Cup Week back on track

Despite minor set backs following February’s earthquake, this year’s New Zealand Cup and Show Week is back on track for Saturday 5 to Saturday 12 November.

The Festival will launch with Sothys NZ 2000 Guineas Day on Saturday 5 at Riccarton Park. Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Cup Day at Addington will be back on Tuesday 8, Canterbury A&P Show from Wednesday 9 to Friday 11 and the week wraps up with Christchurch Casino Cup and NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas Day at Riccarton Park on Saturday 12.

Christchurch Deputy Mayor Ngaire Button encourages Cantabrians to take time out in early November to celebrate the city’s favourite spring event.

“It’s our anniversary week, it’s an event we love and it’s a chance for people to let down their hair and have some fun.

“This year has been a challenging one for Christchurch residents, but Cup Week will be a chance to put all that aside and come together as a community for a week of festivities.”

Entertainment will be on offer throughout the week at the Council’s new Events Village in North Hagley Park, providing an alternative place for punters to continue into the evening while the central city is closed.
Christchurch Casino is also back onboard to provide evening entertainment and Ballantynes will still be providing fashion advice and beauty tips this year.

Both Riccarton Park Racecourse and the Canterbury Agricultural Park came away relatively unscathed from the February earthquake. While Cup Day at Addington is going ahead this year, the event will be proceeding without the use of the Public Stand. This building suffered extensive structural damage in the February earthquake and its future is currently being negotiated by Addington and its insurers.

Trade exhibition space for the Canterbury A&P Show is now available with Show organisers developing areas for retailers who have been affected by the recent earthquakes.

Tickets for this year’s Festival go on sale 1 August