Fish & Chip Shop: Daily, 3pm-8pm, Takapuna Beach Cafe, 22 The Promenade, Takapuna<\/p>\n
SOHO Family Vineyards: Friday-Tuesday, 11am-5pm, 74 Onetangi Rd, Waiheke Island. sohowineco.com<\/p>\n
2) Forever Blowing Bubbles<\/p>\n
Motat\u2019s Ng\u0101 Mirumiru Bubbles event is back this long weekend.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve got little ones to entertain this long weekend, there is no more joyful place to do it than at Motat\u2019s Ng\u0101 Mirumiru Bubbles event. The museum\u2019s been running these weekends for years now and it has got them down pat. There are live-action bubble shows, bubble displays, hands-on activities such as catching bubbles, painting with bubbles and getting inside giant bubbles. Plus, there is Motat\u2019s usual excitement such as tram rides, food trucks and live entertainment. <\/p>\n
When: Today, tomorrow and Monday, 10am-4pm<\/p>\n
Where: Motat, Great North Rd, Western Springs<\/p>\n
Price: Usual Motat entry fees apply<\/p>\n
3) Milestone Celebration for Auckland Museum<\/p>\n
After months of restoration, Auckland Museum has reopened its northern entrance and several beloved galleries.<\/p>\n
After an unexpectedly challenging year for Auckland Museum, the northern entrance and galleries have reopened. To celebrate, the museum has a host of free events for Aucklanders throughout the long weekend. Among the much-missed galleries now open are Mataaho Volcanoes, WWI Hall of Memories and Te Ao T\u016broa M\u0101ori Natural History. Today, tomorrow and Monday, Auckland visitors can get free guided museum tours, see M\u0101ori cultural performances, and participate in the Weekends of Wonder craft activity for children. The Great Kimberley Wilderness VR experience will also be free all weekend (subject to availability, book onsite only). Work is still being done on the M\u0101ori Court and Pacific Galleries but this is a significant milestone in the remediation process for the museum, well worth celebrating. <\/p>\n
When: Today, tomorrow and Monday<\/p>\n
Where: Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland Domain, Parnell<\/p>\n
Price: Free for Aucklanders<\/p>\n
4) Gin and Sizzle Season<\/p>\n
Raise a glass for a cause at Pillars & Links, a Four Pillars Gin event at Nami Record Bar supporting KiwiPAL, a charity aiding children in Palestine. Enjoy gin, good company and a sausage sizzle by Grey Lynn Butcher.<\/p>\n
Auckland has hinted at the arrival of summer this past week and a hint is all we need to signal the arrival of gin and barbecue season. Four Pillars Gin is hosting an event called Pillars & Links tomorrow at Nami Record Bar in Ponsonby to raise money for KiwiPAL, a charity supporting children in Palestine. Head along to Nami Record Bar tomorrow afternoon to welcome in the summer with a sly gin and a sausage sizzle from Grey Lynn Butcher and know you\u2019re supporting a good cause while you\u2019re at it. <\/p>\n
When: Tomorrow, 2pm<\/p>\n
Where: Nami Record Bar, 115A Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby<\/p>\n
5) Feed the Birds, Tuppence a Bag<\/p>\n
BirdCare Aotearoa is seeking donations to support its mission of rescuing and hand-feeding baby birds until they\u2019re ready for release.<\/p>\n
This one\u2019s less an event and more a plea: BirdCare Aotearoa is inundated at this time of year with baby birds who\u2019ve lost their parents and can\u2019t survive alone. The staff hand-feed and nurture the baby birds through significant milestones until they can be returned to forest or sea. It\u2019s an expensive operation to run \u2013 quite a bit more than tuppence a bag \u2013 and the charity has recently launched a Givealittle campaign to help keep the nursery on its feet and the birds in the air. If you can spare a few dollars to help protect and save our birdlife, please do. <\/p>\n
When: On now<\/p>\n
Where: Donate at givealittle.co.nz\/cause\/baby-bird-season-appeal <\/p>\n
6) A Westy Music Festy<\/p>\n
The Titirangi Festival of Music brings together West Auckland\u2019s best musicians this weekend.<\/p>\n
One of Auckland\u2019s most artsy and alternative suburbs, with occasional hippy tendencies, will be vibing more than usual this weekend for the Titirangi Festival of Music. If you head to the village today there will be a full-day programme of free music, cultural and community performances, as well as ticketed concerts by Annie Crummer, with Arjuna Oakes; Albi & the Wolves; Blackstratblues; Taylor Griffin Septet; Na\u2019amah; Renee & Raylee; Chelsea Prastiti; and Daughters Two. Tomorrow, at Avondale Memorial Park, there will be a free concert by a selection of West Auckland music talents including Thabani Gapara. Head west for music and good vibes this weekend. <\/p>\n
When: Today and tomorrow<\/p>\n
Where: Titirangi Village and Avondale Memorial Park<\/p>\n
Price: Free and ticketed events. Visit titirangifestival.co.nz<\/p>\n
Plan Ahead: Cinema from Old Blighty<\/p>\n
The Intrepid British and Irish Film Festival returns on October 29.<\/p>\n
