We’re polishing up our dance moves and sharpening up our taste buds in preparation for an outrageous summer of festival fun. Check out our best of the fests.

Electric Avenue

If, like us, you’re absolutely amped for all the bangin’ Kiwi artists marooned at home this summer, Electric Avenue is the festival it’s not ok to miss. Benee, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Kora, L.A.B, Shapeshifter and way more are all coming to dish out a tasty mix of old-skool tunes, fresh drops from new albums, and beats that’ll have you raving into the night.

For one day only, Hagley Park will be packed with food trucks, carnival rides and interactive experiences all set to a non-stop 12-hour soundtrack of tunes across multiple stages, with over 30 bands pedalling their best funk, house, hip hop, drum and bass, and rock bangers. With New Zealand music legends, homegrown Ōtautahi heroes and new kids on the block aplenty, this is a summer music spectacular you’ve got to get down to.

Where: Hagley Park When: Saturday 27 February Why: An unrivalled lineup of Kiwi music legends cranking out their best tunes Info: electricavenuefestival.co.nz

SummerTimes

SummerTimes is bringing a blockbuster selection of free events to Christchurch this sunny season, starting with Christchurch’s biggest New Year’s Eve party featuring homegrown Kiwi music talent that’ll have you cutting shapes all the way to midnight with The Black Seeds, Dillastrate and more, topped off with a midnight fireworks display.

In January, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra presents a series of special performances: Pita me te Wuruhi Peter and the Wolf, The Latin Lounge, and Music of the Movies. There’s also Kite Day at New Brighton beach and Anthony Harper Summer Theatre’s hilarious Around the World in 80 Days in the Botanic Gardens. Ben & Jerry’s Lazy Sundays bring local artists to the Botanic Gardens through February and March.

Where: Various locations around Christchurch When: Thursday 31 December – Sunday 14 March Why: A fantastic calendar of free events all summer long Info: ccc.govt.nz/whatson

Bread and Circus World Backyard Buskers Festival

Move over world, hand-picked Kiwi buskers are taking over this year’s Bread & Circus World Backyard Buskers Festival. It'll celebrate the rich, dynamic and diverse creative culture that’s thriving in Aotearoa – right here in our own backyard.

Bread & Circus 2021 will be on show over three massive weeks in January, with weird and wonderful buskers packing the Christchurch streets with free entertainment of the mystifying, magical, hilarious and downright physics-defying kind. Check out The Festival Gala hosted by national treasure The Topp Twins, clowny skit king Paul Klaass, and Jess The Mess – one of New Zealand’s funniest professional idiots. One thing’s for sure: at a festival like this, you’re bound to see something totally bonkers.

Where: All over central Christchurch When: Friday 15 – Sunday 31 January Why: Buskers performing weird, wacky and totally mind-blowing creative acts Info: breadandcircus.co.nz

Gindulgence

How do I love gin? Let me count the ways at Gindulgence, Aotearoa’s biggest and best celebration of all things gin. Our best artisan gin producers are back in February to share the zesty goodness of their favourite tipples, along with some tasty local grub from eateries like Kung Fu Dumplings, Gelatiamo and Bacon Brothers.

Hosted at the leafy Ilam Homestead, you’ll sample gins from leading craft gin vendors like Christchurch’s own Curiosity Gin, gin gin. and The Last Word, as well as national legends like Juno Gin and Dancing Sands Distillery. Each will have a signature gin cocktail, and you'll discover some distillers you may not have heard of yet, like Little Biddy, crafted in Reefton in honour of a pipe-smoking, gin-toting, four-foot-tall goldminer. Meet the makers, take part in gin tastings, masterclasses and relax with some live entertainment.

Where: Ilam Homestead When: Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 February Why: Gin as far as the eye can see Info: gindulgence.co.nz

North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival

Every year thousands of fine folk hit the road and head up to Waipara to celebrate New Zealand’s best-loved wine and food region. The region’s harvesters, artisan producers and all kinds of drink-makers turn out in force so we can totally fall in love with everything North Canterbury has to offer.

You’ll find tasty food to sample and lip-smackingly good drops (after all, this is a region with vineyards stretching to the horizon), a Talk Tent and family-friendly activities. Once you’re all explored out, you can relax under bunting in the leafy domain with some phenomenal foodie treats and a glass of vino and listen to fantastic live music.

