What's On
Nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai.
Welcome to our winter guide of family-friendly activities.
Whether you want quiet time or have energy to burn, there’s loads of (mostly) free stuff to do at our Ashburton District Council facilities.
Check out our Matariki viewing platform near the Rakaia Gorge or discover what other exciting things Mid Canterbury has to offer this winter.
For more inspiration of what to do across the Ashburton District, head to Mid Canterbury NZ website.
You can grab a hardcopy of the booklet from all our facilities (Library, EANC, Art Gallary and Museum, etc), or check out the digital version here 👉
Exhibition | SS Ventnor
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
2 August 2025 - 2 November 2025
In this exhibition, explore the story of the SS Ventnor, which sank off Hokianga Harbour in 1902 carrying the remains of nearly 500 Chinese goldminers...
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SS Ventnor Talk | Hannah King
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
2 August 2025 02:00 pm
Hannah is a member of the Ng/Wu whānau, descendants of Ng Jor Ching, whose kōiwi—headed for reburial in China—were on board the SS Ventnor when...
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SS Ventnor Talk | Keith Gordon
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
3 August 2025 02:00 pm
In 2013, the wreck of the SS Ventnor was discovered off the North Island coast, sparking major international media interest and controversy. The ship had...
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Before Black and White there was Colour | Bobby Kurb
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
9 August 2025 - 21 September 2025
In Before Black and White there was Colour, Ashburton-based artist Bobby Kurb explores the complexity and contradiction of today’s society. Street art, graffiti, and pop...
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The Same Coin | Chloe Summerhayes and Sam Walker
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
17 August 2025 - 19 October 2025
In late 2022, Chloe Summerhayes and Sam Walker, as friends and parties to a contract, began an exchange of what they considered ‘failed’...
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School Holidays | Erebus Explorer: Landscape in a jar
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
1 July 2025 - 11 July 2025
Inspired by artist Will Hadwen’s immersive canvases and his time in Antarctica, this activity invites children to learn about Mt Erebus and sculpt their own...
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Beat Making in the AV Studio
Ashburton Library
1 July 2025 - 7 July 2025
Join us in the Taupuni Hopuoro AV Studio at Te Kete Tuhinga Ashburton Library for a special beat making...
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Caught in the Moment: Guardian Photographs of 1975
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
1 July 2025 - 14 September 2025
What moments in time did the Ashburton Guardian photographers capture around Whakatere Ashburton throughout 1975? In this exhibition, photographs from our large collection of Guardian...
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Puaka Matariki: I Tō Mātou Wāhi, In Our Place
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
1 July 2025 - 27 July 2025
Puaka and Matariki hold great significance for Māori, marking the beginning of the Māori New Year as these special whetū first appear in the midwinter...
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Matariki Escape Room
Ashburton Library
1 July 2025 - 13 July 2025
Book in your chance to complete our Matariki Escape Room Challenge....
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School Holidays | Snowlace Wonders
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
1 July 2025 - 13 July 2025
Create a fun and colorful snowflake using cardboard, yarn, and basic weaving techniques. This activity helps kids develop fine motor skills, practice pattern-making, and explore...
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Crafting Magic with Paper: Zine making
Ashburton Library
1 July 2025 - 13 July 2025
Have something to share, a poem, song lyrics, etc.? come along and learn how to create a physical or...
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Small Paintings Dedicated to Big Names | Nadia Curnow
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
1 July 2025 - 3 August 2025
In this exhibition, Nadia Curnow draws inspiration from an international canon of art history, combining artistic influences from a wide range of ‘big...
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Crafting Magic with Paper: Venetian Styled Masks
Ashburton Library
1 July 2025 - 13 July 2025
Come along to this FREE event and get creative with styling a design for either a full-face mask or...
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Crafting Magic with Paper: Paper Cut Out Art
Ashburton Library
1 July 2025 - 10 July 2025
Choose a design from a selection we have to cut using the laser cutter. Then paint the backing paper...
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EANC Holiday Programme - July
EA Networks Centre
1 July 2025 - 11 July 2025
08:30 am - 05:00 pmNeed fully-supervised childcare for your under-13 school-aged child?Book in for games, sports, field trips, crafts, swimming and more!Tamariki/children aged 5 - 13 years.Day $40, Full...
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Women’s Swim Night
EA Networks Centre
1 July 2025 - 10 December 2025
07:00 pm - 08:30 pmWhether you want to come for a soak, do some lengths or spend time with your children, we have something for you.$5 per adult (special...
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Citizens Advice Bureau Drop In
Ashburton Library
2 July 2025 - 30 July 2025
05:15 pm - 05:15 pmDo you have a problem or a question about your rights or obligations? Then drop in to the CAB session at Ashburton Library on Wednesday...
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Sahaja Yoga Meditation
Ashburton Library
3 July 2025 - 31 July 2025
06:45 pm - 06:45 pmOngoing FREE Meditation Classes.Experience the peace of true meditation!Every Thursday, between 6.45pm -7.45pm, at Ashburton Library.For queries...
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Crafting Magic with Paper: Hanging Star
Ashburton Library
4 July 2025 - 10 July 2025
Come along to this FREE event...
