FESTA BEGINS FRIDAY

Christchurch's Festival of Transitional Architecture (FESTA) begins on Friday, with more than 50 events expected to draw crowds into the city centre. The headline event, FEASTA, will incorporate architectural installations with a wide range of eating experiences.

"Our theme this year is food. Previously we've been about activation and bringing people into the city. We're still about those things, but food is such a tangible thing, it makes it very open to everyone," said FESTA creative director Barnaby Bennett. "The headline event FEASTA is an opportunity to eat some great good, and come into the city and see some experimental architectural things designed by students across Australasia."

Food options will include an Asian food market, a range of food trucks and a craft beer bar run by Punky Brewster.