banner image

Council Events

Welcome to our summer guide of family-friendly activities.

Whether you want quiet time or have energy to burn, there’s loads of (mostly) free stuff to do at our Ashburton District Council facilities.

November 2024

Light up the Night

Ashburton District Council

30th Nov 2024 06:00 pm

Welcome in the festive season with our free Christmas celebration! Bring your friends, bring your family and join us in Baring Square East for an evening of live entertainment, music and a special guest appearance from Santa himself. At 9.15pm,...

View Event

Bridging the chasm - 150 years of Ashburton District Railway

Ashburton Museum

13th Nov 2024 - 2nd Mar 2025

Arriving in August 1874, the Great Southern Railway opened Ashburton to the world. The station became the arrival and departure platform for thousands of people coming and going over the next 128 years until all passenger services ceased in 2002....

View Event

January 2025

Games on the Green

Ashburton Library

17th Jan 2025

17 and 20 January, 4pm-5:30pm
27 and 31 January, 3pm-5pm

Come along and enjoy some light hearted fun with some backyard games like cornhole and ring toss!Rangatahi/young adults

View Event

Teen Bootcamp

EA Networks Centre

13th Jan 2025 - 27th Jan 2025

Mondays and Wednesdays at 2pm from 13-27 Jan. 45 mins sessions.

Stay fit over summer these holidays at BootCamp!Mondays and Wednesdays at 2pm from 13-27 Jan. 45 mins sessions.Activity for ages 11-16 $5 per session or part of gym membership (only eligible for ages 14+)Rangatahi/young adults

View Event

Community Pools Inflatable Visits

EA Networks Centre

5th Jan 2025

12:00-5:00pm on Wednesdays and 12:30-3:30pm on weekends.

Jump into our inflatable roadshow in Mayfield, Ruapuna, Mount Somers, Hinds and Rakaia.Mayfield Pool: Sun 5 JanMayfield and Ruapuna Pools: Wed 8, Sat 11 and Sun 12 JanMount Somers Pool: Wed 15, Sat 18 and Sun 19 JanHinds Pool: Wed...

View Event

Stadium Inflatable

EA Networks Centre

5th Jan 2025

5, 7, 9, 11 & 14 January

Jump in on Jan 5 and 11 for three two-hour sessions 10am,12.30pm, and 3.30pm.Other weekdays one session 10am-12pmPrice $6.25 - 2 hour session.All tamariki/children

View Event

Hampstead Pool Swimming

EA Networks Centre

3rd Jan 2025 - 2nd Feb 2025

01:00 pm - 06:00 pm

Freshen up with a swim at Hampstead Pool over summer!Lifeguards from EA Networks Centre will be on duty.Public swimming / Adult $4.50 Child $3.50All tamariki/children

View Event

EANC Holiday Programme - January

EA Networks Centre

6th Jan 2025 - 31st Jan 2025

08:30 am - 05:00 pm

Need fully-supervised childcare for your under-13 school-aged child?Book in for games, sports, field trips, Christmas crafts, rest home carol singing and more!Tamariki/children aged 5 - 13 years.Day $40, Full day $50 per session

View Event

December 2024

Waffle cone Christmas trees

Ashburton Library

23rd Dec 2024 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Book in to make a tasty and edible waffle cone Christmas tree.All tamariki/children

View Event

Laser Cut Tic Tac Toe

Ashburton Library

20th Dec 2024 10:30 am - 11:30 am

Make your own Christmas themed laser cut Tic Tac Toe game.All tamariki/children

View Event

Schools Out Stadium Inflatable and Pool Movie

EA Networks Centre

21st Dec 2024 09:00 am - 05:00 pm

Bounce in and try our stadium inflatable!Toddler session 9am-10.30am, regular sessions 11am-12.30pm and 1pm-2.30pm finishing with a movie in the pool on the big LED screen 3-5pm.Inflatable costs: Under five $3, ages five+ $6.25, inflatable and pool combo $8. Standard...

View Event

EANC Holiday Programme - December

EA Networks Centre

19th Dec 2024 - 24th Dec 2024

08:30 am - 05:00 pm

Need fully-supervised childcare for your under-13 school-aged child?Book in for games, sports, field trips, Christmas crafts, rest home carol singing and more!Tamariki/children aged 5 - 13 years.Day $40, Full day $50 per session

View Event

Christmas Story Time

Ashburton Library

19th Dec 2024 10:30 am

Come along and enjoy some fun Christmas stories and songs.All tamariki/children

View Event

Teen Summer Reading Challenge

Ashburton Library

1st Dec 2024 - 24th Jan 2025

Have a bricktacular summer with our teen reading challenge.Drop in and pick up this summer’s reading challenge for 12-18 year olds.Complete all four challenges and claim a free choccy fish!Complete them twice and go into the draw for an awesome...

