School Holiday Programmes and Activities – December/January 2019/20

Libraries and Learning Centres offer holiday programmes including a variety of accessible, safe and affordable activities for children during their school holidays. Our programmes run at various locations. We also connect you with more ideas for holiday events and activities in Christchurch.

December 2019 - January 2020 holiday programmes and activities

During school holidays our libraries and learning centres offer a mix of:

Free, drop-in holiday activities

Free, drop-in holiday activities - there is no charge or booking required for these sessions. Some of these sessions are all-ages, unless noted in the details.

Bad Art Afternoon

Get creative and do it badly! Join us for an afternoon of creating truely bad art. The tackier, the better! We'll finish with an exhibition of your pieces of 'art' where you'll decide who has made the Best Bad Art.
Ages: 12 years +

Tūranga Taupuni Auaha / Creative Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Thursday 23 January, 2pm to 4pm

Butterflies

Can you upcycle a piece of paper into a beautiful butterfly?
Find times and locations.

Family Makerspace

Have fun, create craft and make cool stuff. A different creative activity every week.

  • Tūranga Taupuni Auaha / Creative Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
    Saturdays, 2.30pm to 4pm
  • Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
    Saturdays, 1.30pm to 3pm
    Find times and locations.   

Friday Whānau Fun Night

An evening of stories, family and fun at the library!

  • Christmas Fun! at Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
    Friday 6 December, 5pm to 6pm
  • Mazes at Tūranga
    Friday 24 January, 6pm to 7pm
  • Sustainability at Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
    Friday 7 February, 5pm to 6pm 
    Find times and locations    .

Folded Origami Photo Album

Create a unique paper album to capture your fave summer pics!
Find times and locations.

Make your own decorative wall design

Curl, quill, create a piece of art for your space.
Find times and locations.

"O Christmas Tree"

Whip up a paper Christmas tree using recycled magazines. A perfect addition to your festive table.
Find times and locations.

Origami Fun

Come along and have fun learning the art of origami.
Find times and locations.

Paper Crafts (ice blocks and ice creams)

Make and decorate a sweet summer treat.
Find times and locations.

Judge a Book by its Cover: Book Speed Dating

  • Ages: 8 years + Tūranga Friday 17 January 2020, 1pm to 3pm
    They tell you 'don't judge a book by its cover'? Well we take it back! Come and judge Christchurch City Libraries' junior fiction summer reads. Who knows, you might even find a new favourite book!
  • Ages: 12 years +Tūranga Friday 10 January 2020, 3pm to 5pm
    They tell you 'don't judge a book by its cover'? Well we take it back! Come and judge Christchurch City Libraries' Young Adult summer reads. Who knows, you might even find a new favourite book!
    Find times and locations.

Summer Time Library Hunt

Hunt for letters hidden around your library, and solve the mystery word! While you're there, remember to pick up an entry form for the Summertime Reading Challenge

Learn how to Siva Samoa, Samoa Styles

Siva Samoa is the Samoan term for a Samoan dance. Come along and learn a few moves.

Tūranga TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Saturday 1 February, 2pm to 3pm

Lunar New Year 2020

Join us to celebrate Lunar New Year 2020 - Year of the Rat.

  • Lunar New Year Bilingual Story Times
    Multiple library locations
  • Chinese Traditional Games
    Multiple library locations
  • Lunar New Year Family Day at Upper Riccarton Library
    Saturday 8 February, 11am to 2pm 
  • Lunar New Year Celebration at Tūranga Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
    Saturday 8 February, 11am to 2pm

Storytimes

We offer a range of different storytimes over the holiday period.  Come and join us for some stories and fun.

  • Ngā Pakiwaitara - Bilingual Storytimes
    Tūranga,     Hapori | Community, Level 1
    Find dates and times.
  • Faitauga Tusi-Samoan Storytimes
    Tūranga,     Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2
    Saturday 25 January 2020, 10.30am-11.30am
  • Stories in the Sun-Animal Control and Dog Safety
    Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
    Tuesday 14 January 2020, 10.30am 
  • A Christmas Story
    South Library
    Wednesday 18 December, 5.30pm to 6.15pm 
  • Lunar New Year Bilingual Story Times
    Multiple library locations

Super Bowl 101

Come along and learn the basics of American Football in an informal way.

