Inaugural Spring River Festival

13 September 2012

Inaugural Spring River Festival

2012 is the inaugural year of the Spring River Festival to be held each Labour weekend on the lower Avon corridor, estuary and beaches – the playground of the city!

The festival is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to celebrate spring on and along the eastern waterways of Christchurch.

This exciting programme, packed with 40 recreational and community events, is taking place on 20 and 21 October, 2012. With event hubs at New Brighton, Ferrymead, Kerrs Reach, Avondale, Burwood, Travis, Shirley and Avonside, the festival showcases the vitality and potential of the east as “Ōtakaro: place of the game”.

Initiated, coordinated and promoted by Avon-Ōtakaro Network, the festival is supported by CCC, CERA, Sport Canterbury, CanCERN, Healthy Christchurch, and the Volunteer Army Foundation.

Evan Smith, Co-Chair of Avon-Ōtakaro Network, says: “There is something for everyone, whatever their age, ability or interest, with a diverse range of activities embracing sport and recreation, culture and heritage, environment and gardens, and entertainment and community.”

“It will be a very special weekend that recognises the importance of the Avon-Ōtakaro River and estuary to the history, health and wellbeing of Christchurch. Reconnecting people and communities from all parts of the city, this celebration of the human spirit will particularly support and strengthen many of the communities most affected by the quakes.”

“Promoting local businesses and business opportunities along the lower Avon corridor, the festival restores confidence in the recovery of the east. By taking the opportunity to look at what could be, we take brief respite from the challenges of the here and now and imbue our visions for the future with hope and aspiration.” says Smith.

The events are, autonomously run by a diverse range of local organisations, so this is a collaborative effort bringing together a broad combination of interests.

The programme of events is published on-line at www.springriver.org.nz. The site will be updated daily with more events added as they are confirmed and greater search functionality will be available from next week.

AvON is a not-for-profit group. Its vision is to “establish a community-driven science-informed living memorial to rejuvenate and nurture the long-term environmental, economic, community and spiritual wellbeing of the eastern suburbs and of those living throughout greater Christchurch. Our aim is to turn a tragedy into an opportunity, a polluted drain into a vibrant river system, and exhaustion and despair into hope and inspiration.”
www.avonotakaronetwork.co.nz

ENDS

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