View Event

Christmas Paper Craft

Ashburton Library

18th Dec 2024 10:30 am

Cut & colour your way into Christmas festivities. Get crafty with us at Te Kete Tuhinga.All tamariki/children

View Event

Wriggle & Read Christmas Special

Ashburton Library

17th Dec 2024 10:30 am

Come along and enjoy some of our favourite songs and rhymes along with a few Christmas songs to enjoy in the event space.

View Event

Family Film Time

Ashburton Library

1st Dec 2024 01:00 pm

Enjoy a magical film with the whole family. The movie will be on the big screen in the event space.Whole whānau/family. Max 100 people

View Event

Christmas i-spy

Ashburton Library

1st Dec 2024 - 31st Jan 2025

Can you find all the hidden items in our Christmas themed i-spy display?All tamariki/children

View Event

Kids’ Summer Reading Challenge

Ashburton Library

14th Dec 2024 - 22nd Jan 2025

Rocket into the Ashburton Library this summer for this season’s kids’ summer reading challenge.Complete the challenge and be in to win one of 10 Whitcoulls gift vouchers valued at $25.All tamariki/children

View Event

Bauble Creation

Ashburton Library

10th Dec 2024

10 and 12 Dec, 5.30pm-7.30pm

10 and 12 Dec, 5.30pm-7.30pmThink your family Christmas decoration’s need an upgrade?Come along and add your own creative style with some colourful Christmas trinkets or bring along something small to add to a bauble to gift or cherish.For ages 12-18...

View Event

Women’s Swim Night

EA Networks Centre

11th Dec 2024 07:00 pm - 08:30 pm

Whether you want to come for a soak, do some lengths, spend time with your children or try an aqua fitness class, we have something for you.$5 per adult (special price) and kids are free.Boys under 10 allowed.

View Event

Christmas Carols at EANC

EA Networks Centre

10th Dec 2024 11:45 am - 12:15 pm

Join us for carols in our foyer, as primary school children and the Mayor hang a decoration on the tree.

View Event

Sensory Swim Session

EA Networks Centre

8th Dec 2024 08:00 am - 09:30 am

The learn to swim pool will have various equipment for people to explore the water and their senses.The music and water features will be turned off, lights dimmed and other stimuli minimised.Standard pool prices apply. Caregivers for people with Community...

View Event

Active Adventures

EA Networks Centre

4th Dec 2024

4 and 18 Dec, 10.30am-12.30pm

Join us for exploration play for toddlers.4 and 18 Dec, 10.30am-12.30pmA space for toddlers and parents to come and play with balls, sensory toys, balance beams, bikes and foam blocks.Child-led, adult-supervised play session for under fives.Pēpi and tamariki / Babies...

View Event

Christmas T-shirts

Ashburton Library

2nd Dec 2024 - 13th Dec 2024

03:00 pm - 11:00 am

2 - 13 DecMon - 3pm-4pmTues - 11am-12pmWed - 2pm-3pmThurs - 11am-12pmFri - 10am-11amOpen to teens 12 to 18 years.Bring along your own t-shirt and choose a printed...

View Event

Sewing Creation

Ashburton Library

1st Dec 2024 10:00 am - 02:00 pm

Open to people aged 16 -25 years.Available dates:1 Dec 10am-2pm6 Dec and 24 Jan, 2pm - 5pm12 Dec, 12 and 16 Jan, 10am - 2pmThis nice simple small bag is great for a festival...

View Event

The Great Santa Hunt 2024

Ashburton Museum

18th Dec 2024 05:00 pm

The Great Santa Hunt is back on at the Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum these school holidays with a special late night opening event on Wednesday 18 December, so get your torches ready!All the...

View Event

Exhibition | Lost Luggage

Ashburton Museum

4th Dec 2024 - 16th Mar 2025

Lost luggage includes items of luggage or personal goods left behind or that have not arrived at the correct destination with the passenger. Whether travelling by rail, bus, ship or airline, lost luggage usually and hopefully follows shortly after.Luggage with...

View Event

Planning an event? Click here to learn more.