Where: Glenmark Domain When: Sunday 7 March Why: Skilled local harvesters, artisan producers and expert winemakers in a chilled-out celebration of North Canterbury Info: ncwineandfood.co.nz

Nostalgia Festival

This laid-back indie music festival features epic beats and delicious treats nestled into a historical corner of the Heathcote Valley. Held in the 1900s replica township of Ferrymead Heritage Park, Nostalgia fest is a day to rock out to a lineup of New Zealand’s finest musicians across three stages, with the one and only Bic Runga performing, as well as Leisure, The Beths, Deva Mahal and many more.

In between gigs, you can enjoy cool roving theatre and sample sensational artisan goodies. Nostalgia Fest keeps sustainability front and centre: you can join a bike gang and ride with other cyclists to the festival, buy treats from local artisans and makers and enjoy a day full of local tipple. It’s an old-skool throwback fest for the ages.

Where: Ferrymead Heritage Park When: Saturday 13 February Why: A music festival that brings a whole community together through groovy tunes Info: nostalgiafestival.co.nz

Great Kiwi Beer Festival

Hop heads rejoice! The Great Kiwi Beer Festival is back with more than 40 craft breweries rolling their kegs into Hagley Park so we can sample all of the amber delights the Kiwi brewing industry has to offer. It’s Aotearoa’s largest outdoor beer festival, with some great artisan food producers to keep you on the level. It’ll be an absolute beerstravaganza (with a few cheeky ciders thrown in there too – it’s not just for beerheads), with over 300 unique drops for you to try out.

There’s also an epic lineup of Kiwi music acts for you to groove out to, including The Black Seeds, Hollie Smith, Thomas Oliver, Scrooge and Volts, as well as cooking demonstrations, seminars and delicious food. It’s the ultimate way to say cheers to our fabulous grassroots brewing industry and the sweet nectar it produces.

Where: Hagley Park When: Saturday 30 January Why: Over 300 beers and ciders pouring in one place Info: greatkiwibeerfestival.co.nz

Cassels Brewing Co. Banks Peninsula Festival

While the rest of Christchurch runs the rat race, Banks Peninsula is in a time zone of its own, enjoying sun-drenched hills, incredible ocean wildlife and an arts and foodie scene that’s totally unique. Escape the grind and join the inhabitants of Banks for a vibrant showcase of music, food, drinks and culture from across the region.

Located on the sun-drenched side of Lyttelton Harbour, the Banks Peninsula Festival will be jam-packed with tunes from The Butlers, Delaney Davidson, Deep Water Creek, Volts and more; top-notch artisan food (don’t miss Giulio Sturla’s guaranteed great eats); and local wines and beers. Wander the Orton Bradley grounds and enjoy the hospitality the Peninsula is famous for.

Where: Orton Bradley Park When: Saturday 20 February Why: A laid-back love fest celebrating everything that makes the Peninsula great Info: bankspeninsulafestival.com

Ripe: The Wānaka Wine & Food Festival

Central Otago’s award-winning wine and food will take centre stage this summer with the launch of Ripe. Head south to the home of stunning vistas and vineyards, where you’ll find Central Otago’s best food and wine producers, breweries and distilleries – and they’ve got tasters. You can sample everything from the masterful meat, seafood and fresh produce of Wānaka’s top eateries to the bold flavours of the area’s famous Pinot Noir.

Celebrity Chef Nadia Lim will host a cooking demonstration with sensational local produce, and Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas will teach a wine tasting session before joining guests to try a selection of curated wines. The Jordan Luck Band is headlining a lush lineup of bands and singer-songwriters, so you’ll be cheersing, nibbling and grooving all day long.

Where: Corbridge Woolshed, Wānaka When: Sunday 21 March, 2021 Why: Wine and food from one of the tastiest destinations in the world Info: ripewanaka.nz

Rest of the fests

These events around Christchurch and the rest of country are so awesome that loading up the car for a roadie or jumping on a plane is a total no-brainer.

