Christmas Eve events and lights across Christchurch

Chris Lynch
Chris Lynch
Dec 23, 2020 |

2020 YMCA Carols by Candlelight

24 December 2020, 9pm
Victoria Square

Join us on Christmas Eve, 24 December from 9pm-10pm in Victoria Square for this extra special candlelight event. Carols by Candlelight starts at 9pm and features the Salvation Army Band, guest performers, a combined Christchurch choir and a few twists to help celebrate. Candles and carol books will be on sale, the proceeds of which help make this event possible. Toilets and food vendors will also be onsite.

Christchurch Transitional Cathedral

Christmas Eve    
6.00pm Cathedral Choir Christmas Carol Recital    
10.15pm Carol Singing by candlelight
11.00pm The Midnight Eucharist
Preacher: Bishop Peter Carrell
 Music: The Cathedral Choir (Boy Choristers)   

St Albans Baptist Church 

Christmas Eve celebration features a great lineup of classic Christmas carols to bring people together and celebrate the true meaning of the season. The Christmas Eve Celebration is held at St Albans Baptist Church, 64 McFaddens Road, Christchurch. The service starts at 7pm, with a free sausage sizzle from 6:15pm.

The City Church Christchurch Christmas Eve

The City Church Christchurch will hold a special Christmas Eve service at 7pm on Tuesday 24th December to ‘celebrate the true reason for the season’ with carols and a message of hope to the world through Jesus. City Church Christchurch, 346 Manchester Street, Christchurch

Parish of Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst

Thursday 11:15 pm St Peter’s Church Hall, 22 Main South Road Upper Riccarton, Candle-lit carol singing and Holy Communion.

Knox Church

December  24,  2020.  Sermon Practice – Christmas Eve, The Christmas Eve reflection will go live at 11:15pm on Thursday.

Cathedral Parish at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral

Christmas Eve
6pm (Preceded with carols at 5.30pm)
8:30pm (Preceded with carols at 8pm)
Midnight Mass (Preceded with carols at 11.30pm) – CBS Music/Orchestra

Christchurch North

Christmas Eve

5.30pm Carols – 6pm Mass at St Matthew’s (Children’s Mass)
7.30pm Carols – 8pm Mass at St Gregory’s
8pm Carols – 8.30pm Mass at at Christ the King
Midnight Mass at Christ the King

Christchurch South

5pm – Sacred Heart Church, Addington
6pm – Sts Peter & Paul, Halswell
6pm – St Peter’s Church, Beckenham
8pm – Our Lady of the Assumption, Hoon Hay
9pm – Sacred Heart Church, Addington
9pm – St Peter’s Church, Beckenham
10pm – Carmelite Monastery

Christchurch West

6pm – St Bernadette’s & Our Lady of Victories
7.30pm – St Teresa’s
8pm – St Bernadette’s & Our Lady of Victories
Midnight Mass – St Teresa’s

Christchurch East

5.30pm Carols – 6pm Mass at St Andrew’s (Diamond Harbour)
7pm Mass at St Mary’s (Family Mass) (New Brighton)
8pm Carols – 8.30pm Mass at Our Lady Star of the Sea (Sumner)
8pm Carols – 8.30pm Mass at St Anne’s (Woolston)

Korean Community

Christmas Eve

9.30pm – St Paul Chong Hasang Church

Christmas Day

12pm – St Paul Chong Hasang Church

Cashmere Presbyterian Church

Light a Candle in Remembrance
The church will be open during the day for personal prayer, remembrance & contemplation.

Midnight Watch Candlelight Service, Commencing at 11.30pm

Arise Church

Christmas Eve Service 6pm Service, Aurora Centre

St Barnabas Anglican Church

Thurs 24 Dec @ 10.45pm – Note earlier time! Traditional Midnight Service with candle-lights and choir in the church – begins with carol singing. Formal service begins at 11pm.

All Souls Church Community

FAMILY SERVICE 4pm
Bring along your young ones and the young at heart…The magic of the Christmas story unfolds during this family oriented service, complete with special appearances by the Christmas Dinosaur and real donkeys! 

MIDNIGHT MASS 11pm
A hush falls over the night as we gather in candlelight to await the coming of the Christ Child, then in the half-light, a lone voice is heard, joined by another and another as Christmas Carol’s ring out and we celebrate the birth of the Messiah.

Latimer Church

Christmas Eve Carol Service, 7pm at The Piano: Centre for Music and the Arts (156 Armagh St)

St Stephen’s Church

Midnight Communion Service
Be there for the arrival of Christmas at a traditional Christmas Eve service
Tuesday 24th December, Shirley Intermediate School, 11:30pm

Notenoughlights Christmas light show

Notenoughlights Christmas light show brings you another year of twinkly flashy music synchronised lights here in Christchurch City.This light show features 256,000 LED lights synchronised to music. 8 Dunluce Place, Christchurch

Shands Rd Christmas Lightshow

This is the largest single Lightshow around. The Light displays are synchronized to great rock music. The display rooms all have a different theme and animations. Displays of custom-built working Carnival rides. Large G scale lit up trains running. Even a fun Clown/Halloween type display.Christchurch Christmas Lightshow, 650 Shands RD, Christchurch 8:30pm – 11:30pm

Christmas Lights website

A list of all the lights across Christchurch city

Chris Lynch
Chris Lynch

Chris Lynch is a journalist, videographer and content producer, broadcasting from his independent news and production company in Christchurch, New Zealand. If you have a news tip or are interested in video content, email [email protected]

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