Akaroa & The Bays

With thanks to our Funders & Sponsors. We could not produce the event without them. 

• Christchurch City Council
• The Rata Foundation
• Pub Charity 
• CCC Creative Communities Fund
• One Foundation
• Christchurch European
• Canterbury Waste Minimisation Grant
• Southern Trust
• A La Villa
• Akaroa 4 Square
• Akaroa Community Arts Council
• Akaroa Butchery & Deli
• Akaroa District Promotions
• Akaroa Dolphins
• Akaroa Freight
• Akaroa House
• Akaroa Mail
• Akaroa Motor Garage
• Akaroa on the Beach
• Akaroa Rental Homes
• Akaroa Sailing Cruises
• Akaroa Salmon
• Akaroa Village Inn
• Akaroa Waterfront Motel
• Annandale 
• Avon City Caravans
• Bachcare
• Barrys Bay Cheese
• Bantry Lodge
• Beaufort House
• Bidfood Limited
• Black Estate Wines
• Blythcliffe
• Bonne Maman 
• Bully Hayes
• Criterion Motel
• French Bay House
• French Farm Winery
• French Peak Wines 
• Fyrnebrooke House
• Glowing Sky Clothing
• Hetties Rock Shop
• La Rochelle Motel
• L'Escargot Rouge
• Ma Maison Restaurant & Bar
• Meniscus Wines
• Metropol Magazine
• Mulberry House
• Mumm Champagne
• Ngai Tahu & Onuku Runanga
• Novotel Christchurch Airport
• Old French Road Olives
• Peninsula Trading Post
• Peter & Sue Mason
• Pipi Journeys LTD 
• Pohatu Penguins
• Pot Pourri
• Red Bus
• See-Do-Stay
• Shamarra Alpaca Farm Tours
• Stephen Horton
• Sunny Brae Bed & Breakfast
• Te Wepu intrepid Pods
• The Garden at French Farm
• The Grand Hotel
• The Little Bistro
• The Wharf
• Tresori Motor Lodge. 

Friday 11 October Street Party
Friday Night Street Party on Beach Road
Friday 11 October 6-10pm.
A Maori welcome opens our festival at 6pm.

Enjoy a children friendly street party with two bands:  Mundi & DangerBaby playing in the truck on Beach Road.
Mulletman will MC and Skye Broberg & Taiga will entertain.
The Entertainment Company will be roving.

Saturday 12 October Activities

The Landing
8.30am
Akaroa Main Beach - rain or shine! Bring a beach chair and a rug (and a raincoat if its raining). 
Following on from the acclaimed success of The Landing 2017, Akaroa Community Arts Council once again is working in partnership with Akaroa Heritage Festival Society to produce The Landing 2019 at FrenchFest.

Telling the history and stories of the many and varied intrepid souls who travelled far and wide to make Banks Peninsula their home, The Landing is a lively, fun, historical re-enactment that leads up to the arrival in 1840 of The Comte de Paris, bringing 59 French and German settlers to Akaroa.

Stories are told of these first encounters; of local iwi, the whalers, trading sailors and the first farmers, who were just set up in Akaroa. It is a theatrical living history performance on the main beach that brings this unique event to life. The groups of characters - played by local community members, wherever possible playing their own ancestors, will all be a part of telling our stories in a lively, historically accurate, fun, immersive and audience inclusive way.

Aided by the professional support of the wonderful Michael Hurst, Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Nathan Bonner and The Wellington Sea Shanty Society. 

The Parade
Between 10.30am-11am
The Parade. Saturday 12 October. Between 10.30am-11am
The Canterbury Brass Band will follow the parade this year (not lead it) from the beach to the Recreation Ground. The Onuku runanga will lead the parade.
Please note there is a traffic management plan in place on the main street of Akaroa during this time.

Official Speeches & Flag Raising
11am-11.30am
Official speeches and flag raising in the Heritage & Cultural Festival marquee. 

Market Day 11am-4.30pm
Akaroa Recreation Le Jour du Marché (Market Day) on the Akaroa Recreation Ground
Enjoy French inspired markets, games, food, music and entertainment.

Market Day Music on the Truck Stage

• 11.30am-12.30pm Electric Soul Duo (Julia Dorry & Eduardo) 
• 12.30pm-1.30pm Lesley Meguid & Matt Thomas          
• 1.30pm-2.30pm Connor Hartley-Hall & Alice Steele
• 2.30pm-3.15pm Canterbury Brass Band     
• 3.15pm-4.30pm Connor Hartley-Hall & Alice Steele     

Roving Entertainment
Skye Broberg & Taiga and The Entertainment Company roving all day on the rec. 

Market Stalls
From 11am-4.30pm.
Bar available and wineries selling excellent local wine.

