Things to do in Auckland this weekend: Christmas lights, festive markets and more

Motat's lights event is truly one of the most magical holiday season activities you can find.

There’s no escaping it now, Christmas is all around us. And if you’re a grinch, this weekend guide isn’t for you. We’ve rounded up a selection of the best events happening in Tāmaki Makaurau this weekend and – spoiler alert – they’re 90% festive. There’s comedy, theatre, markets, Motat and more. If you’re ready to get into the spirit of the silly season this weekend, our list has you covered.

1) Christmas in the city

Christmas elves have turned Queen St and its surrounds into a free wonderland. Photo / Jay Farnworth

The Smith & Caughey’s Christmas window may be a thing of the past, but there’s still plenty of festive wonder to be found in the city centre. Christmas elves have turned Queen St and its surrounds into a free wonderland, featuring Te Manaaki, the giant Christmas tree in Te Komititanga Square, which is a great spot for festive photos. The Christmas Pavilion – The Pav – has returned to Aotea Square with free live music events as part of Auckland Live’s Christmas in Aotea Square, which today includes Nyege: A Festive Wellness Carnival. Connecting those two is a new highlight this year: 5m-tall interactive columns by light artist Angus Muir. The columns have windows you can peek inside, buttons you can push for music, and one even has a direct line to Santa’s elves. There’s plenty of fun to be had in the city centre for the cost of a bus or train fare.

When: Now until Christmas.

Where: Auckland City Centre.

Price: Free.

2) Silly season at The Basement

There’s a smorgasbord of Christmas comedy and theatre that is slightly off the rails and entirely entertaining.

The Basement Theatre kicked off eight days of silly season stage shenanigans this week. Across the next week, there’s a smorgasbord of Christmas comedy and theatre that is slightly off the rails and entirely entertaining. The theatre has A Very Live Reel Christmas, in which comedians perform their favourite Christmas movies from memory; improv with Jingle Bull (Rush) and Impoverished’s Choose Your Own (Boxing Day) Adventure; A Very Courtney and Janaye Christmas, and lots more. Tonight alone, there are four shows: Asian Comedy Christmas Takeover; Impoverished; The Ruckus; and The Sonic Status Vol. 2. Most shows are about an hour long, which is the perfect length for a dinner and show-based Christmas catch-up with friends.

When: Now until December 13.

Where: Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland Central.

Price: Visit basementtheatre.co.nz for tickets.

3) Magical Motat lights

Museum of Transport and Technology (Motat) Christmas Lights kicked off this weekend, and it’s truly one of the most magical – and low-cost – holiday season activities you can find. According to Motat, more than a million twinkling lights are decorating the museum. We’re not about to fact-check that, but you can certainly try to count them if you wish. It takes more than 900 person-hours to get them all strung up for the 12-night event. The museum comes to life with live entertainment, food trucks, tram rides, and a chance to visit Santa in his workshop. It doesn’t start until 8pm, so it’s a late one for your youngest family members, but it’s worth it.

When: Tonight, tomorrow and Monday, December 12-15 and 19-22, 8pm-11pm.

Where: Motat, 805 Great North Rd, Western Springs, Auckland.

Price: Tickets $10/adult, $5/child, children under 5 free, from motat.nz.

4) The spirit of Christmas past

The colonial village will be festively decorated and Santa himself will be visiting the Grand Puhi Nui Homestead.

For some holiday magic with a side of time travel, head along to the Twilight Christmas event at Howick Historical Village tonight. The colonial village will be festively decorated, and Santa himself will be visiting the Grand Puhi Nui Homestead. Visitors can make Christmas crafts, listen to carol singers, enjoy mulled wine, and meander through the mini-market where handcrafted treasures will be on sale. If you’re local to the area, add tomorrow’s Howick Santa Parade (2.30pm) to your weekend plans too.

When: Tonight, 5.30pm-8.30pm.

Where: Howick Historical Village, 75 Bells Rd, Howick, Auckland.

Price: Tickets $18 adult; $10 child (3-16 years); under 3s free from eventfinda.co.nz.

5) Grey Lynn’s buzzing

Grey Lynn always has a vibe, but today it's turning the suburb’s charm and charisma up to a 10.

Today Grey Lynn is turning it on for the festive season with a village party. Christmas in the Village will see the West Lynn and Surrey Crescent shops spilling out on to the streets, with live music, face painting for kids, pop-up stalls and summer cocktails. It coincides with this month’s Freida Market, which as usual will have a selection of pre-loved clothing, plants, baked goods, handmade jewellery and vintage treasures. Grey Lynn always has a vibe, but today it’s turning the suburb’s charm and charisma up to a 10.

When: Today, 10am-2pm (Freida Market closes at 1pm).

Where: West Lynn and Surrey Crescent Shops, Grey Lynn, Auckland.

Price: Free.

