Our pick of family-friendly events from 24 – 27 April 2026. Here’s what’s on for kids this long ANZAC weekend in Christchurch.
It’s a long weekend, people. ANZAC Day falls on Saturday this year, which means Monday 27 April is a public holiday and you’ve got three whole days to fill with tiny humans who do not understand the concept of sleeping in. Whether you’re after golden tickets, bug hunting, miniature trains or a quiet moment of remembrance, Christchurch has turned it on this weekend. Here’s what’s worth getting out of the house for.
Search our events calendar for more family-friendly events for kids here.
What’s on for kids this weekend in Christchurch:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical
Showbiz Christchurch is rolling out the red (well, chocolate brown) carpet for the New Zealand premiere of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical, and honestly, it’s about time someone brought Willy Wonka to our stage. Expect the songs you’ve been humming since childhood – Pure Imagination, The Candy Man, I’ve Got a Golden Ticket – woven alongside new numbers from the team behind Hairspray. Directed by Stephen Robertson with a creative crew that reads like a who’s who of Christchurch theatre, this one promises spectacle, heart, and enough sugar-coated nostalgia to make grown adults weepy in public. Three chances to catch it this weekend, so no excuses.
When: Friday 24 April, 7.30pm | Saturday 25 April, 2pm | Sunday 26 April, 4pm
Where: Isaac Theatre Royal, 145 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central
How much: $73 to $148
ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Cathedral Square
Before the fun stuff kicks off on Saturday, there’s something more important happening at dawn. For the fourth time since the 2011 earthquakes, the ANZAC Day service returns to Cathedral Square under the Citizens’ War Memorial. Veterans and service personnel will parade from Worcester Bridge to the square for a 6.15am start, with the New Zealand Army Band performing, the Last Post, a minute’s silence and the national anthem. If you can’t make Cathedral Square, there are services across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula all morning, from Heathcote at 6.15am through to Wigram’s Airforce Museum at midday. A live stream is available for those keeping the home fires warm. It’s a meaningful one for kids to experience, even if you have to bribe them out of bed with hot chocolate.
When: Saturday 25 April, 6.15am (arrive by 6am)
Where: Citizens War Memorial, 99 Cathedral Square, Christchurch Central
How much: Free
Tiny Bookshop – St Albans
If your under-six has ever wanted to run their own vet clinic, construction site and bookshop all before lunch, this is their moment. Tiny Bookshop sets up 10 themed role-play areas for confident walkers through to six-year-olds, and this session has a special collab with The Children’s Bookshop. Think cosy storytelling corners, a pretend bookshop (where the prices are much more agreeable), felt storyboards and magnetic sets for maximum imaginative chaos. Kids are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite book character, with spot prizes for the best efforts. Fair warning: you will leave with at least one new book. Possibly four.
When: Saturday 25 April, 9.30am to 12.15pm
Where: St Albans Uniting Parish, 36 Nancy Avenue, Mairehau
How much: $20
City Nature Challenge – Richmond Community Garden
Got a kid who likes lifting rocks to see what’s underneath? This is their Olympics. Richmond Community Garden is opening its gates for the global City Nature Challenge, and the mission is simple: find, observe and record as many living things as possible. Red Zone Rangers will guide your tamariki through the hunt for all the hidden, tiny creatures that call the garden home, while Christchurch City Libraries’ outreach van brings nature-themed storytimes, books and giant games. There’s also the Bugbot app to play with and coffee at Riverlution Cafe for the adults who need fuel between bug identifications. Photos can be uploaded to iNaturalistNZ until 10 May to count toward the global challenge.
When: Saturday 25 April, 10am to 1pm W
here: Richmond Community Garden, 46A Vogel Street, Richmond
How much: Free
City Nature Challenge Bioblitz – Brooker Forest
More nature spotting, different location, completely different vibe. Kiwi Conservation Club is taking over Brooker Forest and Te Kohanga Taiao sensory nature play park for a 90-minute bioblitz that uses all the senses. You’ll sniff, feel, hear and spot your way through the forest with tools provided on the day. Bring a phone with iNaturalist loaded up (or a digital camera) and see how much biodiversity you can document. Seven cities across Aotearoa are competing this year, and Otautahi is defending its crown. No pressure, but also… national pride is at stake.
When: Saturday 25 April, 10am to 12pm
Where: Brooker Forest
How much: Free
Mahoe Mini Bioblitz – Lincoln
Canterbury Museum is bringing the experts, the butterfly nets, the beating sheets, the soil sieves and – crucially – a digital microscope hooked up to a monitor so your kids can see creepy crawlies at a scale that will either fascinate or horrify them. This bioblitz at Mahoe Reserve is all about finding everything that flies, grows, crawls and hides, and the enthusiasm of the volunteer team is genuinely infectious. Download iNaturalist before you go so your discoveries count toward the global City Nature Challenge. Sunday afternoon nature detecting that doubles as science education? That’s a parenting win.
When: Sunday 26 April, 2pm to 4pm
Where: Mahoe Reserve, 34 Boundary Road, Lincoln
How much: Free
Halswell Mini Night Trains
Two words: trains in the dark. The Halswell Railway is running daytime and evening sessions on Sunday, and riding miniature trains through the domain after the sun goes down is a genuinely different experience. The afternoon session runs 1pm to 4pm, then it fires up again from 6pm to 9pm for the night rides. Pack a picnic, rug up properly (the domain gets cold quickly and you will regret the optimistic jacket choice), and be prepared for some queue wait times during the evening session. At $2 a ride with concession options available, this is one of the cheapest thrills in town. Closed shoes are a must, and under-12s need a responsible older person with them.
When: Sunday 26 April, 1pm to 4pm and 6pm to 9pm
Where: Halswell Domain
How much: $2 per person (concession tickets available)
