What’s on in Auckland this weekend: Book fairs, football and more

2) Get ready for another chapter of Bookarama

Auckland’s largest community book fair is on the horizon.

The Rotary Club of Howick’s Bookarama returns to Howick College Gymnasium next Thursday to Sunday, marking over 25 years of the fair and more than $650,000 raised for the local community. Now Auckland’s largest community book fair, this year’s event brings over a thousand boxes of donated books, puzzles, games, DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs and LPs, alongside a new silent auction of signed books from authors including Brandon Sanderson, Callie Hart and Liza Minnelli, among others – a first for the fair and a genuine find for collectors. Thursday’s Early Bird session ($40 koha entry) offers first pick of the bargains, with general sale open free Friday to Sunday.

3) Football’s back!

A-League champions Auckland FC will start the defence of their title this month.

Dust off your merch and work on your chants as A-League Champions Auckland FC prepare to make their return to Go Media Stadium when the football season kicks off against Melbourne Victory on Saturday, October 17. The club, famous for its match day entertainment, has promised as much drama and entertainment off the field as there is on it. Each game day features a different theme, with “Country” delivering line-dancing classes and pony rides and “Carnival” featuring a Ferris wheel among the early standouts. Single match tickets to all games are now on sale, including for the fiercely contested rivalry when Auckland FC take on the Wellington Phoenix on November 7.

4) Election fever hits the stage

The Surprise Party by Dave Armstrong.

An incisive, hilarious comedy recreating the hopeless merry-go-round of politics that happens every election cycle, The Surprise Party by award-winning playwright Dave Armstrong arrives at The Pumphouse Theatre in Takapuna this Thursday for a limited season. A madcap comedy about an incompetent political party hoping to survive another election, it stars beloved actor, director and writer Alison Quigan (Shortland Street, The Brokenwood Mysteries, Madam) alongside Stephen Papps, who plays the sole MP for a party whose only claim to fame is the fact his father was an All Black and his mum a former Miss New Zealand. With modern-day politics feeling more like satire every day, The Surprise Party takes a swipe at idealistic, uncompromising and increasingly humour-resistant factions.

5) Home style in Hamilton

Interior designer and long-standing judge on The Block Australia, Shaynna Blaze.

The Waikato Home & Garden Show is on all weekend at Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton, with award-winning interior designer and long-standing The Block Australia judge Shaynna Blaze as its special guest. The author and creative director is leading the show’s new Style Stage, styling a fully furnished room live and sharing the thinking behind her design decisions. One of the most popular features in the show’s 40-year history is also back, where four visionary landscape designers transform blank spaces into breathtaking green spaces. You can wander through their stunning designs and cast a vote for your favourite.

6) See a star conductor in action

Sir Donald Runnicles will be conducting at Auckland’s Town Hall tonight. Photo / Robert Kusel Kiwi soprano Madeleine Pierard.

Sir Donald Runnicles, one of the world’s most renowned conductors, leads the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra on stage at Auckland’s Town Hall tonight for a concert experience featuring award-winning Kiwi soprano Madeleine Pierard. The programme brings together three works that contemplate love, memory and mortality with a sense of serene farewell, two written by German composer Richard Strauss. It includes Four Last Songs, an achingly personal work written near the end of the composer’s life, which will be performed by Pierard. Scottish conductor Runnicles is one of the world’s greatest interpreters of Strauss’ music, promising an extraordinary night out.

7) Finding joy in balance

Manawa Ora: Taurite combines music, dance, theatre and storytelling. Photo / Emily Raftery

Ngā Rangatahi Toa returns to Q Theatre this Wednesday with Manawa Ora: Taurite, a vibrant new production created by rangatahi and made for everyone. Using music, dance, theatre and storytelling, Taurite explores what it means to find balance in a world that never stands still. For the production, 20 rangatahi between the ages of 13 and 17 worked alongside some of Aotearoa’s leading artists, including hip-hop artist Diggy Dupé and music producer Karlos Saunders Tunks, and the result is a performance that is joyful, thought-provoking and deeply moving. Drawing on the whakaaro and lived experiences of its performers who share their realities and imagine the futures they want to create, it was developed through Ngā Rangatahi Toa’s kaupapa Māori creative youth development model, where the artistic journey is as important as the performance itself.

8) Get running

New Balance has a new store on Queen St.Runners will be heading out early to celebrate New Balance’s newest store.

All are invited to celebrate the opening of New Balance’s new Auckland store this morning, with a 5km city run leaving from the brand’s new home at 118 Queen St at 8.15am. Welcoming all paces and experience levels, the fun run will be followed by food, drink, music and some cool giveaways, making getting out of bed to lace up your trainers and head into the CBD on a Saturday well worth your while. Check-in is from 8am, with an 8.15am departure, and while entry is free, tickets are limited and registration is essential via Humantix here.

Coming up

Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat, until October 10, Q Theatre, AucklandWe The Young Festival, until October 11, across AucklandJoel Archer Birth of a New Day, until October 13, Strand Arcade, AucklandThe Surprise Party, October 10-18, Pumphouse Theatre, AucklandThe Wiggles Live In Concert Tour, October 10-14, nationwideAlberton Vintage Market Day, October 11, Alberton House, AucklandNZ Opera’s The Pearl Fishers, October 14-18, Isaac Theatre Royal, ChristchurchMacy Gray Live, October 16-22, nationwideAuckland FC vs. Melbourne Victory, October 17, Go Media Stadium, AucklandStan Walker – A Symphonic Experience, October 17, The Trusts Arena, AucklandCabaret: the musical at the Kit Kat Club, until October 18, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland Tiki Taane with the Auckland Philharmonia, October 22, Auckland Town HallA Box of Memories, October 22-25, Q Theatre, AucklandJesus Christ Superstar, October 22–November 15, The Civic, AucklandThe Intrepid British and Irish Film Festival, October 27 to 18 November, nationwideThe Rainbow Games, October 29-November 1, AucklandElling, October 29 – November 7, Artworks Theatre, Waiheke.Highwic Plant Fair, October 31, Highwic , AucklandBNZ Auckland Diwali Festival, October 31–November 1, around central AucklandI Know You Fish, November 3–7, Basement Theatre, AucklandCorbans Estate Arts Centre Open Day, November 7, Corbans Estate Arts Centre, AucklandArt Deco Society Ball, November 17, Villa Dalmacija, AucklandAll You Had Was Fun, November 18-29, Q TheatreAn Evening With Mary Beard, November 19, Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, AucklandLove Actually in Concert, December 14, The Civic, Auckland

Email canvasplanner@nzherald.co.nz with brief details of your upcoming event, including dates/times, location and website.