Kai, C-Pop, K-Pop, fire-breathing dragons, Christchurch’s biggest-ever Karaoke stage and a giant Moon – the programme for Ōtautahi Christchurch’s newest cultural event, the South Island Moon Festival, blossoming in the heart of BLOOM Festival, has been announced.
From 18 to 21 November the new, free event, which has been designed by the creators of Bread and Circus World Buskers Festival in partnership with ChristchurchNZ, takes audiences on a journey across Ōtautahi Christchurch, and across traditional and contemporary Asian culture.
Loren Heaphy, General Manager, Destination and Attraction for” ChristchurchNZ says, “We are a multicultural city that embraces all who call it home. Building on the huge success of the Lantern Festival, the inaugural South Island Moon Festival will celebrate the enduring relationship the South Island enjoys with both China and the rest of Asia, as well as illuminate our vibrant and beautiful city during the spring shoulder tourism season.”
Loren Heaphy - General Manager, Destination and Attraction ChristchurchNZWe are a multicultural city that embraces all who call it home. Building on the huge success of the Lantern Festival, the inaugural South Island Moon Festival will celebrate the enduring relationship the South Island enjoys with both China and the rest of Asia, as well as illuminate our vibrant and beautiful city during the spring shoulder tourism season.”
Starting at the Riverside Markets with a range of traditional beverages and cuisine including the iconic Chinese Moon Cakes, audiences are invited to follow the lanterns between the various free performance stages offering everything from dance to opera and K-Pop, bash out a hit or two at the huge Astronomer’s Karaoke Bar, get a different perspective with a punt up the Ōtākaro Avon River, gasp at the fire-breathing dragon performers, pit-stop at the Victoria Street food village and be dazzled by the Christchurch Casino Sky Show, and ending at the Full Moon – a 7.5m inflatable lantern.
The festival activities are live from 5 to 10pm every day from 30 September to 3 October.
The South Island Moon Festival has been created by Strut & Fret NZ, the team behind the revitalisation of the Bread and Circus World Buskers Festival which famously takes over the streets of Christchurch each Summer.
Festival Director Scott Maidment says, “We’ve worked closely with ChristchurchNZ and the Ōtautahi Christchurch community to build a truly spectacular event which we hope will bring audiences of all ages together to celebrate Asian culture and food, and uplift the truly unique cultures of Christchurch.”
For more information, please visit southislandmoonfestival.co.nz.
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