Kids in Town lunchtime concerts return to Central City

Christchurch children are being welcomed back into the Central City with free Thursday lunchtimes concerts for those working in town to enjoy.

The programme, cancelled last year due to earthquakes, is being held on Thursday lunchtimes in various Central City locations.

The first concert is being held on Thursday 30 August at South City Mall and will feature groups from the Christchurch Primary Schools Cultural Festival which is also back after not performing last year.

The Kids in Town programme, run by Christchurch City Council, gives primary school children the opportunity to gain valuable performing experience and offers rich and varied lunchtime entertainment to city workers, businesses and visitors to Christchurch.

Kids in Town was started in the late 1990s as an initiative to get families back to the inner city and provide schools and children with an opportunity to showcase their talents.  Children performed in various locations including the Art Gallery.  Although performance space is at a premium the Council has found various locations in the Central City that can be used.

Mayor Bob Parker says he is really proud of our people that after such a challenging 18 months this programme for primary school children is up and going again.

“The Kids in Town programme is a family-friendly and attractive activity in the Central City. It will help to draw people back to town by promoting the inner city as a great community place for entertainment and shopping” Mayor Parker said.

Cultural groups, orchestras, choirs, dance groups, concert bands, jazz bands and rock bands are among those performing.  Two schools feature every week, with the first concert running from 12 – 12.30pm and the second from 12.30 to 1pm. The concerts start on Thursday 30 August and run until the end of the year.
On Thursday 6 September and Thursday 13 September, the concerts will be held at the Re:START mall in Cashel Street.  These concerts will feature Aranui Primary, St Andrews Preparatory, Wairakei School and Te Kura Whakapumau.

From 20 September Kids in Town will perform at IceFest in North Hagley Park.

Follow the Council on Facebook or Twitter to find out where Kids in Town will be performing next.

For more information and a schedule of venues and schools visit the Council website and type ‘Kids in Town’ into the search function or visit http://www.ccc.govt.nz/learning/educationresources/recreation/kidsintown.aspx