What's on in Akaroa

What’s on in Akaroa – August 2019

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Winter Market

Location: Trinity Church

Date: 18th August 2019, Sunday

The Banks Peninsula Preschool’s Winter Market and Car boot sale will be held at Trinity Church in Akaroa township from 10am to 1pm. A wide selection of food with baking from around the world, arts & Craft, a raffle, live music and a car boot sale.

The Gaiety Ball

Location: The Gaiety

Date: 31st August 2019, Saturday

Spring into Spring with the a fabulous night of entertainment from the Neill Pickard Band. A light supper is provided and BYO drinks. Doors open at 7:30 with an entry fee of $75.00 All proceeds are going towards the Akaroa Health Centre. Call Dale for tickets 03 3048900

What’s on in Akaroa – May 2019

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Akaroa Gallery Pub Quiz Night

Date: Friday 17th May @ 6pm
Location: The Madeira Hotel

Those who were at last year’s event will remember it was a lot of fun.
Rustle up your team of four bainiacs and enter this years Gallery pub quiz. $10 per person at the door and everyone welcome.
As usual Mr Bob Masefield will be firing out the questions as quizmaster so he is guaranteed to provide a few laughs on a cool Autumn night. All proceeds going to the hospital rebuild and the generous folk at the Maderia are providing a complimentary light supper.
1st prize is $80 for the team plus a bottle of wine each. 2nd prize is a bottle of wine each. Tables are limited so ensure a seat book via Jan Collins asap:  janandclyde@xtra.co.nz  or 022 318 6953.

Lumiere d’Akaroa Light Festival

Location: Garden of Tane, Onuku Road, Akaroa
Date: Saturday 18th May 6pm-10pm

Akaroa lights up at night! The picturesque and historic Garden of Tane in the heart of Akaroa, will be magically transformed into a glowing wonderland from 6-10pm. This is a family focused FREE event.
Visitors will be invited to follow an intriguing trail of light and artist installations through the garden.
Food and drink will be available at the end of the trail.
The garden trail will start at the Garden of Tane main entrance and wind through the wooded garden paths.
People will be encouraged to park at the Akaroa Area School grounds and walk to the main entrance. The garden will light up and in various locations along the route light installations by artists and community groups will delight and surprise. The artists installations will have a map with the artists names and a short brief about their installation.

Whats on in Akaroa – April 2019

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As usual we bring you our pick of the events around Akaroa this Autumn.

Cruising out party
Location: Maderia Hotel
Date: April 13th, Saturday
The last cruise ship of the season is always a chance to crack open a bottle of bubbles and celebrate yet another bumper season. This year the Madria Hotel plays host, Anthony Pickard & DJ Azure play the tunes and a nautical theme is encouraged with prizes for best dressed. Free entry, 5:30pm kick off and all are welcome, me hearties!!!

Little River Pumpkin Festival
Location: Little River
Date: April 14th, Sunday
Little River comes alive (even more alive) as the annual festival of everything pumpkin related come to town. It might be to late to enter the biggest pumpkin competition so maybe get creative and make a scarecrow instead. For all pumpkin info follow the pumpkin.

Akaroa & Bays Lions Paddy’s Market
Location: Akaroa Recreation Ground
Date: 20th April, Saturday
Love a good deal?, love the thrill of an auction?, or just love looking at other peoples junk?, then this will be heaven for you. With over 200 lots last year this is a bargain hunters paradise. The auctions kick of at 10:30 and the big tent opens at 10:00.  Happy shopping!!!

Information provided in part by Akaroa District Promotions

Whats on in Akaroa – March 2019

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Wow!!!!….this is going to be a busy month. There is something on just about every day in and around Akaroa. You might need to stay the whole month.

Seaweek
Location: Akaroa
Date: 2nd March – 9th March
This seaweek looks to be the best yet. A host of talks throughout the week, displays from MPI, a special habour tour deal with Akaroa Dolphins and all the usual wildlife action out on the water.

Godzone
Location: Akaroa and beyond
Date: 10th-17th March
The world’s largest adventure race gets underway in Canterbury from the 10th– 17th March, with Akaroa as the host location. The course and race start line remain a secret until race weekend but keep an eye out for a couple of hundred competitors running, biking, kayaking and whatever else can be thrown at them over the week. Good luck to all!!!

