What's On
Welcome to our autumn 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.
Don’t forget our beautiful outdoor spaces to explore. Check out disc golf at Tinwald Domain or the EA Networks Centre. From skateparks and playgrounds to walking tracks and gardens, there’s something for everyone to do in Mid Canterbury. Head to midcanterburynz.com for more ideas!
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 👉
Land, Sea and Air
Ashburton Museum
1st Apr 2025 - 25th May 2025
On 4 September 1939, the main headline of the day’s Ashburton Guardian newspaper was: “THE EMPIRE AT WAR”. This was the beginning of the Second...
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Sharing Histories | Gifts of 2024
Ashburton Museum
1st Apr 2025 - 18th May 2025
Each year new treasures are collected by museums all around the world and ours is no different.In Sharing Histories | Gifts of 2024, the treasured...
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Citizens Advice Bureau Drop In
Ashburton Library
2nd Apr 2025 - 30th Apr 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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Spinning Get Together
Ashburton Library
2nd Apr 2025 - 30th Apr 2025
05:45 pm - 07:45 pmSpinner get together. Join us in the Event Space to spin yarn and a few tales.Bring your own wheel or use one supplied by Ashburton...
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Brain Injury Support Group
Ashburton Library
30th Apr 2025 10:30 am - 11:30 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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Maker Space Open Session
Ashburton Library
9th Apr 2025 - 30th Apr 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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Laser cutter class
Ashburton Library
9th Apr 2025 - 30th Apr 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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Active Adventures
EA Networks Centre
30th Apr 2025 - 25th Jun 2025
10:30 am - 12:30 pmA child led, parent supervised session for toddlers age 1-5 to play and explore their gross motor skills using a range of soft play equipment...
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Little Splashers
EA Networks Centre
25th Apr 2025 - 25th Jun 2025
09:50 am - 10:20 amJoin us for Little Splashers- a session where you and your Little Splasher have the opportunity to explore the world of water in a parent...
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EA Networks Glow in the Park 2025
Ashburton District Council
30th May 2025 - 1st Jun 2025
King's Birthday Weekend
Save the Date!Glow Up Your Winter! Bring your family and join us for three magical nights of light, music, food and fun for all ages...
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English language drop in
Ashburton Library
2nd May 2025 09:00 am
Come to Te Kete Tuhinga Ashburton Library on Friday mornings for practice in English with Jeane, a trained, retired teacher.Every Friday at 9amWould...
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Sahaja Yoga Meditation
Ashburton Library
1st May 2025 06:45 pm - 07:45 pm
Ongoing 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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Social quilting group
Ashburton Library
17th May 2025 10:00 am - 04:00 pm
Are you quilting alone at home? Why not join in with our quilting group at the library? The group meets on the third...
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Enmeshed: Feminist modes of information sharing
Ashburton Art Gallery
11th May 2025 - 22nd Jun 2025
In Enmeshed, artists Julia Holderness, Areez Katki, Erica van Zon, Ana Iti, and Claudia Kogachi each reframe narratives. Stories are rewritten from new...
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Inventory | Marie Le Lievre
Ashburton Art Gallery
11th May 2025 - 22nd Jun 2025
Relinquishing of complete control is the wellspring of discovery for Marie Le Lievre. Her singular paintings require the ground as a starting point...
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JPs available
Ashburton Library
2nd May 2025 12:00 pm - 02:00 pm
We now have JPs coming to the library every Tuesday and Friday.A Justice of the Peace (JP) is a volunteer who witnesses and certifies legal...
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Paintings of Ruined Mythic Phantasies
Ashburton Art Gallery
11th May 2025 - 22nd Jun 2025
Timaru-based painter Michael Armstrong’s exhibition Paintings of Ruined Mythic Phantasies addresses themes that have preoccupied him throughout his career – social justice, politics, the environment...
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Opening | Michael Armstrong, Maire Le Lievre, & Enmeshed
Ashburton Art Gallery
10th May 2025 06:00 pm
Join us for the opening of three new exhibitions!Timaru-based painter Michael Armstrong’s exhibition Paintings of Ruined Mythic Phantasies addresses themes that have preoccupied him throughout...
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Dyslexia Presentation
Ashburton Library
13th May 2025 06:00 pm
Dyslexia Presentations@ Ashburton LibraryTuesday 13 MayThe BOOST Programme and Ashburton Library are bringing you 2 information sessions on dyslexia presented by Ros Lugg.Ros is a...
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Women’s Swim Night
EA Networks Centre
14th May 2025 - 10th Dec 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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