Christchurch is set to enjoy a new city festival
Christchurch is set to enjoy a new city festival, kicking off in October 2020, further solidifying our friendly and prosperous connection to China and East Asia.
ChristchurchNZ was pleased host a launch event for the inaugural South Island Moon Festival at the Riverside Market on 1 October, welcoming Chinese community leaders, Christchurch City councillors and traditional performers to learn more about this exciting new step for the city.
The South Island Moon Festival will build off the huge success of the South Island Lantern Festival, instead being held at a time of year where it can flourish into its full potential as a celebration of our links to China and East Asia.
This new event will also be an anchor event for ‘BLOOM’ – the new city brand which showcases Christchurch’s spring events and attractions.
The Moon Festival in many Asian cultures is a harvest celebration, and a chance to come together to spend time with loved ones, watch the full moon, eat moon cakes and feast on traditional cuisine. Internationally, it has been embraced as a celebration of culture and art, food and music, community and nature.
Joanna Norris, ChristchurchNZ CEO, said the festival concept was created alongside the local Chinese community, aimed at creating an immersive event for locals and boosting international visitor numbers to Christchurch during the spring shoulder season.
“In previous years, the lantern festival in Christchurch came after Auckland celebrations, and in the middle of a packed schedule of city-wide summer events,” Norris said.
“It’s appeal to international visitors was also diminished due to celebrations across Asia. The popularity of the annual South Island Lantern Festival demonstrated the huge potential to create an even bigger cultural event in Christchurch, which will also appeal to an international audience.”
Wendy Zhang, President of the Christchurch Zhonghua Chinese Society, said the new event would mean Christchurch can “feel our cultural charm” while attracting people to celebrate the city during spring.
“The South Island Moon Festival is an exciting step forward in Christchurch’s embrace of our Chinese community,” Zhang said.
“It will help promote economic development and cooperation between China and New Zealand, and strengthen the friendship between our two countries.”
ChristchurchNZ would also be working with the Asia New Zealand Foundation to ensure the festival was a success.
“The South Island Moon Festival 2020 will be our opportunity to really showcase the city to locals and visitors alike. We want to create a festival that is unique to Christchurch, and is a drawcard event for the city,” Norris said.
Plans were still in place to celebrate the 2020 Chinese New Year with lanterns at various central city locations.
ChristchurchNZ will seek a delivery partner to work alongside Chinese community groups to ensure the very first South Island Moon Festival 2020 fulfils its great potential.
