What's On
Nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai.
Welcome to our Spring 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.
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 👉
ANZ Business of The Year Awards 2026
Ashburton District Council
20 February 2026 06:00 pm
The ANZ Business of The Year Awards for the Ashburton District endeavour to celebrate excellence in business and promote our region as a great place...
View Event
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...
View Event
Sensory Swim Morning
EA Networks Centre
1 October 2025 09:00 am - 11:00 am
Enjoy a calmer, welcoming swim at our low sensory morning. With reduced background noise and a dedicated pool for those who prefer a less stimulating...
View Event
Growing Gases
Ashburton Library
1 October 2025 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Learn about gases and how they expand and make a vinegar-based volcanoChildren aged 5-12Booking required
View Event
Splash Into Fun! Family Morning
EA Networks Centre
2 October 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Join us for a fun-filled family morning! Enjoy games, music, bubbles, raft building, and so much more.Have an under 3 year old? Come along and...
View Event
Magic Mug Cakes
Ashburton Library
3 October 2025 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Bake your own tasty mug cake and learn about the science of baking.Children aged 5-12Booking required
View Event
Active Adventures - School Holiday Pop-Up
EA Networks Centre
4 October 2025
11am-2pm
Join us for exploration play for toddlers!Saturday 4 October, 11am-2pmA space for toddlers and parents to come and play with a variety of sensory &...
View Event
Opening | Consider the Flowers, Margaret Trolove
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
4 October 2025 06:00 pm
Join us for the opening of Consider the Flowers, an exhibition of artworks by Margaret Trolove.This exhibition is a celebration of the art of Margaret...
View Event
Consider the Flowers | Margaret Trolove
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
5 October 2025 - 30 November 2025
This exhibition is a celebration of the art of Margaret Trolove (1925-2025), a long-standing member of Whakatere Ashburton’s artistic community. Margaret was a valued member...
View Event
Mid Canterbury Career Fest 2025
Ashburton District Council
9 October 2025 03:30 pm - 07:00 pm
Ready to explore your future? Come along to the Mid Canterbury Career Fest - a fun, free event for all ages! Whether you're job hunting,...
View Event
Opening | Botanical Art Worldwide 2025
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
18 October 2025 06:00 pm
Join us for the opening of Botanical Art Worldwide 2025: O Tātou Tipu o Mua - o Ināianei me te Āpōpō, Our Plants - Past,...
View Event
Botanical Art Worldwide 2025
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
19 October 2025 - 7 December 2025
Tātou Tipu O Mua – O Ināianei Me Te ĀpōpōOur Plants – Past, Present and FutureBotanical Art Worldwide 2025...
View Event
Before Black and White there was Colour | Bobby Kurb
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
1 September 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...
View Event
Caught in the Moment: Guardian Photographs of 1975
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
1 September 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...
View Event
The Same Coin | Chloe Summerhayes and Sam Walker
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
1 September 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’...
View Event
Kura Pounamu: Our Treasured Stone
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
1 September 2025 - 7 October 2025
Kura Pounamu is an exhibition presented by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu featuring more than 200...
View Event
Little Splashers
EA Networks Centre
1 September 2025 - 19 December 2025
Little Splashers is held every Friday from 9.50am-10.20am during the school term
Join us for Little Splashers- a session where you and your Little Splasher have the opportunity to explore the world of water in a parent...
View Event
Women’s Swim Night
EA Networks Centre
1 September 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...
View Event
Exhibition | SS Ventnor
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
2 September 2025 - 16 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...
View Event
Active Adventures
EA Networks Centre
2 September 2025 - 17 September 2025
Term 3 Dates: 23rd July, 6th & 20th August, 3rd & 17th September
A 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...
View Event
Laser cutter class
Ashburton Library
3 September 2025 - 24 September 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...
View Event
Vinyl cutter/printer class
Ashburton Library
4 September 2025 - 25 September 2025
05:30 pm - 05:30 pmReady to create your own stickers or custom garment prints but...
View Event
Festival of Lifelong Learning
Ashburton Library
9 September 2025 04:00 pm - 07:00 pm
Are you ...looking to upskill for work?wanting to explore a new (or first) career?interested in picking up a hobby?thinking about getting your license or...
View Event
Hakatere Noodle Festival 2025
Ashburton District Council
13 September 2025 03:00 pm - 08:00 pm
The Hakatere Noodle Festival is back! Celebrate our multicultural community with noodles! Taste your way around the globe with over 20 delicious food and dessert...
