As play starts in the Cricket World Cup, we’re taking a quick look around New Zealand to see what other events are taking place during the tournament.
In case you missed it, the Opening Ceremony was held in Christchurch at North Hagley Park on Thursday 12 February. It was a celebration of the Kiwi love for backyard cricket with roving street performers playing matches before the show. To open the concert the local Maori people welcomed the visitors, then there was music and dance, and the evening culminated in a big fireworks display.
If the kids are keen cricketers, head to Nelson on 14 February where they’re holding a Kids Cricket Tournament by the beach in Tahunanui.
Or perhaps the Brightwater Wine and Food Festival on 15 February is more your style. It’s a celebration of the best local gourmet food, cider, beer and wine all enjoyed in the grounds of a beautiful vineyard with live music through the day.
Dunedin will be welcoming the Scottish Team with a Scottish themed event on Sunday 15 February which will celebrate the town’s Scottish heritage. There will be highland dancing, a poetry competition, face painting and food stalls and the town’s statue of Robbie Burns will be decorated in Otago tartan!
South Africa face Zimbabwe in Hamilton on 15 February and to celebrate, the town is holding a number of themed events, including a concert by the Soweto Gospel Choir Concert, which opens the Hamilton Garden Arts Festival. This Festival runs for two weeks every summer and includes a huge variety of music, theatre, film, dance and events for the whole family.
On 18 and 19 February Wellington will be counting down to the opening ceremony with two Twilight Concerts in Frank Kitts Park, a stunning waterfront green space right on the harbour.
On Saturday 21 February you can catch Fire in Babylon (a film about the West Indian cricket team in the 70s and 80s) at Films by Starlight in Civic Square in Wellington. Films by Starlight is New Zealand’s longest running free outdoor cinema.
Napier will be hosting the Legends of Cricket Art Deco Match on 25 February with a friendly 20/20 match between New Zealand and the Rest of the World, there will be local food and wine available and all with an Art Deco twist!
To celebrate the diversity of the local population, and welcome the teams playing locally, Hamilton is hosting a Cultural Celebration on 9 March which will include cultural performances, music and food in Garden Place, a green park in the middle of the city.
You can celebrate the quarter finals in Wellington by heading down to the harbour to see the Quarter Final Fireworks on 20 March.
And if you still haven’t had enough cricket, get in on the action by playing Beach Cricket, a favourite past-time across New Zealand!
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