What’s on in Christchurch this weekend and beyond
Rotary Bookarama
❚ When: Friday, April 26 (10am to 6pm), Saturday, April 27 (10am to 6pm) and Sunday, April 28 (10am to 2pm)
❚ Where: Bishopdale Recreation Centre (formerly YMCA), 13A Bishopdale Court, Bishopdale, Christchurch
Rotary Bishopdale Burnside annual Bookarama is back for its 18th year. Over three days, book enthusiasts can indulge in a treasure trove of literary delights, with donated books spanning various genres, plus jigsaw puzzles, DVDs, CDs, and even vintage vinyl records.
Proceeds go towards funding youth and community projects. Eftpos is preferred.
Craft Supplies Bazaar
❚ When: Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, 9am to 5pm each day
❚ Where: Papanui High School, 30 Langdons Rd, Christchurch
Get ready to unleash your creativity, whether you’re a seasoned craft or just starting, at the Craft Supplies Bazaar – also hosted by Rotary (Papanui club).
There’ll be an extensive selection of sewing, bridal and quilting fabrics, wool, patterns, needles, embroidery, tapestry, craft books, and magazines, plus card making and leather craft tools. Proceeds will go to three local charities: the Rotary Community Breast Milk Bank, Christchurch Aunties, and Good Night Sleep Tight.
Double Goer by Foster Group Dance
❚ When: Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, 7pm to 8pm
❚ Where: Little Andromeda Theatre, Level 1/134 Oxford Tce, Christchurch Experience Foster Dance Group’s new surreal and physically gruelling dance work, Double Goer, here in Christchurch. Following its electrifying international premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and its Aotearoa debut at the Nelson Arts Festival in 2023, this unique performance is back for a New Zealand tour. Double Goer, the English translation of Doppelgänger, chronicles the meeting, battle, and potential demise of two strikingly similar women. Throughout this 50-minute dance show, the women engage in a battle for supremacy, showcasing acts of competition, wit, physical agility, and stamina amid intricately hand-painted artefacts.
Tickets are available from Little Andromeda’s website.
So That Happened – Improv Comedy
❚ When: Friday, April 26, 7.30pm to 8.30pm
❚ Where: The Piano, 156 Armagh St, Christchurch
Join Impulse Theatre for a rollercoaster ride of laughter and spontaneity at this show where true life meets unscripted hilarity. The talented troupe of improvisers draw inspiration from their own lives, sharing real, often ridiculous personal anecdotes to kick off each show. From heartwarming tales to absurd escapades, these stories serve as the springboard for a night of off-the-cuff comedy. Every show is a unique experience.
Tickets are available from Humanitix.
City Nature Challenge
When:
❚ April 26 to 29
Dig for wild plants, spot animals, and search for fungi as part of the City Nature Challenge. This global event aims to put Christchurch’s biodiversity on the map, encouraging residents to explore and document the natural world around them. Submit pictures of your nature finds using the iNaturalistNZ app and join in the celebration of our city’s rich natural heritage.
Events include exploring the red zone, putting a spotlight on nighttime critters and getting up close to aquatic invertebrates. See the programme on the Christchurch City Council’s website.
Terrace Station open day
Where:
❚ Terrace Station, 151 Milnes Rd, Hororata
❚ When: Sunday, April 28, 11am to 3pm Explore Terrace Station’s extensive gardens and walk beneath 150-year-old trees. Drifts of wood cyclamen, white nerines, sternbergia lutea, Sally Holmes roses and bright red dahlias are still flowering. Trees are showing their autumn colours and the huge holly bushes are covered in bright red berries – until the blackbirds move in for a feast. Bring a picnic to enjoy in a sheltered corner. There will be activities for children, and a small plant stall. The $10 entry fee (cash only) goes to the Terrace Station Charitable Trust, children can enter for free. Please leave dogs at home.
Visit terracestation.org.nz for more information about the station.
Vintage Rally
❚ When: Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, 9am to 4pm
❚ Where: 723 McLeans Island Rd, Harewood, Christchurch
Step back in time and celebrate the New Zealand Vintage Machinery Club’s 20th anniversary at the Vintage Rally. Explore the working and static displays of vintage tractors, trucks, and machinery, and the display buildings, where you’ll find historical artefacts and memorabilia showcasing the New Zealand’s agricultural heritage.
Free rides are available for children and adults, and there’ll be food and drinks available on site. Adults $5, children under 15 free.
Harpist Helen Webby
❚ Where: Great Hall at the Arts Centre of Christchurch, Worcester Blvd, Christchurch
❚ When: Monday, April 29, 1.10pm
Get up close and personal with the beautiful evocative instrument that is the harp. Helen Webby will take the audience on a journey around the globe with musical motifs from Baroque to Flamenco, Moto Mojitos to Otari and some French cafe flair with Jacques Ibert. Tickets are available from the Arts Centre’s website.
Do Not Disturb
❚ When: Wednesday, May 1, 5.30pm to 6.30pm
❚ Where: University of Canterbury (Arts South, A4), Ilam, Christchurch Delve into the complexities of African politics with award-winning author and journalist Michela Wrong at the University of Canterbury. Wrong will discuss her latest book, Do Not Disturb, which offers a gripping account of a political murder and an African regime gone astray. Drawing on her experience reporting on Sub-Saharan Africa, Wrong provides insights into the challenges and complexities facing the region, offering a nuanced perspective on the forces shaping its political landscape.
Tickets are free and are available from Humanitix.
Foraging New Zealand by Peter Langlands
❚ When: Wednesday, May 1, 5.30pm
❚ Where: Scorpio Books, Hereford St, Christchurch
Join Scorpio Books and Penguin Random House to celebrate the launch of Foraging New Zealand by Peter Langlands. This guide is your passport to unlocking the culinary treasures of Aotearoa’s wild landscapes, offering advice on identifying and harvesting over 250 edible wild plants. Whether you’re a seasoned forager or a curious novice, you’ll find inspiration and practical advice to enhance your foraging adventures. Free to attend but RSVP by visiting tinyurl.com/ScorpioBooksRSVP. Refreshments will be provided.
Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
❚ When: Wednesday, May 1 to Saturday, June 8
❚ Where: The Aurora Centre, 151 Greers Rd, Christchurch
Embark on an adventure from the comfort of your seat with the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Featuring tales of outdoor exploration and adventure, this film festival celebrates the spirit of mountain culture and the thrill of the great outdoors.
The festival, running around the world since 1976, is screening in 16 locations nationwide, including Christchurch.
Tickets are available from Eventbrite.
Come Together: U2’s The Joshua Tree
❚ When: Thursday, May 9
❚ Where: Isaac Theatre Royal
Some of NZ’s finest musicians will pay tribute to U2’s masterpiece The Joshua Tree. Featuring Jon Toogood, Julia Deans and more, this concert will traverse the timeless classics and deep cuts of U2’s legendary album, from the anthemic With or Without You to the haunting beauty of Where the Streets Have No Name.
Tickets are available from Ticketek.
Do you have an event to share? Email reporters@press.co.nz. This column was created using generative AI tool Chat GPT with oversight and editing from Press journalists.