4 February 2005

Autumn years the focus for SummerTimes Garden Gala

Hundreds of older adults from across Christchurch will be getting together for a late summer¡¦s day of free entertainment and discovery on Thursday 24 February, in the beautiful setting of historic Riccarton House.

Part of Christchurch City Council¡¦s SummerTimes„· programme, the Garden Gala celebrates the skills and strengths of the third age, showcasing the range of community leisure, arts and crafts activities available to older adults. There¡¦ll be plenty of opportunities to try something new, from tai chi to cake decorating, weaving to web surfing.

Take your lunch and a picnic chair, sit back and enjoy the entertainment from local performers including the 50¡¦s Up brass band (average age 68), the Christchurch Scottish Country Dance Club and the Riccarton Players. The School of Contemporary Belly Dance will also be showing their talents ¡V and audience participation is optional!

The Garden Gala also offers the chance to see Riccarton House and its grounds up close. Tours of the restored homestead, in its Victorian and Edwardian splendour, will run from 11.30am to 1.30pm for a gold coin donation (entry is normally $10 for adults). The 600-year-old kahikatea trees of Riccarton Bush, the last remnants of the forests that covered the Canterbury Plains for 3000 years, provide the perfect escape for a 20 minute walk.

The Gala is hosted by the Council¡¦s Community and Recreation unit in partnership with Riccarton House, with funding from Riccarton-Wigram Community Board. It¡¦s a free event open to everyone. Visit www.summertimes.co.nz for more information.

ENDS

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