6) Good-Bach, Rita Paczian

Rita Paczian will take her final bow as conductor and music and artistic director of Bach Musica NZ. Photo / Hans Weichselbaum

Rita Paczian will take her final bow as conductor and music and artistic director of Bach Musica NZ tomorrow. The concert – Best of Bach & Handel – will feature Bach’s Suite No 3 in D major and the Christmas composition Cantata Unser Mund sei voll Lachens. The orchestra and chorus will also perform Handel’s The King Shall Rejoice and Zadok the Priest. Paczian has led Bach Musica NZ since 1994. This final concert will be a joyous note to go out on, and a wonderful opportunity for classical music fans to catch this formidable force in New Zealand’s classical music scene one last time in this role.

When: Tomorrow, 5pm.

Where: Auckland Town Hall, Auckland Central.

Price: Tickets start at $30 + booking fees from ticketmaster.co.nz.

7) Plan ahead: Silly dancing for the silly season

A Christmas Crisis guarantees silliness and holly jolly good time.

Fans of internet sensation, comedian and television star Tom Sainsbury should get themselves tickets to see Dynamotion’s A Christmas Crisis at Q Theatre, which opens on Wednesday. The comedy dance group that Sainsbury created with actor and fellow funny dancer Lara Fischel-Chisholm is bringing its unique choreographic comedy to the festive season with a story about Mr and Mrs Claus’ marital woes, elves in existential crises and a melting North Pole. It is guaranteed silliness and a holly jolly good time.

When: December 10-20.

Where: Q Theatre, 305 Queen St, Auckland Central.

Price: Tickets start at $44 + booking fees from qtheatre.co.nz.

8) Plan ahead: A heavenly location for a Christmas market

The Cathedral Christmas Market is back again this year at Holy Trinity in Parnell.

Last year’s inaugural Cathedral Christmas Markets at Holy Trinity Cathedral was such a roaring success, it’s back again this year. On Tuesday evening, a selection of festive craft stalls and food trucks will roll into Parnell for one night only. Auckland City Brass will be providing live music, and Mr and Mrs Claus will make an appearance too. While you’re there, have a look at the Beacons of Light sculpture, returning for the third year to the newly refurbished Heard Park.

When: December 9, 5pm-7.30pm.

Where: Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell Rd, Parnell.

Price: Free entry.

9) Plan ahead: Nothing at all to do with Christmas

Proudly Asian Theatre opens Genuine and Stable at the Herald Theatre on Tuesday.

Thank goodness not every theatre experience this December is Christmas-themed. Proudly Asian Theatre opens Genuine and Stable at the Herald Theatre on Tuesday. It tells the story of a couple – Korean-born Sujin and her Kiwi boyfriend, Jeremy – as they attempt to prove to two immigration agents that their relationship is “genuine and stable” so Sujin can receive her partnership visa. It’s based on the personal experiences of playwright Uhyoung Choi, who worked in immigration and describes the experience of working with partnership visas as dystopian. For a deeper understanding of the work, head along on Thursday night for the post-show panel with the cast, director and writer.

When: December 9-14.

Where: Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland Central.

Price: Tickets $20-$38 + booking fees from aucklandlive.co.nz.

Coming up

• Kirk Franklin, The World Tour: December 10-13, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland.
• Stonefields Choir Sing for the City: December 13, Diocesan School for Girls, Epsom, Auckland.
• Aotango International Tango Day concert: December 13, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland.
• Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park: December 13, Auckland Domain.
• Oprah In Conversation: December 14, The Civic, Auckland.
• Auckland Choral presents Handel’s Messiah: December 14-15, Auckland Town Hall.
• Auckland Phil’s Tunes 4 Tamariki, Christmas with Suzy: December 14 (Bruce Mason Centre) and 21 (Auckland Town Hall).
• Foster Dance Group’s Ghostfield: December 15-17, Kenneth Myers Centre, Auckland.
• Auckland Phil’s Christmas Cheer: December 19 and 20, Auckland Town Hall.
• The Greatest Christmas Show: December 19 and 20, Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland (nationwide from November 28).
• The ASB Classic: January 5-17, Auckland.
• Jimmy Carr – Laughs Funny Tour: Nationwide January 7-28.
• Auckland Folk Festival: January 23-26, Auckland.
• Opera in the Park: January 24, St Heliers and January 31, Auckland Botanic Gardens.
• The Greenstone Summer Concert Tour: January 24 (Taupō), January 29 (Spark Arena), January 31 (Wānaka).
• Sophie Ellis-Bextor: February 3, Waikato Regional Theatre, Hamilton.
• Murder on the Orient Express [return season]: February 7-15, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland.
• ASB Classic, Centre Court Sounds: February 21, Manuka Doctor Arena.
• Splore 2026: February 20-22, Tāpapapakanga Regional Park, Franklin, Auckland.

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