Activities in the Heritage & Cultural Festival Marquee
• 11am-11.30am Official Opening & Flag Raising
• 12pm. Presentation of the Best Dressed Business in Akaroa Prize
• 12.30pm. Mumm & Sabarge Demonstration
• 2.15pm. Mr Peacock Fashion Parade
• 3pm. Cock Crowing Competition-Amazing prizes thanks to French Farm businesses. 

Mumm & Sabarge Demonstration
12.30pm. Ophelie Neil, our Mumm Champagne Ambassador will demonstate the Art of Sabrage - the French tradition of slicing open a champagne bottle with a cavalry sword. 

Activities on the Green
• 11.30am-12.30pm. Geology Walk to Childrens Bay with Dr Sam Hampton
• 1pm. Waiter’s Races
• French Games all day
• Petanque Games from 11.30am to 4.30pm with the Christchurch Petanque Club
• Croquet all day with the Akaroa Croquet Club. 

Geology Walk with Sam Hampton 11.30-12.30pm. FREE. 
Special guided geology walk with Sam. Saturday 12 October. 11.30am – 12.30pm. FREE.
Meet at the Festival Marquee (Heritage & Cultural tent) at 11.30am.

How did Akaroa harbour form? What types of eruptions occurred? What was the size and shape of Akaroa Volcano? What evidence can we see in the landscape today? Want answers to these questions then join volcanologist Dr Sam Hampton on a guided exploration of Children’s Bay.
This family friendly free walk is in promotion of the Banks Peninsula Walking Festival and the Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū / Banks Peninsula Geopark, and sponsored by Frontiers Abroad Aotearoa.

FrenchFest History Tour with Marie Haley from Seventh Generation
Saturday 12 October. Book online HERE. 2pm departure. 2 hour tour. Min 4 people to run. 

Heritage & Cultural Marquee
In the main marquee during the day will be a heritage area with lots of activities, stalls and information.
Plus:
• 12pm. Presentation of the Best Dressed Business in Akaroa Award
• 2.15pm. Mr Peacock Fashion Parade.

Akaroa Designers, Emma Manhart and Mark Kolff from Mr Peacock, present their Summer Collection at the 2019 FrenchFest Fashion Show.
A little Haute Couture, a lot of Colourful Clothing, Wild and Bold fabric and even a few local Peninsula faces on stage!!
All Mr Peaock Clothing is New Zealand Made and is designed right here in the heart of artistic Akaroa. 
So come to the FrenchFest Fashion Parade and see what's happening on the catwalk in Akaroa this Summer!!

FREE Photo Booth 11.30-4.00pm. 

• Akaroa Community Arts Council
• Comte de Paris Group
• Cemetery Group
• Libeau Group
• Hinewai
• Foam-Friends of Akaroa Museum
• Akaroa Lighthouse Preservation Society
• Frontiers Abroad Aotearoa
• Onuku Runanga
• Alliance Française Christchurch. 
  
  

French Fest Britomart Reserve
12.15pm-1pm The Canterbury Brass Band

Le Cabaret
Saturday 12 October 7pm-11.30pm.
Don't miss this fabulous evening of music, dancing and fun.
Joie de vivre!
Doors open at 6.30pm. Fun starts at 7pm.
Adults ticketed event with various bands and entertainers.
$40 per ticket.

Tickets are available from Eventfinda HERE, the Akaroa Museum (Cash only) and the INFO Tent on site all day of the festival (Cash and Etfpos only). 

The Entertainment Company dancers-present Le Can Can!
The Wellington Sea Shanty Society 
Nicola Són, the most Brazilian of the French bands!
Jason Kerrison
Corner Sounds
Circotica
Bonita Danger Doll 
MC MulletMan
FREE Photo Booth 6.30pm-9pm. 

Get ready to dance!
Bar available. No BYO please.
Food available: pizzas, mussels, smoked meat and sandwiches. 

Sunday at FrenchFest
Sunday 13 October. 
Circus Workshop 11:00am to 12:30pm. 90 minutes.
Give It A Go Circus Workshop!
Come and try out different circus activities: adagio, aerials, floor acrobatics/tumbling, juggling, mime/clown.
Tickets: $12 per person. (pre-bookings essential) BOOK HERE. 
For ages 7 - 60 years old.

Circus Show 2pm. 50 minutes approx.
An Awe-Inspiring Circus Show!
Presented by performers from Christchurch based circus school Circotica.
Tickets: $12 per person. (door sales if available). BOOK HERE. 

Akaroa Heritage Festival Society Inc. would like to thank our many sponsors for the much appreciated support for French Fest.

Other FrenchFest Events in Akaroa: 
Friday Day
On Friday day we will be judging the Best Dressed Competition. The businesses will compete in this to show us their best blue, red and white colours! 

Akaroa Shuttle Red Bus ride to FrenchFest:
Bookings via this link HERE. 

Akaroa Heritage Festival Society Inc. would like to thank our many funders and sponsors for the much appreciated support for FrenchFest. Without or Sponsors and Funders we could not produce the event.  

The Akaroa Heritage Festival Committee.