“This festival is unique in that it celebrates everything that’s special about the region” says Festival Coordinator Paulette Harraway. “It’s a time for professionals to dress up and enjoy a number of sophisticated events created especially for them. They can have a flutter at the races, enjoy fashion shows, art exhibitions, sport, music and dancing. The city is set to come alive.”

With over 35 events in two weeks, the festival focuses around a week of racing action at Riccarton and Addington raceways, including Guineas Day, Ladies Day, the Lindaur Race Day and the Canterbury Draught and New Zealand Cup and Trotting Cups.

Fashionistas will be excited by the Canterbury Fashion 2003 Collections and Awards held in the new Christchurch Art Gallery on 6 November. Twenty three of Canterbury’s leading fashion designers will show their new season’s collections on the catwalk, with an after-show party at Rydges Hotel.

For more cutting-edge fashion, the PITCH-CPIT Fashion Show on 12 November will feature a stunning display of designs created by students from all three years at CPIT Fashion School. Midnight Fantasia — A Ball for Town and Country — on 13 November at the Hotel Grand Chancellor — will be another opportunity to dress up and let your hair down. time Always a family favourite, the A&P Show from 12-14 November brings the country to town with wood-chopping, equestrian, carnival rides, demonstrations and displays, not to mention farm animals of every size, shape and breed, all in the one convenient location at Canterbury Agricultural Park off Wigram Road.

Greyhound racing, a golf tournament at Templeton, and motor racing are joined by city walks and a half-marathon for the sports-minded. The Meridian Energy Fireworks Extravaganza takes place on Wednesday 5 November at New Brighton Pier. Spectacular fireworks will be choreographed to music and simulcast live on LITEFM 94.5 at 9.30pm. Festival exhibitions include pottery and woodcarving at Canterbury Museum, The Showtime Canterbury Painted Horses, Sculpture in the Garden, and finely crafted quilts at City Artspace in High Street.