Christmas in Christchurch 2026
This page explores Christmas related events in Christchurch – from carol services and concerts to Santa parades and festive displays. Christmas events in Christchurch are listed on the Christchurch City Council website and Eventfinda.
- Check out Christmas events at libraries
- Browse library holiday hours
A Coaster For Your Cuppa!
Sew a Christmas Bag, part of a series
A Coaster For Your Cuppa!
Sew a Christmas Bag, part of a series
The Council What's on calendar has details of more Christmas and holiday events.
Ballantynes
Christchurch shops often decorate their windows and have Christmas displays. Department store Ballantynes is famous for its Christmas window. (Last year's window launch was on Saturday 22 November 2025).
Some malls and shops may have a Santa in store to listen to kids’ gift requests, and having a photo taken on Santa’s knee is a New Zealand tradition.
Christmas carols and music
Christmas in the Park is on 7.30pm Saturday 29 November in Hagley Park.
The season of carols culminates with the Carols by Candlelight, taking place on Christmas Eve, 9pm to 10pm in Victoria Square. This twilight gathering has been delighting Cantabrians and visitors every Christmas Eve since 1947.
Other carol services traditionally take place around the city. Check the CCC What's on calendar.
Christmas parades
The VIP Frames & Trusses Christmas Show Parade is a festival style event on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, with entertainment, an amusement park, displays, a Christmas market, food vendors and the Christchurch Santa Parade at 2pm Sunday 6 December at Canterbury Agricultural Park Showgrounds.
Seaside Christmas at New Brighton is on Saturday 19 December from 10am and Rangiora Toyota Santa Parade is on Sunday 29 November, starting at 2pm (the event runs in conjunction with McAlpines Mitre 10 Mega's Christmas Party in the Park 12noon to 4pm in Victoria Park).
Our history of Christchurch Christmas parades has information on Christchurch’s parades dating back to the 1930s and links to photographs of the Hay’s Santa Parade.
Lights, decorations and displays
Shands Road
650 Shands Road is famous for its annual Christmas Lightshow. It is open from Saturday 28 November to 30 December, 8.30pm till 11.30pm.
$15 per adult, $5 per child.
More about Christmas
- Our page of Christmas resources and information
- Christmas for kids
- Browse the Christmas photos in our collection.
