December means the festive season is in full swing for Cityscapers, and Christmas cheer is truly among us with a jam-packed month. The good times will kick off with the Christchurch City Choir as they perform Handel’s Messiah. If you’ve been a bit slack at planning the work Christmas party, Addington Christmas at the Races have got you covered. There’s plenty more Christmas joy, too, with the annual Santa Parade; turning it up a notch is CSO Presents: Festive Christmas 2019; and Victoria Square will be lit up with the YMCA Carols by Candlelight. Your mouth will be watering with the South Island Wine & Food Festival, and you’ll be blown away as burlesque queen Dita Von Teese takes to the stage. If you’re looking to escape the overload of activities, Nick from Lumiѐre Cinemas gives us the hot tips on what to watch, or you can pop by The Court Theatre to catch treasured British classic The Wind in the Willows. As the year comes to a close, Hagley Park will be lit up with The Edge NYE19 for one last hurrah.

South Island Wine & Food Festival

The South Island’s favourite wine and food event returns to Hagley Park on Saturday December 7 for the ninth year. The South Island Wine & Food Festival features more than 45 of the best loved wineries from around the South Island, alongside six top local restaurants and 35 gourmet food producers from Canterbury and beyond. There’s also a range of free wine and food seminars, along with a top lineup of classic Kiwi talent on the music stage. Cheers to that!

winefestival.co.nz

Handel’s Messiah

It’s Christmas tradition to dress in your finery and join the Christchurch City Choir for their annual performance of Handel’s Messiah. This year’s performance will be held on Saturday December 7 at Christchurch Town Hall and is sure to be a great night. The choir will perform alongside the Christchurch Youth Choir, the CSO and internationally based opera stars Deborah Wai Kapohe (soprano), Elisabeth Harris (mezzo), Jared Holt (tenor) and Martin Snell (bass).

citychoir.co.nz

Addington Christmas at the Races

Addington Raceway & Events Centre is putting on multiple flashy festive events this December. Each will give you the opportunity to experience a Christmas party like no other as Addington brings out all the bells and whistles – you’ll be immersed in the joyful atmosphere where you can indulge in some delicious food, enjoy some awesome entertainment and watch some top-notch racing. There are loads of different options for your end-of-year function and plenty of dates to choose from – there’s not really a better way to celebrate.

addington.co.nz

Santa Parade

Santa will roll through town and bring all his Christmas magic for the annual Santa Parade on Sunday December 8. Grab a possie along the parade route – it will start at 2pm from the corner of Madras and St Asaph streets and end around 3pm at the corner of Madras and Kilmore streets – and check out all the spectacular floats that will pass through. There’ll be music, celebrities, popular characters, animals, clowns and of course the star of the show, Santa himself!

christchurchsantaparade.co.nz

CSO Presents: Festive Christmas 2019

Christmas means yuletide carols and festive orchestral favourites, and who better to bring the mood than the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra under the baton of chief conductor Benjamin Northey. Break out your hallelujah at the Douglas Lilburn Auditorium, Christchurch Town Hall, on Saturday December 21.

cso.co.nz

YMCA Carols by Candlelight

Victoria Square will be glowing with the warm light of candles this Christmas Eve from 9pm – 10pm and filled with the sweet sounds of carollers for the annual YMCA Carols by Candlelight. The choir will perform alongside the Salvation Army Band, and MC Mike Yardley will have you entertained in between the festive tunes. On the night be sure to pick up a candle or carol book, which help fund the event.

ymcachch.org.nz

Dita Von Teese

Queen of Burlesque Dita Von Teese will bring her show to New Zealand for the first time this December. Dita Von Teese: Glamonatrix promises to take audiences on a stunning visual journey featuring costumes by famed corset maker Mr Pearl, British designer Jenny Packham, French couturier Alexis Mabille, burlesque icon Catherine D’Lish, Brooks Brothers and more. If you like shoes, there will be a lot to like about the extraordinary bespoke footwear by Christian Louboutin. Von Teese’s 2018 The Art of the Teese played to sold-out theatres in cities across the world. Fans can expect a full evening of comedy and sophisticated striptease that celebrates diverse beauty when Teese performs at the Isaac Theatre Royal on December 18.

isaactheatreroyal.co.nz

Lumiѐre Cinemas

The film Gaza was inspired by a photo series Andrew McConnell completed in 2011 about the surfers in the Palestinian territory, which is under Israeli blockade. Documentary filmmaker Garry Keane met McConnell in 2012: both shared a passion for the plight of the trapped people of Gaza, so they decided to combine their skill sets and make a film to highlight the issues there from the point of view of the ordinary citizens. The film was made between 2014 and 2018, with McConnell on the ground in Gaza during almost the entire 2014 conflict with Israel.

lumierecinemas.co.nz

The Wind in the Willows

This summer’s spectacular at The Court Theatre is treasured British classic The Wind in the Willows. This sparkling adaptation follows the loveable characters Badger, Ratty, Mole and Toad as they embark on an adventure for all ages. A cast of 22 stars will be stunningly costumed as beautiful woodland creatures to bring this classic to life. Whimsical and enchanting, this charming production is packed full of humour, heart and magic. Running until January 18, 2020.

courttheatre.org.nz

The Edge NYE19

Bring in the new year with a bang as Hagley Park is taken over and lit up for a night of celebration. You’ll be able to enjoy the electric reggae sound of L.A.B, have a laugh with The Court Jesters and of course be wowed by a huge fireworks spectacular that will have you ringing in 2020 in style.

theedge.co.nz

Early warning – World Buskers Festival

A stellar lineup of new shows, including the obscenely beautiful and deliciously filfy Reuben Kaye (pictured), has been announced for the 2020 edition of Christchurch summertime spectacle Bread & Circus – World Buskers Festival. The festival, which runs from January 23 to February 16, 2020, will feature a mix of ‘hatted’ and ticketed shows, with a programme jam-packed with some of the best talent from Aotearoa and across the world – 60 artists will deliver 40 shows across 25 action-packed days. Tickets are on sale now.

breadandcircus.co.nz