Kids in Town to sparkle at NZ IceFest

Kids in Town is joining forces with NZ IceFest adding extra sparkle to the already popular children’s music and dance performance programme.

The children will also be involved in a special event where they help to welcome a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster as it flies over Hagley Park.

This week the Christchurch City Council’s Kids in Town programme will be performing at the Ice Station in North Hagley Park The first performance will be on Thursday 20 September and will feature Banks Avenue School at noon and Cashmere Primary at 12.30pm. On Thursday 27 September three schools will perform from noon and will feature Hoon Hay, Chisnallwood Intermediate and St Martins schools.

Christchurch City Council Marketing Manager Richard Stokes is delighted to see that the children have the opportunity to be part of a unique event on Friday 28 September.

“The children’s performances that day will run between 11am and 2pm. But at 1pm the groups will take a break so the children can move to form the word “IceFest” in time for the huge Antarctic supply plane, a C-17, to fly over Hagley Park and take a picture of the children on the ground below.  It’s great that Kids in Town could be part of NZ IceFest bringing two excellent entertainment programmes together.”

The schools performing on Friday 28 September will be Ilam, Sockburn, Casebrook Intermediate, West Spreydon and Thorrington Schools.

The Kids in Town programme 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.

The first few concerts in the series have been well received and attended. They have performed at South City Mall and at Re:START, currently at NZ IceFest and later in the fourth term back at Re:START.

NZ IceFest celebrates New Zealand's relationship with Antarctica and Christchurch’s 100-year history as an Antarctic gateway.  Run over four weeks from 14 September to 14 October, NZ IceFest brings Antarctica to life for adults and children alike.

Other attractions for children at NZ IceFest are opportunities to go ice-skating, talk live to Scott Base, explore the science stations at the UC Geo Dome, take a virtual tour of Antarctica or visit the Antarctic Centre Field Camp and to find out what it takes to be an Antarctic explorer.

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