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School Holidays | Penguin Parade Collage
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
5 July 2025 - 13 July 2025
Inspired by our foyer wall artwork Negativland: Erebus by Will Hadwen, learn about Antarctic wildlife and create a fun, textured artwork using collage techniques.
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School Holidays | Be a 1975 News Reporter
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
5 July 2025 - 13 July 2025
Explore life in Ashburton in 1975 through historical newspaper photographs and create a personal news story inspired by real moments from the past. This activity...
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The Snow - Family Theatre Production
Ashburton Library
6 July 2025 01:45 pm - 03:45 pm
When an epic snowfall imprisons the residents of the tiny village of Kishka, young Theodore Sutton proposes the villagers...
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Card making with die cuts
Ashburton Library
7 July 2025 10:00 am
Come along and create beautiful cards and gift tags under the guidance of experienced die cutter Diane.These sessions are held on the first...
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ASA | 61st Annual Exhibition Opening
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
7 July 2025 07:00 pm
Join us for the opening of the Ashburton Society of Arts Annual Exhibition on Monday 07 July at 7pm. Tickets for the ASA Opening Night...
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Ashburton Society of Arts 61st Annual Exhibition
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
8 July 2025 - 1 August 2025
The Ashburton Society of Arts (ASA) Annual Exhibition returns to the Gallery this July for its 61st incarnation. This exhibition is a visual...
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Knitting Group
Ashburton Library
9 July 2025 10:00 am
Come and join our wonderful group of knitters who meet every Wednesday in the Event Space/Ashburton Lakes Room.Enjoy a coffee and a chat while getting...
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Laser cutter class
Ashburton Library
9 July 2025 - 30 July 2025
10:00 am - 10:00 amInterested in mastering the laser cutter and bringing your own projects to life but unsure where to begin? This class is perfect for you!Join this...
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Laser Cut Spirographs
Ashburton Library
9 July 2025 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Pick up your own laser cut spirograph and learn how to make some awesome designs.Booking required.
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Judge's Tour | Ashburton Society of Arts
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
9 July 2025 12:30 pm
Join us at 12.30pm on Wednesday 09 July for a Judge’s Tour of the Ashburton Society of Arts exhibition!At this special event, the ASA 2025...
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Steady As You Go
Ashburton Library
9 July 2025 01:30 pm
Steady As You Go© (SAYGo) is Age Concern’s peer-led exercise initiative designed to help older people reduce their likelihood of having a fall.The exercises are...
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Maker Space Open Session
Ashburton Library
9 July 2025 - 30 July 2025
05:30 pm - 05:30 pmAlready taken one of our classes on the Laser Cutter or Vinyl Cutter and eager to start your own...
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Vinyl cutter/printer class
Ashburton Library
10 July 2025 - 31 July 2025
05:30 pm - 05:30 pmReady to create your own stickers or custom garment prints but...
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Book Club
Ashburton Library
15 July 2025 01:30 pm - 01:30 pm
Our welcoming book club meets once a month to enjoy a cuppa and a chat about the books they’ve read. Be the first to read...
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Gardening Conversation Hour
Ashburton Library
16 July 2025 01:30 pm
Connecting Mid Canterbury and the Library are hosting a Gardening Conversation Hour in the Ashburton Lakes Room. This group is held on the...
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New Zealand Sign Language Class
Ashburton Library
16 July 2025 06:00 pm - 07:30 pm
Are you curious about New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL)?Would you like to learn NZSL?Term 3 Beginner classes start Wednesday...
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Social sewing/quilting group
Ashburton Library
19 July 2025 10:00 am - 04:00 pm
Bring your sewing machine, quilt, or other sewing project along to this group.With some experienced seamstresses in the group, you will...
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Artist Talk | Nadia Curnow
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
20 July 2025 02:00 pm
At this special artist talk, Nadia Curnow will discuss her new exhibition Small Paintings Dedicated to Big Names. In this exhibition, Nadia draws inspiration from...
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Brain Injury Support Group
Ashburton Library
30 July 2025 10:30 am - 10:30 am
Are you or someone you know living with or supporting someone with a head injury? Facilitated by the Brain Injury Association, this monthly group...
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Light up the Night 2025
Ashburton District Council
29 November 2025
Ashburton kicks off the season of Christmas festivities with Light up the Night. Join us for a night of food, fun and the jolly man...
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Hakatere Noodle Festival 2025
Ashburton District Council
13 September 2025
From 5pm
The Hakatere Noodle Festival is back with more yummy dishes and free entertainment.
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Artist Talks | Bobby Kurb, Chloe Summerhayes, and Sam Walker
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
14 September 2025 02:00 pm
Join us for three artist talks featuring Bobby Kurb, Chloe Summerhayes and Sam Walker.Bobby will discuss his new exhibition Before Black and White there was...
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Operation Grapple Talk | Denise Baynham
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
20 September 2025 10:30 am
In Operation Grapple, portraits of 19 New Zealand nuclear test veterans tell the story of this little-known chapter in New Zealand history of nuclear testing...
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