We love FESTA! This Labour weekend "vibrant biennial celebration of urban creativity and community" is one of Ōtautahi's most cool and unique events. It's food for the mind, eyes, and soul. That is particularly apt in 2018 as FESTA gets foody - FESTA 2018 is all about architecture, design - and food. Contribute to the Pledgeme FESTA2018 by midday today (Thursday 27 September) and you'll help the traditional Saturday evening mega-event street party FEASTA! be the best yet.
There are more than 55 events planned for FESTA 2018, here are some of my picks:
FEASTA
The big FREE street party is on Saturday 20 October from 5 to 11pm. It's a FESTA tradition to activate different parts of the city, and this time Mollett Street (which runs between Colombo Street and Durham Street South) is the place to be.
There will be the stunning installations we've come to love at the FESTA party. The 2018 works have been created by more than 130 design and architecture students from across Australia and New Zealand, as well as NZIA and NZILA Canterbury branch members, in collaboration with Creative Director Barnaby Bennett. There will be loads of whānau fun, music, performances, art, markets, and plenty of yummy delights. One of the excellent initiatives on the night is Kono for Kai: 100 hand woven harakeke kono (small food baskets) filled with native plant seedlings and seeds will be available to the public in exchange for a koha of kai (non-perishable goods only please). All koha received will be gifted to a community group for distribution to those in need in the community. Read all about it.
FESTA at Tūranga
Ka rawe! Your new central library Tūranga will be open when FESTA is on, and it is the venue for:
- Storytimes at Tūranga Saturday 20 October, 10.30am–12pm FREE
- Food and the City Symposium with Freerange Press Sunday 21 October, 12.30pm to 4.30pm (3 sessions with breaks in between) FREE
Produce a City
Saturday 20 October and Sunday 21 October 1 to 4pm; Monday 22 October (Labour Day), 10am to 1pm at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
Pop in to this drop-in session and make a cityscape out of food! Use the colourful clay provided to sculpt a house or a building in the shape of fruit and vegetables and add it to the map. Suitable for children aged 7+. FREE
Last Call: Christchurch’s Drinking and Dining Past
Sunday 21 October 6pm to 7.30pm. Meet at Victoria Square. FREE.
Take a trip back in time and explore our culinary past. Join Nik Mavromatis as he hosts a guided walking tour around central Christchurch, starting with Ōtautahi's oldest market square. Nik then takes you to former hospitality sites and reminisces over the cafes, bars and restaurants that were previously part of the fabric of our city.
This is a mere taster, visit the FESTA 2018 to explore all the events on offer.
FESTA information
- FESTA website
- Like FESTA on Facebook
- Subscribe to FESTA events on Facebook
- Follow FESTA on Twitter
- Follow FESTA on Instagram
- See our photos of FESTAs gone by
How you can help
Contribute to the Pledgeme FESTA2018 by midnight tonight Thursday 27 September.
Take a look back at the awesomeness of FESTA
FESTA 2016 - Lean Means
FESTA 2014 - CityUps
FESTA 2013 - Canterbury Tales
FESTA 2012 - LuxCity
Read our 2016 interview with FESTA director Jessica Halliday: Imagining a different Christchurch – Jessica Halliday and FESTA 2016
Add a comment to: FAB FESTA – My five picks for FESTA 2018