  • New Brighton Library
    Saturday 25 January,  2pm to 3pm 

Free activities, bookings required

Free activities, bookings (places are limited) are required for the following programmes - call 03 941 7923 or email library@ccc.govt.nz (conditions apply).

Upcycled Magazine Art Workshop

Feeling crafty? Join us and upcycle old magazines and create an artwork for yourself or for a gift!
Ages: 10 to 15 years
Cost: Free

Shirley Library Sunday 8 December, 1.30pm to 3.30pm

Find out more in the events calendar.

Meri Kirihimete me ngā mihi o te Tau Hou. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Join us for some Christmas stories, waiata and craft. It's the perfect time to make some te reo Māori Christmas cards for your friends and whānau, so come on down.
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free

Tūranga He Hononga | Connection, Ground Floor
Friday 20 December 2019
10.30am to 11.30am
12.30pm to 1.30pm
2.30pm to 3.30pm

Linwood Library
Monday 23 December 2019
10.30am to 11.30am
12.30pm to 1.30pm
2.30pm to 3.30pm

Find out more in the events calendar.

Kite Making for Kids

Make and decorate your own kite out of reused materials.
Ages: 6 to 12 years
Cost: Free

New Brighton Library
Friday 24 January, 10am to 12pm

Bookable holiday activities

Bookings (places are limited) and payment are required for the following programmes - call 03 941 7923 or email library@ccc.govt.nz (conditions apply).

Hot Wheels Frenzy $10

Learn about construction and physics while playing with mini race cars! Children will reverse engineer their very own Holt Wheels accessories, and take turns building tracks to challenge and race their friends on the day.

South Library

Ages: 6 to 8 years (cardboard carry case/garage)
Cost: $10 per child
Tuesday 14 January 2020, 9.30am to 11.30am

Ages: 9 to 12 years (car launcher)
Cost: $10 per child
Tuesday 21 January 2020, 9.30am to 12noon
Find out more in the events calendar.

Robot Adventures $7

What is a robot? Come and find out for yourself. During this time, hear some great stories about what robots get up to. You will even have a chance to play with a robot and do some other fun activities too.
Ages: 5 to 7 years
Cost: $7 per child 

South Library
Monday 13 January 2020, 10am to 12noon
Monday 20 January 2020, 10am to 12noon

Find out more in the events calendar.

Minecraft Game Zone $7

Minecraft Game Zone is a 3D gaming experience that involves creating your own virtual world and interacting with others online. To really enjoy this programme, you'll need to have a basic understanding of Minecraft. Book in for a two hour session and play to your heart's content.

Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Ages: 5 to 7 years
Cost: $7 per child
Wednesday 15 January, 10am to 12noon      

Tūranga Auahatanga | Creativity, Level 4
Ages: 5 to 7 years
Cost: $7 per child
Friday 17 January, 10am to 12noon 

New Brighton Library
Ages: 8 to 12 years
Cost: $7 per child
Wednesday 22 January, 10am to 12noon      

Tūranga Auahatanga | Creativity, Level 4
Ages: 8 to 12 years
Cost: $7 per child
Friday 24 January, 10am to 12noon

More school holiday info

Conditions for bookable Learning Centre holiday programmes

Note: A Consent Form is required to be completed by the child and a parent/caregiver for all learning centre after school and holiday programmes. Please ensure this is completed when you call in to pay the course fees or drop your child off for the programme.

      • Payment is required no later than 48 hours prior to the start of the programme – if payment is not made prior to this, the Learning Centre reserves the right to cancel your booking.
      • You can pay in person at any Christchurch City Libraries (excluding the Mobile) or by debit/credit card over the phone to the Fingertip Library, 03 941 7923.,
      • A minimum of 48 hours’ notice is requested for cancellations. After this time the programme cost in non-refundable.
      • A Consent Form is required to be completed by the child and a parent/caregiver. Please ensure this is completed when you call in to pay the course fees or drop your child off for the programme.
      • Drop off and pick up times are 10 minutes prior to the advertised programme times. We are not responsible for your children outside of these hours.
      • If your child is absent or running late, please telephone us.
      • Please do not bring along an unwell child to the programme.
      • You are obliged to inform us at registration if your child has medical or behavioural conditions. Your child will not be excluded, but we require accurate information.
      • Children outside the recommended age range will not be placed on the course.
      • Children may be enrolled in two programmes only. If you would like to enrol your child in more than two programmes he/she will be placed on a waitlist and notified closer to the start date as to whether or not there is place available.

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