Bring on the sun this weekend

The school holidays are kicking off and there are plenty of options to help you shake off the recent wintry weather.

Sunlight at the museum 

The Sunlight – Ihi Kōmaru exhibition at Canterbury Museum explains how the sun’s energy and light sustains our lives and shape the world around us. It makes science accessible using interactive games and multimedia. Kids can climb inside a giant inflatable to find out what the sun sounds like, race friends and family to see how long it would take to travel the distance from Earth to the moon, and create vibrant shadows in the colour mixing game. The exhibition, developed and toured by Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History, continues until 22 July. 

Buddha's Birthday

Celebrate Buddha's Day with a free multicultural festival at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, 2 Harakeke St, Riccarton on Saturday. From 10am until 4pm, the festival features a special Dunhuang Dance, from Taiwan, along with other performances, vegetarian food and tea meditation sessions. A Buddha's Day blessing is also offered for babies, toddlers and small children of all religions between 1pm and 1.30pm (pre-registration is required and there is a cost).

Buddha's Birthday is a holiday traditionally celebrated in most of East Asia to commemorate the birth of the Prince Siddhartha Gautama, later the Gautama Buddha and founder of Buddhism.

Babies and toddlers can be blessed during Buddha's Day celebrations.

Wicked showbiz

 The Showbiz Christchurch production of Wicked is the theatre company's premiere of the successful Broadway musical.  This season of Wicked is directed by Stephen Robertson, with musical direction by Richard Marrett, and choreography by Stephen Robertson and Glen Harris.

The story follow the friendship between two girls who meet as sorcery students at Shiz University: the blonde and popular Glinda and a misunderstood green girl named Elphaba. Performances run until Sunday 15 April at the Isaac Theatre Royal.  

Golden Oldies

 The international Golden Oldies Sports Celebration for the over 35s continues until 29 April at various grounds around the city. Sports include cricket, golf, hockey, lawn bowls, netball and rugby. Hockey players will take part in a parade of nations at Nunweek Park on Sunday from 4pm until 5pm before game days begin on Monday.

Mozart magic

Unfinished at the time of his death, Mozart's Requiem is one of the most well known settings of the requiem mass and will be performed on Saturday night at the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral by the Christchurch City Choir. Dr John Linker is the conductor and the choir will be accompanied by organist Harry Meehan. 

Other events

 To find out about other events happening in and around Christchurch, check out the events pages on the Council's website.