Akaroa Harvest Festival
Location: Potterscroft, Rue Grehan
Date: 30th March. 10am-3pm.
This is becoming yet another highlight in the Akaroa calendar. The grounds of Potterscroft become a hive of activity with local chefs cooking tasty dishes, cooking demonstrations, a cake auction, local produce and hopefully sunshine. Entry is $10 with proceeds going to the local health hub.

La Grande Auto Show
Location: Recreation ground
Date: 31st March, 10.30am – 4pm
After a day of eating and drinking at the harvest festival relax among the polished chrome and smell of petrol as La Grande Auto takes over the town. See all the classics and the ones you can only dream about. $5 entry

Whats on in Akaroa – February 2019

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Ohps….. Summer is nearly over. We have been so busy enjoying the amazing activities that are on in Akaroa this summer we have forgotten to inform anyone else about them. We would now suggest waiting until March as some world famous events are taking place in just a few weeks. La Race, GodZone, Harvest Festival need we say more….

Whats on in Akaroa – January 2019

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Happy New Year!!! We hope 2019 is going to be an amazing year for you all and that you can take time out of your busy lives to come and unwind for a few nights in picturesque Akaroa. Just in-case you need some inspiration here is our top three events for this month to draw you over the hill.

Akaroa Scarecrow Trail
Location: All around the Akaroa town
Date: All day ever day until January 31st 2019
This cheap, challenging and family friendly activity is a great way to explore the Akaroa township. Simply buy a map from the Akaroa i-Site for $10.00 and search for the “Scarecrow” characters around Akaroa. See how quick you can finish or space it out over a few days, the choice is yours. Some are super easy and some will require you phone a friend. All proceeds go to Duvauchelle School and all completed Scarecrow forms go in the draw to win a prize.  Happy hunting!!!

Wainui Good Folk Festival
Location: Wainui YMCA
Date: January 5th, Saturday
Who needs Akaroa when events like this are popping up about the Peninsula.  This should be a great day out and features 9 acts including some of New Zealand’s most exciting artists. Things kick off at midday and like most things in Wainui will finish at 9:00pm. There will also be local food and wine producers selling there fare throughout the day. Tickets are $40 and on sale now at the Akaroa butchery, and various other places. Catch the latest updates on their facebook page

Akaroa Music Festival
Location: Spread over three venues in Akaroa
Date: 11th – 27th January 2019
Now in it’s twelfth year this event has now established itself as one of Akaroa’s premiere annual events. Once again there is a talented line up of a artists spread out over the two weeks. Purchase your tickets online at Eventfinda or at the Akaroa i-Site. Further info here.

Whats on in Akaroa – December 2018

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Merry Christmas!!!

Who cares whats on it’s Christmas once again!! Its the time to get out, eat to much, have a lemonade or two and enjoy the company of your friends and family. What better place to spend Christmas but in Akaroa. BBQ on the beach or singing carols in the park it’s the time of year to just get out of the city and enjoy the serenity that the Peninsula has to offer.

Our family would just like to thank all our fabulous staff who have helped us out at the motel this year, all the guests who have come to stay with us, the tradies who have dropped their tools to help us out when deadlines are short and our friend and family who are always there to roll up their sleeves and chip in.

Best wishes and Merry Christmas

Alex, Jane and family.

Whats on in Akaroa – Movember 2018

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Our pick of this months top reasons to stay over in Akaroa.

Banks Peninsula Walking Festival 2018

Banks Peninsula Walking Festival
Location: All over Banks Peninsula
Dates: Weekends only between 3-25 November 2018

Lets your mostache experience fresh air this Movember with some great walks and tramps on Banks Peninsula. Let yourself be guided by some knowledgeable and remarkable people through landscapes you wouldn’t normally get the chance to experience. Many walks are full now, so secure the last spots before it’s to late! This is one of the best ways to explore the Peninsula with some expert local guides.
Bookings are very very essential for all walks and are available through Eventfinda

Inside Out - Akaroa House & Garden Tour 2018

Inside Out’ – Akaroa & the Bays House & Garden Tour
 Location: All over the Peninsula
Date: November 17th  & 18

This is a not to be missed event. This year the ‘Inside Out‘- Akaroa & the Bays House & Garden tour has a range of 14 wonderful houses and gardens to visit over the weekend.  Peak inside some world famous locations with this fantastic opportunity to visit some of the Peninsulas best kept homes and gardens. Tickets are limited so book now and don’t miss out. This is a community fundraiser and with tickets a steal at $30 for the whole weekend.

