Here’s the opportunity to get out of the house, and experience something musical, sporty, cultural and new.

One of New Zealand’s longest-running and most-loved summer festivals, SummerTimes, is back, with your favourite outdoor events in locations all over the city from 31 December to the end of February 2004.

Details on all events can be found in the SummerTimes brochure — distributed citywide in mid-December, and on the web at www.summertimes.co.nz

Beginning on New Year’s Eve, Cathedral Square comes alive with musical performances by local bands 4 Man Bob and The Bubblemen, playing originals and top-40 hits from 9.30pm. This year’s New Year’s Eve Party is supported by Anthony Harper Lawyers (in Association with Red Badge Group), and fireworks exploding from the Anthony Harper building in Cathedral Square will add to the evening’s excitement, culminating in the big countdown to the New Year.

In early January Kidsplay returns to community parks all over the city. Hilarious comedians The Outwits will be presenting a performance with laughs and audience participation, and the Amazing Games Team will involve the littlies in parachute games and group activities guaranteed to energize and exhaust them. Kidsplay runs from 5-10 January. A sign language interpreter will be at the Burwood Park, New Brighton venue on Wednesday 7 January.

A family favourite, the Teddy Bears Picnic, returns to Hagley Park on Sunday 8 February. An afternoon jam-packed with fun and games, this year’s event features rides, puppet shows, Elgregoe the Magician, pavement art, dancing and live music featuring the Canterbury Foundation Brass Band and The Wobbles.

Kids have the opportunity to experience a beach party atmosphere at their local pool when dance band Puree entertain at Twistin’ by the Pool from 15-18 January. Waltham, Halswell, Sockburn and Jelly Park pools provide the venues and normal pool admission entry applies.

Some 14 community events join the SummerTimes festival this year, beginning on Saturday 24 January and continuing through to 17 March. Events include a movies screening in Linwood Park on Thursday 5 February, a family fishing day at the Avon River on Saturday 7 February, orienteering at Bottlelake Forest Park on Sunday 15 February, and Culture Galore! — celebrating cultural diversity, in Ray Blank Park on Saturday 6 March. Further details on all events can be found in the SummerTimes brochure or on the website.

Active Christchurch Walks return on 4 January, giving walkers the chance to visit a part of the city that’s new to them, and enjoy exercise at the same time. The one-hour walks are organised and run by Graeme Stanley, and they often include historic and interesting places. Award-winning pipe and brass bands perform as part of the Sunday Bandstand programme, presenting traditional music from talented and experienced locals in beautiful outdoor settings that include the Botanic Gardens and Halswell Quarry. Performances occur on Sundays beginning on 18 January and continuing through to Sunday 22 February.

The Press Summer Theatre Season is suppor ted by Anthony Harper Lawyers. This popular outdoor theatre event this year features the Court Jesters who present a full improvised fairytale called Fairyable. With the help of the audience, they will create a different tale every performance — lots of laughs guaranteed. Performances begin on Friday 23 January at 7pm, with no shows on Mondays, and matinee performances on some days — see the SummerTimes brochure for details.

The Friday Summer Lunches provide an opportunity to enjoy Cathedral Square in the sunshine, beginning on 9 January. Top local talent performs at 12.15pm, including Puree, Sideline Swing, Phil Garland and Bush Telegraph, FUSA, Volare, Wooston Junior Band and Sneaky Feet.

One of the festival’s most highly anticipated events takes place in Hagley Park on Saturday 21 February. ASB Bank Starry Nights has moved to the larger venue of North Hagley Park which will ensure better views and more comfortable seating. This year’s song and dance extravaganza will include excerpts from international shows such as Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, Evita, My Fair Lady, Grease and Copacobana. The show begins at 8.30pm, and at half-time there is the opportunity for someone to win a $2000 ASB Bank Investment Fund.

The finale to the SummerTimes programme occurs on Saturday 28 February at 7pm when the largest outdoor concert in New Zealand takes place in North Hagley Park. Rick Armstrong Motors Classical Sparks is celebrating its 21st year, and this year stars Tim Beveridge, Viktoria Dodoka, and local star violinist Ben Morrison. The Christchurch Symphony will be conducted by Marc Taddei, and they perform classical favourites, concluding with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, accompanied by breathtaking fireworks.