View Event
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...
View Event
Book Club
Ashburton Library
16 September 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...
View Event
Talk | Revitalisation of Te Reo Māori - A Youth Perspective
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
17 September 2025 06:00 pm
Celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori by joining us for our special panel talk!At this public event, hear from a panel of local rangatahi...
View Event
Opening | Operation Grapple: We Were There
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
19 September 2025 06:00 pm
Join us for the opening of our new exhibition, Operation Grapple: We Were There.In 1957/58 the British Government conducted a series of nuclear weapons tests...
View Event
Operation Grapple: We Were There
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
20 September 2025 - 23 November 2025
In 1957/58 the British Government conducted a series of nuclear weapons tests at Christmas Island and Malden Island in the mid-Pacific Ocean. This series of...
View Event
School Holidays | Build a Treasure Chest
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
20 September 2025 - 5 October 2025
Build a Treasure Chest20 September – 05 October | 10AM-4PM | Free | Drop inCreate and decorate a treasure chest, and make replica taonga from...
View Event
School Holidays | Shipwreck Treasure Hunt
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
20 September 2025 - 5 October 2025
Shipwreck Treasure Hunt20 September – 05 October | 10AM-4PM | Free | Drop inSearch for treasure from a shipwreck throughout the Art Gallery and Museum....
View Event
School Holidays | Pixel Sculpture
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
20 September 2025 - 28 September 2025
Pixel Sculpture20 September – 28 September | 10AM-4PM | $3 | Drop inDrawing inspiration from Bobby Kurb's exhibition ‘Before Black and White there was Colour’,...
View Event
School Holidays | Liquorice Colour Spinner
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
20 September 2025 - 28 September 2025
Liquorice Colour Spinner20 September – 28 September | 10AM-4PM | Free | Drop inCreate a liquorice-themed colour spinner to explore how colour works in a...
View Event
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...
View Event
EANC Holiday Programme - September
EA Networks Centre
22 September 2025 - 3 October 2025
Need fully-supervised childcare for your under-13 school-aged child? Book in for games, sports, field trips, crafts, swimming and more!Prices (per session): Day (8am-3pm) $40, Full...
View Event
Radish Seed Heads
Ashburton Library
22 September 2025 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Make and grow your own radish seed head.Children aged 5-12Booking required
View Event
Remote Control Car Racing
Ashburton Library
22 September 2025 - 4 October 2025
05:21 pm - 06:21 pmBook your spot to have a go on our track with our remote-control cars. Face off against others to gain bragging rights.Mon 22nd September, 3pm-5pmTues...
View Event
Pom Pom Key Ring Creatures
Ashburton Library
25 September 2025 - 30 September 2025
10:00 am - 11:00 amCome along to the allocated Maker Space time to create a pom pom creature. The room will be set up for you with staff popping...
View Event
Stadium Inflatable
EA Networks Centre
26 September 2025 - 29 September 2025
Don't miss out on this great opportunity to burn some steam for young and old. Jump in and have a go on our indoor inflatable...
View Event
Zen Garden Diorama
Ashburton Library
26 September 2025 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Chill out while you create your own mini Zen garden diorama using some fun craft materials.Children aged 5-12Booking required
View Event
Pool Movie
EA Networks Centre
27 September 2025 03:00 pm
Bring the whole family and watch an underwater-themed movie while you relax and float around the pool! The movie will play on the LED screen...
View Event
School Holidays | Make Spring Flowers
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
29 September 2025 - 5 October 2025
Make Spring Flowers29 September – 05 October | 10AM-4PM | Free | Drop inMake 3D spring flowers for a vase using tissue paper and pipe...
View Event
School Holidays | Tribute to an ancestor: Ceramic Vase
Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum
29 September 2025 - 5 October 2025
Tribute to an ancestor: Ceramic vase29 September – 05 October | 10AM-4PM | $3 | Drop inThroughout time, various cultures have drawn on and decorated...
View Event
Family Water Safety
EA Networks Centre
29 September 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
With summer around the corner, this is a great opportunity to come along and learn about being safe in the variety of open water that...
View Event
Friendship Bracelets
Ashburton Library
29 September 2025 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Create two friendship bracelets, one to keep and one to give away.Children aged 5-12Booking required
View Event
Splash Into Fun! Obstacle Course
EA Networks Centre
30 September 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Come join us for friendly fun competition! Test your skills as you navigate an obstacle course and hunt for hidden clues, all while in the...
View Event