The French Connection
Location: The Gaiety
Date: 1pm, November 25th Sunday

By now your mustache should be looking amazing and what better way to entertain your new pride and joy than with a few enticing orchestral masterpieces by the Resonance Ensemble from Christchurch (aka, the big city). Conductor Tony Ryan has chosen music that will appeal to everyone and hopefully everything, mustache included.

More information about the concert can be found at on the resonance website.

Tickets are only available at the door.$20 for adults and $10 for kids should you feel the need to drag yours along on a hot Sunday afternoon when they would much rather be at the beach.

 

Whats on in Akaroa October 2018

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Spring is well in truly here. With events nearly every weekend, the first cruise ship docking in the harbour, school holidays and plenty of sunshine forecast this October should see a good start to the summer season.

Farmers Market
Location: Maderia Carpark
Date: Every Saturday morning until April
Wake up and wander down to the the local Akaroa farmers market and start your day with a couple of crepes or freshly baked french pastry. The market brings to town so of the best local producers. Smoked salmon, olive oil and baked goods just to name a few. The first market for the season is on October 6th and runs every Saturday morning through the summer from 9.30am- 1pm

Takehe to Akaroa road relay
Location: Finish line at Recreation grounds, Akaroa
Date: Saturday October 6th
This year the annual road relay race is also the national championships and will see approx 900 competitors battle it out over the hill to Akaroa. The first runners are expected in about 2pm and prize giving will be at 4pm. Good luck to all competing.

Don McGlashan
Location: The Gaiety
Date: Friday October 19th
Don McGlashan strolls into town with his Free Flight NZ Tour. Sounds like it could be sponsored by Air New Zealand but probably isn’t. Check out his website for full tour info and where to buy tickets. Price is $44 and kicks off at 7:30pm

 

 

Whats on in Akaroa – September 2018

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Spring is finally upon us once again and it’s time for everyone to awaken from their winter slumber, remember there is a world outside and start exploring. With school holiday starting late this year and the first cruise ship arriving early October it’s the perfect month to enjoy the serenity that Akaroa has to offer. Take your time on the way over; stop Little River to check out the art gallery, pause in Cooptown to enjoy the blossoms and stretch the legs at the hilltop while admiring the view.

Should you need a reason to visit here is a few of the not so many things going on this September:

Whitebait Talk
Location: The Gaiety
Date: Saturday, 15th September, 7pm

The guest speaker is Dr Mike Hickford. For those who don’t know him he inspired the Takamatua Stream project that is protecting & enhancing our local inanga spawning site. Mike is a whitebaiter and a scientist at University of Canterbury- with more than 20 years of research. “Our freshwater fishes are interesting critters (and tasty fritters)”.  Of the five species of fish that make up whitebait, three of the species are “at risk & declining”, and one is “threatened”. The government is undertaking a review of the fishery to ensure its sustainability into the future. The future of whitebaiting? “Let’s not wait, save the bait”!

Adam McGrath
Location: The Gaiety
Date: Friday, 28th September, 7.30pm

Larger than life Mr Adam McGrath is joined this time by a small but mighty rhythm section, The Roaring Days.
A folk singer/songwriter, McGrath is at home with bluegrass, blues, country and rock and roll as much as folk and is known for the intensity, passion, love and humour of his performances.
$20 a ticket at the Akaroa Museum.

Banks Peninsula Glitz & Glam Ball
Location: The Gaiety
Date: Saturday, 29 September

Banks Peninsula RFC is delighted to host the Glitz & Glam Ball 2018. Last year was a huge success, this year will be even better. Urban Rumours will be on stage. There will be great canapés and plenty of refreshments available from the cash bar.Limited tickets available so buy yours now to be part of this great event!
Red carpet open from 7:00 – 8:00pm. $80 per ticket via iTicket

Information provided by Akaroa District Promotions