Happy Canterbury Anniversary weekend! Here's your low-cost guide to activities in and around Christchurch over the three-day weekend.

Royal A&P Show of New Zealand

The Royal A&P Show is kicking off today with three jam-packed days ahead. Enjoy non-stop entertainment from equestrian competitions, shearing, and international woodchopping to helicopter rides, lawn mower racing and even the good old-fashioned gumboot throw.

Explore over 400 trade sites, grab a bite to eat at the South Island’s largest gathering of food trucks, and visit the ever-popular Hazlett City Farmyard petting zoo. Check it out at the Canterbury Agricultural Park from 9.30am – 4.30pm Thursday to Saturday.

Make a splash at the summer pools

It’s party time! Christchurch City Council is kickstarting the summer season this weekend with the opening of its five outdoor summer pools and eight paddling pools. Jellie Park’s outdoor pools, Waltham Pool, Templeton Pool and The Norman Kirk Memorial Pool in Lyttelton all open on Saturday, with Te Hāpua Halswell Pool following a day later on Sunday  at 11.30am.

The paddling pools for younger visitors at Scarborough, New Brighton, the Botanic Gardens, Spencer Park in Spencerville, Edgar Macintosh Park in Bryndwr, Avebury Park in Richmond, Woodham Park in Linwood, and Abberley Park in St Albans open on Friday. All summer pools and paddling pools will be open until 29 March 2026. Everything you need to know about the outdoor pools can be found here.

Speaker Series Tūranga | Show Your Working

Discover how maths helps people do their jobs, from surveyors, to software engineers, to the seed industry. Mathateca will be putting on a Show Your Working series at Tūranga on Thursday evening, presentations by professionals about the interesting ways they use maths in their work.

Mathateca are a local charity working to celebrate mathematical ideas and learning in the wider community. Come along from 6 – 7pm Thursday.

Public Backstage Tours | The Court Theatre

Step behind the curtain and discover how the magic is made at The Court Theatre at a public backstage tour. From the first sketch to the final spotlight, everything that appears on stage is carefully designed and lovingly crafted to transport audiences into entirely new worlds.

The Court Theatre creates everything on-site, from the construction of grand sets to the design and fabrication of stunning costumes. A Friend of The Court Theatre will host your tour, sharing stories of past productions and giving you a real taste of what goes on behind the scenes at the South Island's largest theatre company. Sessions will be on this Saturday from 2 – 3pm, book now.

Christmas Beats By Bingo

Beats By Bingo is back at Renegade Brewing Co for one last time before the end of the year and this time it's Christmas themed! Hosted by Taylor Ruddle, this musical bingo show will have you bopping in your seat and singing along in no time. Expect plenty of laughs, awesome prizes, and a rotating mix of crowd-pleasing playlists.

Spots fill up fast, so contact Renegade Brewing Co today to book your table! Beats by Bingo will be on from 7pm Saturday evening.

Riverlution Farmers Market

Come and explore a wonderful selection of seasonal produce, artisan breads, and handcrafted treats at the Riverlution Farmers Market, all created with love by local growers and makers.

Head along to the market at Riverlution, 46A Vogel Street, from 9am to 12.30pm Saturday.

Pop Up Play Reserve

Enjoy a day filled with open-ended play equipment and creative fun at the Pop Up Play Reserve at Linwood Waterway. There will be a slackline, tree swings, a mud kitchen, and plenty of planks, boxes, and other loose parts for tamariki to move, build and create their own play spaces.

This is a community event designed to celebrate the Linwood Waterway. Head down to 112 Tilford St from 1 – 4pm Sunday to check it out.