What’s on in Christchurch this weekend and beyond
Open Christchurch 2024
❚ When: Today until Sunday
❚ Where: Various venues around Christchurch
The annual celebration of architectural excellence as Christchurch returns this weekend, opening doors to some of the city’s most iconic buildings and designed landscapes. There are over 50 sites to explore, including Marian College, housed in a transformed supermarket warehouse; the mixed-use Papa Hou community facility; the award-winning Fonua Mana Tongan Church; urban food resilience hub Ōtākaro Orchard, open to the public for the first time; and Te Koraha and St Andrew's at Rangi Ruru for the history buffs. Limited spots are available for some tours, but most sites do not require bookings and are free.
Visit openchch.nz for more information.
Christchurch City Chorus – Cabaret dinner show
❚ When: Tomorrow, 7pm to 11pm
❚ Where: Addington Raceway Silks Lounge, 75 Jack Hinton Drive, Christchurch
Indulge in an evening of entertainment at the Christchurch City Chorus Cabaret Dinner Show. The two-course dinner will be accompanied by live music featuring the chorus, Quantum Acoustics and talented vocalist Elizabeth Braggins, who will treat the audience to evening of singing and fun musical games.
Tickets are available from TryBooking. com.
Music and charity in Hornby
❚ When: Sunday, 2pm
❚ Where: Hornby Club, 17 Carmen Rd, Hornby, Christchurch
Help to raise funds for Hapai Access Card at a concert featuring Kiwi icon Eddie Low, supported by Sweetazz, Noel Burns, Josh Keating, Liam Keating, Nick Jackman, Vicki Galloway-Downes and Sharon Russell.
Tickets are $30 and are available at the Hornby Club or online at Humanitix.
Christchurch Baby Expo
❚ When: Tomorrow, 9am to 4pm
❚ Where: Wolfbrook Arena, 55 Jack Hinton Drive, Christchurch
Explore a wide range of products, services and expert advice to help you navigate the journey of parenthood with confidence, and take advantage of exclusive expo specials, interactive demos, and competitions.
Free online tickets are available for a limited time through Eventbrite.
Jack Ansett Asks What Everyone’s Having For Dinner
❚ When: Tomorrow, 8.30pm
❚ Where: Little Andromeda Theatre, Level 1/134 Oxford Tce
Known for his irreverent humour and observations on modern life, comedian Jack Ansett invites audiences to join him on an exploration of the quirks and absurdities of community groups, from Facebook dinner plans to neighbourhood gossip. Ansett is a 2023 Billy T Award nominee and veteran of Three’s 7 Days and Guy Montgomery’s Spelling Bee.
Tickets are available from Little Andromeda’s website.
Christchurch Toy and Hobby Fair
❚ When: Sunday, 10am to 2pm
❚ Where: Canterbury Caledonian Society Hall, 5 Michelle Rd, Wigram, Christchurch
Sale items include diecast model cars, trucks, tractors, buses, fire engines and aeroplanes, film and TV-related toys, teddy bears, dolls and books. Bring along your own toys or collectables that you’re looking to sell.
Entry $5 on the door.
Charlesworth Street Reserve Community Planting Event
❚ When: Sunday, 10am to 12pm
❚ Where: Charlesworth Street Reserve, Bromley, Christchurch
The 20ha Charlesworth Reserve has been developed over nearly two decades. The next phase includes a new cycleway and bridges, more walking tracks and signs, and an enhanced predator control programme to make the area safe to reintroduce local butterflies, insects, lizards and birds. Members of the public are asked to help by joining a planting day on Sunday, using trees and shrubs supplied by Trees for Canter- bury. The day is held in conjunction with the Christchurch City Council’s Regional Parks Team and the Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust. Bring along family, friends and a spade.
Canterbury Philharmonia
❚ When: Sunday, 2.30pm
❚ Where: The Piano, 156 Armagh St, Christchurch
This community-based orchestra features about 60 adult musicians, conducted by Mark Hodgkinson. The orchestra’s autumn programme features Schubert (Overture to Rosamunde), David (Concertino for Trombone, featuring soloist Eunseong Kim) and Schumann (Symphony No 1).
Tickets can purchased through TryBooking.com and at the door. Adults $25, under 18s $10.
Naomi Ferguson and Alex Van Den Broek – vocal and piano
❚ When: Monday, May 6, 1.10pm
❚ Where: Great Hall – The Arts Centre, 2 Worcester Blvd, Christchurch
This dynamic duo will draw on jazz, folk and cabaret to bring guests a concert of their favourite songs as part of the ongoing Great Hall Lunchtime Concert Series at the Arts Centre.
Tickets are available from the Arts Centre’s website.
New Zealand String Quartet
❚ When: Tuesday, May 7, 7pm to 9pm ❚ Where: The Piano, 156 Armagh St, Christchurch
Christopher’s Classics present the New Zealand String Quartet, performing a work by New Zealand composer Leonie Holmes and string quartets by Joseph Haydn, Shostakovich and Brahms.
Tickets are available from Eventfinda or at the door.
Riverside Live Music Nights: Clube Do Choro
❚ When: Thursday, May 9, 6pm to 8pm.
❚ Where: Riverside Cantina, 96 Oxford Tce, Christchurch
Clube Do Choro are a passionate ensemble dedicated to celebrating the rich musical heritage of Brazil. Join them for an evening of rhythmic melodies and infectious beats. Singer Renata Rubini interprets songs in Portuguese and English, and is joined by flutist Marianne Pringot, jazz guitarist Matthew Gardner, Julien Pringot on seven-string guitar, and Marcel Dore on percussions.
Tickets ($15) are available from the Riverside Market website.
Speaker Series @ Tūranga
❚ When: Thursday, May 9, 6pm to 7pm
❚ Where: Tūranga, 60 Cathedral Square, Christchurch
Join Dr Bethany Growns from the University of Canterbury for a discussion about crime-solving through the use of forensic science techniques. Explore the psychological mechanisms behind crime-solving techniques, and gain insights into the complex decision-making processes of forensic scientists.
Admission is free, but seats are limited, so reserve a spot by visiting the Christchurch Libraries website.
Bill Withers Social Club
❚ When: Friday, May 10
❚ Where: Isaac Theatre Royal, Gloucester St, Christchurch
This special tribute concert honouring the legendary Bill Withers has a stellar lineup, including vocalists Troy Kingi, Dallas Tamaira (Fat Freddy’s Drop), Rio Hemopo (Trinity Roots), and LA Mitchell (Terrible Sons, Fly My Pretties), alongside band members Iraia Whakamoe and Ryan Prebble (The Nudge, Fly My Pretties), Adan Tijerina (The Yoots, AHoriBuzz), and Daniel Hayles (Lord Echo, Hollie Smith).Withers’ catalogue includes classics such as Lean On Me, Lovely Day, Grandma’s Hands and Ain’t No Sunshine.
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.