Mistletoe and wine

This Christmas holiday season promises joy, mirth and festivities aplenty to help us unwind.

Mistletoe and wine by Kim Newth

The pews will be packed when St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church hosts the Christchurch City Mission's evening carol service in the week before Christmas. In normal times, the service would have been held at the Christ Church Cathedral, but Canterbury's earthquakes saw the venue switch to St Michael's. The historic Victorian Gothic wooden church in Durham St has survived the upheavals of the past 16 months almost unscathed and is welcoming larger congregations in the lead-up to Christmas.

Father Peter Williams, who also chairs the City Mission, has been doing the maths and thinks there will be room for everyone. "When we hold concerts here, we can seat around 430. We may well get more than that on the Wednesday carol service, but we can put seats in other places here and there. Whatever happens, everyone is welcome."

This sturdy survivor is also providing the atmospheric setting for the Christchurch leg of Bic Runga's 2011 upcoming Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour and, given the damage to other city churches, has been busier than usual as a venue for funerals and weddings.

"Generally, over Christmas, we will do what we have planned, but I think we will have a lot more people coming to the church," Father Peter says.

Since February, Christ's College Chapel has also come to the rescue, as the cathedral's main "home away from home". Cathedral dean, the Very Reverend Peter Beck, says cathedral services, such as Choral Eucharist and Choral Evensong services on Sunday, are continuing to be held there. The chapel will host the cathedral's Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, as well as a traditional service with nine lessons and carols on December 18, from 7pm.

"And on December 22 at 3pm we'll be running our usual Christmas service for children and animals in one of the big domes at Hagley Park." The cathedral community remained "strong and resilient" as Christmas approached and other church congregations would be running their own festive programmes as best as they could.

With the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament seriously damaged - and 16 other city churches not in use - the city's Catholic congregations are similarly making alternative arrangements to celebrate their faith. St Mary's in Manchester St is now the Pro-Cathedral, or Bishop's Chair. Despite the year's upheavals, Bishop Barry Jones is confident Christmas will be celebrated without too much disruption. "Christmas is one of our great festivals. Night mass and all those wonderful things will still go ahead," he says.

Beyond the church doors, the city is also preparing to shake off some of the dust and damage of 2011 as it gears up for a summer of festivity. While corporate sponsorships are difficult to find and the central city is a demolition zone, traditions such as the 2011 Christchurch Santa Parade will still proceed - and much more besides.

Organising the December 4 Santa Parade has been particularly challenging for the Christchurch Children's Christmas Parade Trust, which has had to find an alternative to its usual Colombo St route this year. Bruce Gordon is in his fifth year as trust chairman and it has undoubtedly been the hardest one for Bruce, the trust and its general manager, Pam Morris. After the February quake, five alternative routes - Montreal St, around Hagley Park, south city to Sydenham and the A&P Showgrounds - were mooted and rejected in turn, before Riccarton Rd was finally pencilled in for approval by the Christchurch City Council. Finding a principal sponsor, as well as float sponsors, has proven difficult, while damage to floats has placed extra demands on a stretched maintenance budget.

Pam says "continuous red tape" has dogged this year's parade preparations in what has been a "very stressful" year.

"[But] the parade itself is an icon of the city - it will happen," says Bruce, whose father used to manage the parade in the 'Hays Parade' days. Bruce recalls sitting on the Humpty Dumpty float as a five-year-old; it marked the start of his own long interest and involvement in the parade.

"It's right up there with Cup and Show Week and the A&P Show. The Santa Parade is part of what gives this city its identity."

The Christchurch Santa Parade was started by Sir James Hay in 1947. In later years, Farmers gifted the parade to the people of Christchurch and it has been run by the trust for the past 23 years.

Bruce agrees this has been a tough year: "We've had to accept that there have been a large number of considerations to work through with the authorities that have, at times, made the process difficult and frustrating.

"However, we see the parade as a kind of institution that can make a statement that it is business as usual, particularly as the city works toward earthquake recovery. Christmas will arrive again this year."

And it's telling that this year's principal sponsor won't be a retail giant or a fast-food chain, but a group of local construction companies.

Excited to be taking part in the city's parade for the first time this year are organisers of a nativity float, complete with cantilevered angels, all the way from the St Margaret's Anglican Church in Te Kauwhata, Waikato. Spokesman Richard Stewart says he's looking forward to sharing the Christmas message in the city: "We thought money is fine for repairing Christchurch, but the heart and soul need a bit of encouraging as well."

Also helping to get the Christmas mood flowing is YMCA Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve, from 9pm to 10pm at the Events Hub, North Hagley Park. Admission is free and carol books and taper candles will be on sale at the event.

How will you be spending Christmas, Adam McGrath (The Eastern)? "Well, The Eastern will be mostly spending warm summer days indoors, hopefully finishing our new record. Luckily, we get to go out for a few days and play at a couple of festivals and, hopefully, the Wunderbar for New Year's where we will be celebrating loudly. "We're not on tour, so it will be swell to be at home and watch the sunsets over the peninsula, listen to records and sup a little coffee on the porch. Also, we want to distribute some Christmas packages to folks who need it, paid for by the Harbour Union charity project we've been involved with this year. Oh, and if the harbour water ain't too murky from all the rubble in it, hopefully some swimmin' on the Rapaki shore!"

Hagley Park, which has become a key entertainment zone for the city, will also host the New World Wine and Food Festival on December 3. With many of the city's traditional Christmas party venues out of action, employers are looking for new ways to treat their staff. VIP and corporate hosting packages at the event are attracting strong interest, including group bookings of more than 100 to enjoy private Christmas functions. With more than 50 participating wineries, gourmet food exhibitors, restaurants and local entertainment, the festival is being touted as a great opportunity for wine and food lovers to celebrate what the city has to offer.

