What's on this weekend

Soul sistas

Fine dining and soulful tunes - what better way to support a good cause? Soul sistas Annie Crummer and Maisey Rika will be among a line-up of top female vocalists performing at Te Mahurehure Marae to raise money for Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Hoani Waititi Marae. The fundraiser includes a two-course meal, a glass of wine, and an intimate night of live music. The singers will be accompanied by session musicians led by musical director Kaitapu Monga.

SUNDAY, 5pm-9pm, Te Mahurehure Marae, 73 Premier Ave, Pt Chevalier. Contact Pam on 021 181 7675 or Jade on 021 971 577.

Ready, set, peg

Get the kids inspired - and out of the house - with a visit to the Peg Parade, a children's exhibition featuring a collection of peg dolls. The nostalgic craftwares are all created by local children, and are for sale to fundraise for Kidscan.

SUNDAY, 10am-4pm, Upstairs Art Gallery, Level 1, Lopdell House, 418 Titirangi Rd, Titirangi.

Pick & mix

Hip-hop, tap and contemporary dance will be showcased as part of Auckland Live's Pick & Mix festival, with the fusion show Out of the Box to hit Mangere for the first time. The performance crosses several dance genres, with instruments used to inspire the dancer's work. Artistic director Andrew Cesan will host a workshop and share some of the techniques the cast use to get creative.

SATURDAY, performance 3pm, workshop 4pm, Mangere Arts Centre, corner Bader Drive and Orly Ave, Mangere. Alternative shows today, 10.30am, Lower NZI, Aotea Centre, and tomorrow, 10,30am, Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna. Entry is free. See aucklandlive.co.nz for details.

Food show

Celebrity chefs, the latest in time-saving kitchen gadgets and delicious local and international eats are all under the same roof at the Auckland Food Show. Chefs Simon Gault, Robert Oliver, Chelsea Winter and Josh Emett will be among the famous faces cooking up a storm at the event, on until tomorrow. The Made of Auckland stand is not to be missed, with oysters, craft beer, handmade chocolates and chilli sauce some of the mouth-watering treats on offer.

SATURDAY, 10am-6pm; tomorrow, 10am-5pm. ASB Showgrounds, 217 Green Lane West.

Calling volunteers

Want to lend a helping hand and earn cultural capital doing it? The hunt is on for people keen to get involved in the 2016 Auckland Diwali Festival and other Auckland events. Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (Ateed) invests in events on behalf of Auckland Council, and is in need of volunteers for the Auckland Lantern and Diwali festivals, Tamaki Herenga Waka Festival, the ITM Auckland Supersprint (Supercars) fan events and Downer NRL Auckland Nines fan events. Time commitment is flexible, and snacks, meals and T-shirts are provided.

October onwards. More information is at aucklandnz.com, and volunteers need to register at volunteernet.org.nz

Win: MOTAT giveaway

Direct from the museum of Leonardo da Vinci in Florence, Italy, award-winning exhibition Da Vinci Machines is opening at Motat today. It includes an impressive collection of complex gadgets precisely created from original 15th century da Vinci drawings, hand-built in Italy. Highlights include the bicycle, spring-powered car and hang glider, along with other flying contraptions. Motat and Weekend have 20 family passes to give away. To enter, go to winwiththeherald.co.nz, enter keyword
MOTAT by 11:59pm, Wednesday, August 3. Terms and conditions apply.

UNTIL October 16, 10am-5pm daily, Motat, 805 Great North Rd, Western Springs.

PLAN AHEAD

Free dancing

There's more to life than just dancing around your living room like no one's watching, and it can be found at Howick Leisure Centre. Head to East Auckland for an hour of poppin' it like it's hot, shaking your groove thang, or whatever you choose to call it. Make sure you wear something that doesn't rip from the seams with your moves, and just let the mix of 80s, 90s, 00s and beyond take you - whatever your age.

August 3, 8pm-9pm, Howick Leisure Centre, 563 Pakuranga Rd, Howick. Entry is free.

Cello charms

International cellist Daniel Yeadon will join the national baroque orchestra, NZ Barok, for a concert to celebrate the charms of the string instrument. The concert will include Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, performed for the first time in New Zealand on period instruments. It will be the first time the orchestra performs in Wellington, with a programme that also features works by CPE Bach, WF Bach, and Mozart.

August 6, 7.30pm and August 7, 2pm, St Luke's Church, Remuera. See nzbarok.org.nz for details, tickets from iticket.co.nz.

Late chat

Smart talks will keep the museum open late this spring, with the Auckland War Memorial Museum's annual LATE programme returning for its ninth season in partnership with Metro magazine. There will be four curated evening events with discussions on food inequality, feminist theory, web activism and the relationship of musicians to their fans, featuring special guests, live performances, food, drinks and special late-night exhibition openings.

August 9, September 5, October 11 and November 7. Tickets $20 or $70 for the season at aucklandmuseum.com/late or ph. (09) 306 7048.

Gay ski

The Southern Hemisphere's largest gay winter festival, Gay Ski Week NZ, will hit Queenstown next month. The week-long alpine party attracts hundreds for socialising, drinking, dining, live music, adventure - and of course, skiing. Gay Ski Week NZ is supported by the local government and entire Queenstown community, with the town ablaze with rainbow flags, shop displays, and lights in support of the festival.

August 27 to September 3, Queenstown. See gayskiweekqt.com for details.