The Auckland Pride Parade lights up Ponsonby Road on Saturday. Photo / Dean Purcell
The Auckland Pride Parade lights up Ponsonby Road on Saturday. Photo / Dean Purcell
Auckland Town Hall: It's the day classical music lovers have been waiting for. After its summer break, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra is back in business opening its 2018 season, and the first with a new piece written by local composer Eve de Castro-Robinson. How progressive are our classical composers? Well,Castro-Robinson's new work was partly inspired by her son's grindcore punk band. It's on a programme which also includes French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet's playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.5 'Emperor' and Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony. Auckland Town Hall, tonight at 8pm
Comedian Russell Peters. Photo / Nancy Blackler
Civic Theatre: Comedian Russell Peters is rolling into town with his latest show, The Deported Tour, and despite taking it in a more personal direction he promises fans, he's not holding back. The Deported Tour follows his Outsourced, Red, White and Brown and Green Card tours and will continue in a similar vein of comedy, but Peters will also talk more about his personal life and in particular, fatherhood. True to form, a good third of the show will be dedicated to Peters' famed audience interactions, in what he says is an effort to "include you — I want you to feel like each show is a personal experience". Civic Theatre, Friday and Saturday
Silo Park: The Friday night movie screenings at Silo Park are one of the best things about summer we reckon. They're free, so you're ahead of the game before you even get started, and they're a lot of fun. Tomorrow night, it's Christopher Nolan's terrific World War II film Dunkirk buzzing onto their big screen. Seeing this outside with the nearby ocean breeze wafting through the air will only add to the film's already heavy vibes. The movie starts at 9pm but the fun kicks off a whole lot earlier at 4:30pm. There's music, a small market and a bunch of gourmet food trucks parked up to grab a bite from. Importantly, there's also the Silo bar which proffers a fine selection of tipples. Grab some mates, get down there early-ish and making a night of it. All you need to take with you is a blanket, rug or cushion to sit on and you're sorted. Silo Park, Friday
Ponsonby Rd: It's the biggest street party in the country and we can't wait to get our sparkle on and come out for it. This year's parade starts at the northern end of the road and includes more than 50 entries marching for peace, love and unity at a time of escalating global unrest, when human rights are increasingly under attack all over the world. Afterwards, head to Q Theatre for Proud, the party to end all parties featuring hot DJ Dan Slater and aerial artist and "neo-burlesque" legend Empress Stah. Ponsonby Rd, Saturday at 7.30pm; Proud at Q Theatre, 10pm
