What's On
What’s on this summer holiday (December to February)
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.
Don’t forget our beautiful outdoor spaces to explore. Relax on our forest bathers in the Ashburton Domain, or bike around Lake Hood. From skateparks to gardens, walking tracks to playgrounds there’s something for everyone to do in Mid Canterbury.
You can grab a hardcopy of the booklet from all our facilities (Library, EANC, Art Gallary and Museum, etc), or check out the digital version here š
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...
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Exhibition | and with his kiss i became a braided river, Wesley John Fourie
Ashburton Art Gallery
15th Dec 2024 - 21st Feb 2025
Opening event | Saturday 14 December, 6pm
Waitaha Canterbury contains nearly sixty-four percent of the braided rivers found in Aotearoa New Zealand. Their dynamics are still being understood, but what...
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Exhibition | In View: Reflections of Whakatere Ashburton's Unique Artistic Treasures
Ashburton Art Gallery
21st Dec 2024 - 21st Feb 2025
In View features a selection of artworks from the Ashburton Art Gallery Incorporated Collection (AAG Inc.) and the Ashburton District Council’s...
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EANC Holiday Programme - December
EA Networks Centre
19th Dec 2024 - 24th Dec 2024
08:30 am - 05:00 pmNeed 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 -...
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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
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Christmas i-spy
Ashburton Library
14th Dec 2024 - 31st Jan 2025
Can you find all the hidden items in our Christmas themed i-spy display?All tamariki/children
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Bridging the chasm - 150 years of Ashburton District Railway
Ashburton Museum
1st Dec 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...
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Exhibition | Falling if not Flying, Michael Greaves
Ashburton Art Gallery
9th Dec 2024 - 7th Feb 2025
Opening event | Saturday 14 December, 6pm
This recent body of work from Åtepoti Dunedin-based painter Michael Greaves are a continuation of the last four years of his practice, a...
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Celebration Tree - Summer Activities
Ashburton Art Gallery
15th Dec 2024 - 5th Jan 2025
Help us create a 3D community tree out of recycled materials to celebrate a variety of cultural holidays.15 December – 05 January10AM – 4PM...
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Suitcase Travel Tags
Ashburton Art Gallery
5th Dec 2024 - 5th Jan 2025
Taking inspiration from our exhibition Lost Luggage, design a suitcase tag so that your luggage will never get lost on your summer travels.15 December –...
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Jar of Emotions Poster
Ashburton Art Gallery
15th Dec 2024 - 25th Jan 2025
Fill your jar with diļ¬erent colours and materials that speak to each of your emotions to create a beautiful poster.15 December – 25 January10AM...
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Santa Hat Making
Ashburton Art Gallery
18th Dec 2024 - 24th Dec 2024
Make your own Santa hat in the lead up to Christmas!18 December – 24 December10AM – 4PM daily
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Teen Summer Reading Challenge
Ashburton Library
1st Dec 2024 - 24th Jan 2025
Have a bricktacular summer with our teen reading challenge.Complete all four challenges and claim a free choccy fish!Complete them twice and go into the draw...
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Kidsā 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...
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EANC Holiday Programme - January
EA Networks Centre
6th Jan 2025 - 31st Jan 2025
08:30 am - 05:00 pmNeed 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 -...
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Hampstead Pool Swimming
EA Networks Centre
3rd Jan 2025 - 2nd Feb 2025
01:00 pm - 06:00 pmFreshen 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
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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
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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...
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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...
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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
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DIY Paper Train
Ashburton Art Gallery
6th Jan 2025 - 25th Jan 2025
Learn how to make a DIY paper train using coloured paper, glue, and a marker pen! This simple and fun craft project is perfect for...
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Te Reo Scavenger Hunt
Ashburton Art Gallery
26th Jan 2025 - 9th Feb 2025
Celebrate the month of Waitangi with our fun and educational Te Reo MÄori Rapu Hamu (Scavenger Hunt)! Learn new words and about Te Tiriti as...
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Marae Making
Ashburton Art Gallery
26th Jan 2025 - 9th Feb 2025
Make your own marae as a fun and engaging way to learn about the MÄori view of wellbeing - Te Whare Tapa WhÄ.26 January -...
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Air New Zealand Talk | Lost Luggage
Ashburton Museum
15th Jan 2025 05:30 pm
Unfortunately, mishandled baggage and lost luggage can sometimes be a part of the travel experience. But how can you minimise the chances of this happening?To...
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