All children’s activities including pony rides, juggling lessons, balloon animals, face painting and a mega slide will be free, with heaps of fun for all ages.

A Dress Up Your Bike competition kicks off the kids’ events, when the Festival starts at 11am. There will also be the chance to shoot baskets with the Canterbury Rams and Rhonda Milner from the Canterbury women’s basketball team, The Wildcats. The New Brighton volunteer fire brigade will be at the Festival with a fire appliance and Father Christmas has promised an appearance.

Kids and grown ups alike will enjoy the continuous entertainment at the Festival, provided by the big drawcard King Kapisi and bands such as A-Flex, FUSA, Que and cultural groups. Other celebrities at the Festival will include sports stars, Crusaders flanker Johnny Leo’o and former Melbourne Storm League player Tawera Nikau, who will join local talent in a celebrity touch match.

The day will also bring a wide range of organisations to the area to provide information on careers, education and health related services. There will be plenty of giveaways and the Cancer Society is to provide sunscreen to help keep families safe in the sun. Food at the Festival will be varied and plentiful, reflecting Aranui’s many cultures.

The Affirm Festival was requested by the Aranui community as part of Aranui Community Renewal – a partnership between the local community, Christchurch City Council and Housing NZ. Community sponsors, the Council and Housing NZ have helped to fund the Festival.