Our pick of family-friendly events from 1 – 3 May 2026. Here’s what’s on for kids this long ANZAC weekend in Christchurch.
The first weekend of May has that particular Canterbury crispness to it, the kind where you need a jacket but the kids will still insist they’re “not cold, mum.” Whether you’re after something to fill a Saturday morning, a place to find a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift, or an excuse to be out after dark with the kids in tow, this weekend’s lineup has you sorted. From bug discoveries to night market wanders, here’s what we’d be doing if we weren’t already booked in for half of it.
Search our events calendar for more family-friendly events for kids here.
What’s on for kids this weekend in Christchurch:
Our Insect Neighbours: A Closer Look at Their Hidden World
Tūranga has turned its attention to the very small this autumn, and honestly, it’s about time someone gave the bugs their moment. This free exhibition invites tamariki to peer into the world of the wriggly, the winged, and the slightly weird, with a chance to spot a native praying mantis, hear a pūrākau about (yes) a maggot, and check out Dr Morgane Merien’s bug-catching contraptions. It’s the sort of low-pressure, all-ages outing that works whether you’ve got a four-year-old in a butterfly phase or a tween who pretends to be too cool but secretly loves this stuff.
When: Until 17 May 2026
Where: Tūranga, 60 Cathedral Square, Christchurch Central
How much: Free
More details here
Baby Expo Christchurch
If you’re growing a human, feeding a tiny one, or chasing a newly mobile small person around your living room, Wolfbrook Arena is where you’ll want to be this weekend. The NZ Baby Expo rolls into town with two full days of products to test, brands to ogle, and that very specific kind of camaraderie you only get standing next to another bleary-eyed parent comparing prams. Show up and you’re automatically in the draw for an Edwards & Co Olive Expo Bundle worth $250, plus there are spot prizes throughout the weekend just for being there.
When: Saturday 2 May to Sunday 3 May 2026, 9am to 5pm
Where: Wolfbrook Arena, 55 Jack Hinton Drive, Addington
How much: Free
More details here
Ferrymead Night Market
There is something genuinely lovely about Ferrymead after dark. The old township gets its fairy lights on, the food trucks fire up, and the whole place takes on a slightly storybook quality that small kids find absolutely captivating. Pack the puffer jackets and let them roam between stalls of handmade bits and pieces while you queue for something hot and delicious. Live music drifts through the lanes, the entry fee tops out at five dollars, and you’ll be home by bedtime. The cold weather equivalent of a long summer evening, basically.
When: Saturday 2 May 2026, 4pm to 8pm
Where: Ferrymead Heritage Park, 50 Ferrymead Park Drive, Ferrymead
How much: $0 to $5
The Mega Goode Market
Mother’s Day is a fortnight away and if you’re the one usually orchestrating it (for your own mum, your mother-in-law, that friend who’s just had her first), the Mega Goode Market is doing you a favour. Over 150 stalls of handmade goods are setting up at Mainpower Stadium, which means you can knock out the gift shopping, grab lunch from one of the food trucks, and let the kids burn off some energy to a soundtrack of local buskers. North Canterbury families, this one’s practically on your doorstep. Everyone else, the drive’s worth it.
When: Sunday 3 May 2026, 10am to 3pm
Where: Mainpower Stadium, 289 Coldstream Road, Rangiora
How much: Free
More details here