One of the highlights of the Intrepid British and Irish Film Festival, which opens nationwide on October 29, is the New Zealand filmed biopic Moss & Freud, chronicling the relationship of model Kate Moss and artist Lucian Freud. It sits within a programme of 23 superb films, playing in 22 centres across the country, including The Choral starring Ralph Fiennes; Dead of Winter starring Emma Thompson; & Sons starring Bill Nighy; Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, and more. This might be your only opportunity to catch some of these films on the big screen so take a moment to pore over the programme this weekend and make a movie date or two. <\/p>\n
When: October 29-November 19<\/p>\n
Where: Various cinemas nationwide (Lido, Capitol, Bridgeway, Rialto, Monterey, Waiheke)<\/p>\n
Price: Standard cinema pricing<\/p>\n
Photo credit: Not required<\/p>\n
IMAGE: Supplied by British Film Festival. Source contact The Public Good. Free for editorial use.<\/p>\n
Plan Ahead: A Shakespearean Mash-Up<\/p>\n
Actor-comedian Penny Ashton returns with The Tempestuous.<\/p>\n
Actor and comedian Penny Ashton has a history of tinkering with classic literary works to create original and unique theatre pieces, and her most recent production carries that tradition on. The Tempestuous opens at TAPAC on Thursday, with an opening night fundraiser for Shine. It\u2019s a musical comedy that gives Shakespeare\u2019s texts new life and showcases the superb performance skill of Penny Ashton and her talents as a comedic writer. The show received rave reviews when Ashton performed it in 2023 and is on for four nights next week, after which Ashton will begin preparing for her December tour of Austen Found. <\/p>\n
When: October 30-November 1<\/p>\n
Where: TAPAC, 100 Motions Rd, Western Springs<\/p>\n
Price: $25-$39.50 + booking fees, from tapac.org.nz<\/p>\n
Plan Ahead: An Ode to Analogue<\/p>\n
The Inaugural Analogue Aotearoa Festival will take place in Te Aroha and includes portraits by Adrian Cook of Tintype Central using the old glass plate collodian method of processing, such as one of Francesca above. Photo \/ Adrian Cook<\/p>\n
Next weekend is the inaugural Analogue Aotearoa festival in Te Aroha. The first of its kind in New Zealand, the festival celebrates analogue photography and has a full programme of events including exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, swap meets, slide shows and more. Among the highlights of the weekend\u2019s activities are cyanotype workshops, pinhole photography workshops, a Super 8 film showcase by Isabella Rose Young, and a wet plate portrait session with one of the festival directors, Adrian Cook of Tintype Central. With a week until the festival, you may struggle to find accommodation in Te Aroha but options abound in the surrounding town centres. May this be the first of many Analogue Aotearoa festivals. <\/p>\n
When: November 1-2<\/p>\n
Where: Te Aroha<\/p>\n
Price: Varies by event. Visit analogueaotearoa.com<\/a> for details<\/p>\n Coming up<\/p>\n Bill Bailey \u2013 Vaudevillean:<\/a> nationwide tour from October 29-November 23. <\/p>\n Cirque du Soleil\u2019s Corteo: <\/a>October 30-November 9, Spark Arena, Auckland. <\/p>\n Dungeon of the Damned:<\/a> October 31-November 2, Birkenhead, Auckland. <\/p>\n Auckland Festival of Quilts:<\/a> October 31-November 2, Auckland Netball Centre. <\/p>\n Bach Musica NZ Singing Workshop:<\/a> November 1, Somervell Presbyterian Church, Remuera. <\/p>\n The Trusts Halloween Spooktacular:<\/a> November 1, New Lynn, Auckland. <\/p>\n Tofiga Fepulea\u2019i, <\/a>Shuuush Your Mouf<\/a>: November 1-8, Hamilton, Auckland, Tauranga. <\/p>\n A Journey to See Exhibition: <\/a>November 1-21, Lake House Arts, Takapuna. <\/p>\n The Dry House:<\/a> November 4-15, Basement Theatre, Auckland. <\/p>\n Japanese Film Festival:<\/a> November 6-9, Academy Cinemas, Auckland. <\/p>\n St Andrew\u2019s Epsom Strawberry Fair:<\/a> November 8, Epsom, Auckland. <\/p>\n Harry Enfield And No Chums<\/a>: November 13 and 21, Auckland. <\/p>\n Kowhai Art & Craft Club Sale and Exhibition:<\/a> November 7-9, Matakana Hall. <\/p>\n NZ Sculpture OnShore<\/a>: November 7-23, Devonport, Auckland. <\/p>\n Parnell Festival of Roses:<\/a> November 9, Parnell, Auckland. <\/p>\n All Together Now Choir, Mixtape for the Mission:<\/a> November 9, Auckland Town Hall. <\/p>\n Auckland Rose Society Annual Show:<\/a> November 15-16, Parnell, Auckland. <\/p>\n An Evening with Priscilla Presley, Life after Elvis:<\/a> November 20, Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland. <\/p>\n Black Grace, <\/a>If Ever There was a Time<\/a> and<\/a> Esplanade:<\/a> November 21, The Civic, Auckland. <\/p>\n Eddie Izzard \u2013 The Remix Tour Live<\/a>: November 21-26, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland. <\/p>\n Po\u2019 Boys and Oysters<\/a>: November 22-29, Herald Theatre, Auckland. <\/p>\n H.R. The Musical #2<\/a>: November 25-December 6, Q Theatre, Auckland. <\/p>\n Auckland Horticultural Council 24th Annual Flower Show: <\/a>November 29, Western Springs. <\/p>\n 92nd Farmers Santa Parade:<\/a> November 30, Auckland. <\/p>\n Kirk Franklin, The World Tour:<\/a> December 10-13, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland. <\/p>\n Dynamotion & Q Theatre present A Christmas Crisis<\/a>: December 10-20, Q Theatre, Auckland. <\/p>\n Oprah In Conversation<\/a>: December 14, Spark Arena, Auckland. <\/p>\n The ASB Classic<\/a>: January 5-17, Auckland. <\/p>\n Jimmy Carr \u2013 Laughs Funny Tour:<\/a> Nationwide January 7-28, 2026. <\/p>\n