It’s been going for 20 years and SummerTimesTM – the Christchurch City Council’s holiday festival – remains true to its original aim of providing quality free outdoor entertainment for the people of the city and its visitors.

From the crowd at a small community event to a mob of youngsters clutching their bears at the Teddy Bears Picnic or a crowd of more than 100,000 enjoying an evening concert and fireworks in North Hagley Park, SummerTimesTM strives to provide enjoyment.

Look out later in the month for this year’s festival programme, shown at right. It will be available throughout the city from 16 December. The opening event of the festival this year is the big New Year’s Eve Party (supported by Red Badge Group) in Cathedral Square on 31 December.

It closes in North Hagley Park on Saturday, 1 March with the Rick Armstrong Motors Classical Sparks concert and fireworks show.

Lex Matheson, who was a member of the small City Council team which gave birth to the first SummerTimesTM festivals, says the original idea was a loose collection of summer events based on community resources and talent. Right from the beginning the involvement of sponsors was important.

Without the assistance of Christchurch companies in adding to funding provided by the City Council and ratepayers, the big crowdpulling events could not have been staged.

“Christchurch had a marvellous eccentricity at the time,” Lex says. “SummerTimesTM will continue to serve the city if it can keep free community events and it will enhance the lifestyle in Christchurch.

“I’m proud that it’s still there and has a strong community base.”

• Look out from 16 December for this year’s SummerTimesTM brochure. It will be available around the city and at the City Libraries, at the City Council’s service centres and Civic Offices in Tuam Street, and on the website at www.summertimes.org.nz or call 941 6840.