8 Family Friendly Christmas Festivities & Giveaway!

It’s the time of year to make the most of the Christmas magic that is liberally sprinkled around Christchurch and Canterbury.  The community really comes to the (Christmas) party, so make the most of Christmas with free and low cost events that everyone can enjoy.

If you’re new to the city, or perhaps have children who are now old enough to enjoy some more Christmas activities, this list is designed to make sure you and your family don’t miss out on what’s happening around the region.

Make sure you read right down to the end of this post to enter our prize draw for one FREE family pass to Christchurch’s International Antarctic Attraction.

1) Santa on Parade is a must – 6th December

If you and your children love the excitement of a big event, then you really shouldn’t miss the free entertainment of the 2009 Christchurch Santa Parade. Make sure you’re well prepared with sunscreen, sunhats and food/drink (and possibly an umbrella if the weather is not looking great), plus folding chairs.

Get there early to pick the best spots and make sure you get a great view of the floats, giant characters, clowns, animals, celebrities (well Simon Barnett) and of course, Santa himself.

The Parade kicks off at 2.00pm, and you can see the route here.

Find out more …

2) Get the whole family into hot water!

If you don’t have friends or family with a bach in Hanmer, but you’d love to head there this summer, the Family Escape put together by Hanmer Thermal Pools is the perfect solution.

This great package includes two night’s accommodation in a Hanmer holiday home, plus a 2 day pass to the hot pools with waterslide passes for the kids, half an hour pedalling the township on a Village Cruiser and a Family Pass to the Crazy Putt mini golf course.

More info plus booking details are here.

3) Strawberry-licious Strawberry Fare – 12th December Waimate

Summer – and Christmas, no better time to enjoy freshly picked strawberries (and ice cream!) at their best.  Get in the mood for summer food at Waimate’s Strawberry Fare – and sort your Christmas shopping all in one go, with a selection of 250 different stalls.

Father Christmas starts his busy seasonal schedule with an appearance at 11am, then keep the whole family entertained with music, food and fun for the rest of the day. If you want to linger longer, there’s a special evening concert from 5pm – 7pm.

Find out more here…

4) A very special Christmas Experience: 14th – 24th December

The Christmas Grotto at Spreydon Baptist Church has become one of Christchurch’s best known Christmas secrets – but this year is your chance to discover the magic for yourself.

For only $2 per person, you and your family can follow the Christmas star through the Christmas Grotto Experience. You’ll find the beginning of the star’s trail at the corner of Lyttelton and Cobham Streets.

For more information visit the Christmas Grotto website – and check out the gallery for images from previous years.

5) Conjure up Christmas magic with Carols by Candlelight – 24th December

Held on the banks of the beautiful Avon River the YMCA Carols by Candlelight is  always a memorable and moving occasion.

Lit by thousands of candles, traditional carols are sung with enthusiasm and plenty of goodwill. Really get into the Christmas mood Christmas Eve (as your shopping should be complete) and enjoy the atmosphere.

This is a free event, from 9pm – 10pm, Victoria Square. See map here

6) Dreaming of a White Christmas in the middle of Summer? 25th December

If you’d love your family to experience a white Christmas when it’s summer outside (or you just want to escape from one of Christchurch’s hot Norwesters), the International  Antarctic Centre has something a little different lined up for your Christmas Day.

Their special Christmas Day package includes entry to the Antarctic Attraction, a Hagglund Ride and lunch – a seasonal Turkey Melt with salad, plus complimentary glass of bubbly, beer or orange juice, handmade fudge for afters and coffee or tea.

More info on pricing and bookings here

7) Christmas on the Bay – 17th December

Timaru is the second biggest city in Canterbury, and the local community really pulls out all the stops at this time of year. So if you’re a local, or you’re going to be in Timaru through December and January, take some time to enjoy the seasonal activities.

Get into the spirit of a South Canterbury Christmas in Timaru.

Christmas on the Bay features carols and songs performed by local Timaru talent, featuring the ‘InHarmony’ choir, celebrity and children’s items, an old fashioned audience sing-along and much more.

The concert starts from 8pm in the Caroline Bay Sound Shell and entry is by gold coin donation.

To find out more about this annual event, drop an email here.

8) Caroline Bay Carnival – December 26th – 10th January

If you’ve never been, then this is the year to take your family to the famous Caroline Bay Carnival running from 26th December (from 10am each day).  This Carnival has been providing seaside entertainment for New Zealand families for 99 years, and is the classic kiwi summer holiday carnival.

Timaru is just an easy two hour drive south of Christchurch down the coast, so a trip to the Carnival makes for a great day out – or a fun holiday weekend.

This summer the Carnival is expected to be as big as other years with 16 days of activities and entertainment planned.

One of the highlights of the Carnival is the spectacular New Year’s Eve midnight fireworks display. This is a must to see and the perfect way to welcome in a new decade!

Find out more about who is performing and what other activities are in store at the Caroline Bay Carnival website.

Bonus: Win A Free Family Pass To The International Antarctic Centre!

Thanks to the wonderful people at the International Antarctic Centre we have a free family pass to give away to our blog readers. Entering is very easy, all you need to do is:

• Follow us on Twitter and retweet this post by clicking on the Twitter icon below, OR
• Subscribe to this blog via RSS or enter your email address into the box near the top of the page, OR
• Share the link on Facebook by clicking on the Facebook icon below, THEN
• Comment below and let us know what you’ve done (make sure you add your email address so we can contact you if you are the lucky winner)

The winner will be drawn 7 days from the date of this post, so don’t miss out!