25 February 2000

Show Day Is Nov 17 – Official

It will be November 17 and is now always the second Friday after the first Tuesday of November.

The confusion arises mainly because many diaries and calendars have got it wrong this year.

Last year was the first time the new definition was used for the acknowledgement of Anniversary Day (celebrated on Show Day each year). The Christchurch City Council, with the support of other local governments in Canterbury, adopted this new definition for various reasons.

One was it would not clash with the Melbourne Cup racing carnival. Top New Zealand horses can now run in the Melbourne Cup and the New Zealand Cup at Riccarton. In the past, the two races have been too close together to achieve this every year.

Other reasons included economic development matters, meaning that Christchurch and Canterbury can now aggressively market to attract nati0nal and international visitors to the city and the region.

The Canterbury A and P Show, various racing events, and a host of community and cultural events which make up Showtime Festival, are held each November.

"At present many people are confused about the November 17 date. The Canterbury A and P Association is receiving about four calls a day about it.

Although we sent information to the central agency that maintains the annual anniversary day register, many publishers have not picked it up," says the City Council’s Promotions Co-ordinator, Julie Battersby.

Further information: Julie Battersby: 941 8780.