Food & Wine

Highlights of the culinary calendar include Gincredible (February 12 – 14), which is back in Tauranga with food trucks rolling in, gin masterclasses from the experts, and samples from boutique distillers. On the same weekend, the Wellington Wine & Food Festival (February 13) will bring together drool-worthy foodsters like The Crab Shack, Rogue Burger and House of Dumplings, as well as bevvies from unbeatable breweries and vineyards.

Grow Ōtautahi (March 12 – 14) is Christchurch's free garden festival with how-tos, demonstrations from chefs including Jax Hamilton, and stunning gardens on display. For a taste of an absolute speciality right at its roots, head to the Havelock Mussel and Seafood Festival (March 13) in the heart of the Marlborough Sounds. Sample New Zealand greenshell mussel, king salmon and Pacific oysters with celebrity Chef Michael Van de Elzen, and relax to old-skool favs Zed and Nelson singer-songwriter Robinson.

Hokitika Wildfoods Festival (March 13) is always a total hoot, with stalls full of weird and wonderful goodies, as well as a feral fashion show and wonderful West Coast beer – this year's music headlines are blast-from-the-early-2000s bands Stellar* and The Feelers. And to round out an absolute feast of a summer, there's Ripe: The Wānaka Wine & Food Festival (March 21) – check out the previous page for details.

Music

Start the summer shakedown at Taupo’s Le Currents culture and arts festival (27 December). Groove out to indie and rock bands like Mako Road, The Beths and Soaked Oats.

You’re spoilt for New Year’s party choices, with an epic all-Kiwi Rhythm & Alps lineup featuring Six60, Shihad and The Phoenix Foundation on New Year’s Eve, while Benee and Fat Freddy’s Drop are headlining Rhythm & Vines in Gisborne. Camp among the vines for the exclusive Waiohika Warmup event, and don’t miss the man-made waterslide. Highlife NYE is bringing together the country’s best DJs for one massive night of body-thumping electro beats in Matakana, and if you’re still thirsting for tunes, you can make the pilgrimage north for the Bay of Islands Music Festival (January 8) just outside of Kerikeri, featuring Benee, Dave Dobbyn, The Beths and Tami Neilson.

Raglan will be humming for Soundsplash’s (January 22 – 24) three days of multi-genre festival fun, featuring an incredible lineup (Che Fu is our pick for sizzling tunes) across four stages and an always-incredible Kai Village. Slow it down a notch at the Auckland Folk Festival (January 29 – February 1) with Lyttelton legends The Eastern energising the dance floor among markets and workshops at the Kumeu Showgrounds.

Waitangi weekend brings One Love (February 6 – 7) to Tauranga Domain, with Fat Freddy’s Drop, L.A.B, Kora and Sean Kingston. Tāpapakanga Regional Park’s Splore (February 26 – 28) always attracts a conscious crowd of party animals. Beloved Kiwi musicians will be living it up in Lincoln for the 5th anniversary of Selwyn Sounds (March 6), with Jon Stevens from INXS, Stan Walker and the Jordan Luck Band headlining the day.

The Arts

Hurl yourself into the speed, sunshine and spying antics of the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland with Summernova, an all-summer series of music, food and drink, and arts festivals. You’ll find great vibes, blissful days and family-friendly fun at the Aroha Essence Festival (January 15 – 17) at Journey’s End Campsite in Loburn. The festival embraces and honours sacred Māori arts, wisdom and spiritual knowledge.

Auckland Fringe (February 14 – March 6) has been described as a “little artistic hurricane that blasts out the cobwebs”. It’s a feisty, independent festival that brings sassy fringe shows celebrating otherness and inclusivity and satisfies all creative palates. Head down to Wellington for NZ Fringe (February 26 – March 20), a cutting-edge arts festival of Aotearoa’s best and quirkiest performers.

The 2021 edition of Auckland Arts Festival (March 4 – 21) will feature over 70 events across 18 days and many genres, with Voices New Zealand performing Taonga Moana – A Love Letter to the Oceans in Auckland Town Hall, and a massive celebration of the 20th anniversary of Che Fu’s Navigator with an epic gig from the legend himself. Finish the festival with Pūmanawa, a powerful kapa haka performance from four of our finest Māori cultural groups. Dunedin Arts Festival (April 6 – 25) will celebrate the city's erupting arts scene with extraordinary performances throughout the month.