The 17th annual TV2 KidsFest has been labelled "wonderful" with tens of thousands of children enjoying school holiday events throughout Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.

Christchurch City Council Events Business Coordinator Paul Kean says this year's theme of "imagination" sparked the minds of youngsters, with opportunities to explore everything from soldiers to skeletons, robots to rhinos, penguins to planets, and reptiles to recycling.

"It's been a wonderful TV2 KidsFest overall," Mr Kean says.

"We were blessed with the weather, except for the first weekend with the snowstorm but that was exciting in itself!"

Highlights included Friday night's (18 July) Singapore Airlines StarFest at the James Hay Theatre, the culmination of heats held at local malls.

First place and a family holiday to Singapore, courtesy of Singapore Airlines, was won by Eddie (12) and Cullen (10) Kiesanowski, of Burwood, who performed a very fine acoustic version of the Atlas song "Crawl."

The Te Hae Whanau, comprising Hikairo (13), Setu (11), Wairepo (9) and Maia (4), of Wainoni, were named second, with Ashley (5) and Abbey (6) Armstrong, of Prebbleton, third.

"A bunch of very talented children and families from throughout Canterbury competed," Mr Kean says.

"It was a very closely matched competition this year and the judges had a very tough time."

The inaugural APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Children's Song of the Year Award and the What Now Children's Video of the Year Award were also presented at the Singapore Airlines StarFest final.

Craig Smith and Claudia Gunn were first equal for the song award, with the Funky Monkeys picking up the video award.

The Kids' Mix Mash Music Bash in Cathedral Square on Wednesday (16 July) was an enormous success, with loads of children dancing with the Common Ground Breakdancers, and making music using recycled materials with the Pandemonium percussion group.

"TV2 KidsFest mascot Cool Stuff even had a go and proved himself to be a very talented breakdancer - I'm going to load a video of that on to YouTube, so look out for it," Mr Kean says.

A new event this year, held on several days throughout Selwyn district, also proved to be a big hit, with children using GPS for a high-tech treasure hunt, and there was a massive turnout for the Kidsmarket, held in Cathedral Square on Monday (14 July).

TV2 KidsFest is run by the Christchurch City Council on behalf of the KidsFest Charitable Trust. For more information please visit www.kidsfest.co.nz or contact Paul Kean on 027 226 1336 or paul.kean@ccc.govt.nz