Festival sur l’Herbe (Festival on the Green)
Saturday 29 October, 11.00am – 6pm, Recreation Ground, Rue Lavaud.
Piper Heidsieck French Fest officially opens on the village green at the Recreation Ground with a suitably dramatic flourish! Follow the spectacle of the New Zealand Army Band and members of the community as they parade from the landing site on the shore of French Bay to Rue Lavaud. Here you will witness a powhiri (traditional Maori welcome) and official flag-raising ceremony to launch the Festival on the Green. Afterwards, soak up a full day of entertainment which includes performances by international touring band The Mamaku Project, sensationally talented comedy troupe The Outwits, and a competitive cook off between the crews of the French and Royal New Zealand Navies represented.
The Official Festival Opening Ceremony
The arrival of the parade heralds the official launch of Piper Heidsieck French Fest. Beginning with a powhiri (Maori welcome) from Te Rūnanga o Onuku (Ngāi Tahu), the ceremony will feature special guests His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch Bob Parker and His Excellency the Ambassador of France Monsieur Francis Etienne. Followed by the raising of the New Zealand and French flags by members of the New Zealand Defence Force.
Le Jour du Marché
The heart of Piper Heidsieck French Fest is Le Jour du Marché, a market day on the Recreation Ground which will be full of French themed stalls and packed with great entertainment. Look out for fine wines, cuisine, the Vangionis outdoor banquet, and two stages with live music, theatre and an interactive cooking show. Akaroa Area School will also present highlights of their wearable art fashion show.
La Musique
The music on the Green begins with a segment by Te Whānau o Onuku, the Kapa Haka group based at Akaroa's own Onuku Marae. This will be followed by The Mamaku Project, who have wowed audiences on the festival scene in New Zealand and abroad since 2005. Weaving French bohemian roots and Pacifica dub into a captivating musical concoction, this act is one of a kind. After, get your groove on with local Akaroa Kiwi roots and covers band, Rhythm Method.
French Waiters' Race
How fast are our local French waiters balancing glasses of vin rouge on a tray with baguette in hand? The Motley Deux are determined to find the star French waiter through a series of chaotic heats and the mad dash of the final race later in the afternoon.
Comedy Theatre in the Round: The Complete History of World Rugby (Abridged) – the Twenty20 Version
Described as “exhilarating madness” by Theatre Review, this hilarious and extremely clever play comes hot on the heels of Rugby World Cup 2011 and will enthral both theatre lovers and those who live for the game. Performed at a reckless pace and with energised lunacy from comedy troupe The Outwits with Greg Cooper and Jared Corbin. Directed by Andie Spargo.
Pour les Enfants (For the Kids)
The festival has something for every kind of kid – from the creative to the keen observer and the most active youngsters! The Akaroa Arts Council will be running an art and craft activity tent, the local Toy Library will provide lots of fun for the afternoon, stalls where you can create your own plaster-of-Paris masterpiece to take away, a puppet show, face painting, bouncy entertainment and a skateboard competition. For those who prefer taking things at a slower pace, there is always the Great Annual Snail Race to enjoy!
Pétanque Tournament
No French Fest would be complete without this most famous of French games: pétanque! Come and try your hand at a game of boules at the pétanque piste under the trees.
International Navy Cook Off
At this year's Piper Heidsieck French Fest the French Navy is represented by FNS La Moqueuse and the Royal New Zealand Navy by HMNZS Hawea and HMNZS Pegasus. To celebrate the three ship's companies in Akaroa there will be a cooking competition between the three ships held on the round stage at the Recreation Ground. Will our boys be able to beat off the strong competition from France?
