15.
Tickets cost $25 per person. Text 027 404 7712 for more.
The Warriors meet the Raiders
The One New Zealand Warriors return to the mainland in Season 2024 for their third-round battle against the Canberra Raiders at 8pm on Friday, March 22, at Apollo Projects Stadium.
Don’t miss out on being at this historic fixture – 30 seasons in the making.
Tickets are available from Ticketek.
Afrique En Cirque
The Afrique En Cirque show aims to showcase the strength, agility and joy of life found in African youth.
Daring acrobats, accompanied by live musicians, will perform to the rhythm of the djembes of Guinea with their original choreograph.
The show hopes to transport viewers to a place where the diversity of traditional African arts are illuminated, combined with the virtuosity of a modern North American Circus performance.
Tickets for shows on Friday March 22 and that Saturday at the Christchurch Town Hall are available from Ticketek.