"We think people are itching for a good party," festival spokesperson Callam Mitchell says. "Over the last few months, lots of things have been starting to open again as well. There are a lot of festivals coming up this summer that will help to lift people's spirits."

These include the Great Kiwi Beer Festival in Hagley Park on February 25, another event with which Callam is involved. It will feature beer and food matching, live entertainment and beer seminars. "Rather than a booze-up in the park, the focus will be on beer appreciation and the craft beer industry."

Between the wine and beer festivals, the Canterbury Celebration Theatre at South Hagley Park has a full season of Christmas shows from opera to burlesque and rock'n'roll (see canterburycelebrationtheatre.co.nz), up to December 18.

Terrace Downs Resort, at the base of Mt Hutt, will be another popular destination for city hipsters keen to end the year on an upbeat note. Late in December, the resort will be hosting Rhythm and Alps, a festival of bass culture and electronica with a lineup of more than 30 international and local acts. A new sister festival to Gisborne's popular Rhythm and Vines (R&V) festival, it will include R&V stars such as US hip-hop and turntable legend Grandmaster Flash, Belgian drum and bass star Netsky, and Kiwi talent Six60 and Homebrew.

One of the festival's directors, Alex Turnbull, says with the Canterbury quakes having taken a toll on the entertainment scene, Rhythm and Alps will be particularly welcome.

"People have been starved of entertainment - they're looking forward to letting their hair down," Alex says. "The feedback we've had is great and the ticket sales are reflecting that. There's a lot of positive talk about it, not just in Christchurch, but also in the Selwyn district, Methven and Ashburton."

Rhythm and Alps promises to have its own South Island flavour, with local favourites Dub FX, 1814, Antix and Stinky Jim booked for the festival.

Whatever the occasion, marquees will feature strongly for safety-conscious Christchurch this summer. The Colombo in Sydenham has a massive marquee that can handle a crowd of up to 1500 people and looks poised to be a popular summer party hub. A smaller marquee next to Three Six Three, a café/bar at The Colombo, is delivering a night of "high-energy dancefloor mayhem" on December 3 as Bassfreaks celebrate their first birthday with drum-bass acts State of Mind and Trei.

Says Wendy Alfeld, of Three Six Three: "The young crowd is ready to go out and have a good time. There are no buildings left to put gigs in like this, so marquees are the way to go - and they're safe."

Trackside, there will be plenty on offer for end-of-year celebrations. Riccarton Park Christmas at the Races is on December 16, while Addington's day of Christmas hospitality and harness-racing action is scheduled for December 20.

With Cathedral Square out of action, the city's New Year's Eve celebrations switch to the Events Triangle, North Hagley Park. It will be "a game of two halves", with the first half pitched toward families with younger children. Keeping the youngsters entertained from 5.50pm will be children's bands from Singapore Airline's StarFest and an outdoor movie. At 8pm, an "early midnight" celebration is planned for the kids, with a piper playing a lament, a countdown, confetti cannons, streamer cannons and a bubble machine.

New Year's Eve - the adults' second half - will feature three bands: Flab Four, D-Sendantz and New Entrants. Just before midnight, there will be a piper's lament, then the real countdown to midnight, followed by a two-minute fireworks display (planned for Lake Victoria) and Auld Lang Syne. New Entrants will then play for another half hour or so. The event will be alcohol- free.

"The Shakes Aren't Gonna Stop Us" is the rousing catchcry of January's Stronger Christchurch World Buskers Festival, with organisers promising a brand new venue (Hagley Park) and new acts. It's a sign of the times that the naming rights sponsor is the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team. The festival team hopes to bring laughter, colour and a little bit of normality back into the lives of Christchurch residents.

ASB Classical Sparks - the largest annual event run by the city council's event production team - will light the skies on February 5, with up to 80,000 people expected to attend this free summer concert.

How will you be spending Christmas, Mayor Bob Parker? "Quite honestly, I've been too busy to even think about how we'll spend Christmas this year. I imagine it will be a low-key affair, spending time around home and the city with family and friends."

March brings the welcome return of the Ellerslie International Flower Show in North Hagley Park from March 7 to 11, after the February earthquake forced the cancellation of the 2011 show.

This summer brings plenty to do in nearby North Canterbury. The Mandeville Music Festival on December 10 has a strong lineup of entertainment, including The Warratahs, The Eastern, The Ranchsliders and rising country star Jody Direen. This inaugural festival, being held at the Mandeville Sports Centre, off Tram Rd, is a fundraiser for the Ohoka Rugby Club.

The More FM Summer Vineyard Tour stops at Pegasus Town on February 10, with legendary Australian roots group John Butler Trio and funky American soul singer Aloe Blacc & The Grand Scheme as the headline acts. Kiwi pop-sweetheart Annabel Fay also joins the lineup.

The 2012 Winery Tour will be at The Mud House Winery and Café, Waipara, on February 18, bringing another welcome dose of great music, food and wine.

Hanmer Springs hosts the second annual Jazz and Blues Festival in the last week of February. Big bands and swing dance are on the bill and the village's cafés and bars will be bursting with jazz and blues sounds.

And, if all that is not enough, a permanent new entertainment hub is planned for Addington, in the area adjacent to the new Court Theatre site. Called Woods Mill, the development's focus is on re-establishing a dozen former inner-city bars and restaurants. Aimed to be completed within six months, it will be a promising new centre for live theatre, music and parties to keep the artistic heart of Christchurch beating.

For information about what's on at the Christchurch Events Village in Hagley Park this summer, go to eventsvillage.co.nz.