As we roll into the first weekend of February, Auckland is a veritable hotbed of activity and there couldn’t be a more broad range of celebrations taking place across the city. From a Latin Fiesta to the launch of to Chinese Lunar New Year festivities, the vibes are high and thankfully the prices are low. There’s a lot of free entertainment to keep your frugal February goals on track and weekend boredom at bay. Here’s our curated list of seven of the best things to do in Tāmaki Makaurau this weekend and two upcoming events to plan for in advance.
Things to do in Auckland this weekend: Latin Fiesta, Pride Month and Lunar New Year events
By Zanna Gillespie
NZ Herald·
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The Latin Fiesta is a celebration of the growing Latin American community in Tāmaki Makaurau.
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Price: Free. Visit latinfiesta.co.nz for more information.
2) Auckland Gin Festival
If you partake of a summer G&T now and again, you should head down to the Cloud this weekend where New Zealand and Australian craft gin distillers are serving up their finest. There are more than 150 gins being showcased though no one would recommend you try them all. Up your gin game by registering for one of the masterclasses and/or spending some time in the Fever Tree Taste Theatre led by Gin Master Charlie Casben. There are food trucks on site to keep your puku sated and ensure you’re not drinking on an empty stomach. You’ll probably need a good feed because the ticket price includes all your drinks as well as a tasting cup and a tote bag to carry home the gins that really tickle your fancy. There are two sessions on Saturday and one on Sunday, each a luxurious three and a half hours of gin indulgence.
When: February 1, 11am-2.30pm and 4pm-7.30pm; February 2, 12pm-3.30pm.
Where: The Cloud, Queens Wharf, Auckland.
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Price: Tickets start at A$73.72 from eventbrite.co.nz. See ginevents.com.au for more information.
3) Prompts
For 2025, Artspace Aotearoa - the contemporary art gallery on Karangahape Rd - poses the question: “Is language large enough?” Exhibitions in the gallery this year will respond to that provocation in some way, beginning with Prompts by Lubaina Himid and Michael Parekōwhai. The exhibit opens on Saturday and contains the early sculptural work of Parekōwhai from 1990, The Indefinite Article. This will run alongside a large collection of works on paper by Turner Prize-winning, Zanzibar-born, UK-based artist Lubaina Himid. Together their work speaks to the role of language in creating identity and agency. Prompts also highlights the significant role Artspace Aotearoa, as an artist-led public gallery, has had in serving the contemporary art community in New Zealand. From Artspace, Prompts will go on to be exhibited at Te Papa so unless you’re planning a trip to the capital, get in and see it while it’s here.
When: February 1-April 17.
Where: Artspace Aotearoa, 292 Karangahape Rd, Auckland.
Price: Free.
4) Freida Market
Your monthly dose of vintage vibes and vinyl grooves comes courtesy of Freida Market in Grey Lynn this Saturday. A whimsical wine bar by night, Freida undergoes a transformation the first Saturday of the month, not quite waking with the birds but throwing open its doors much earlier than usual for perhaps the most charismatic wee market in central Auckland. There are preloved and vintage clothes, unique finds, freshly baked goods, seasonal plants and flowers, vinyl, ceramics, crafts, handmade jewellery, and tasty bites. There’s always quality music and a friendly community atmosphere so whether you find some treasures or not, you’ll have a good time.
When: February 1, 10am-1pm.
Where: Freida Margolis, 440 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn.
Price: Free.
5) Auckland Pride
February is the month we celebrate boundless love and romance and what a wondrous and beautiful part of the human experience it is. Auckland Pride kicks off on Saturday marking the beginning of a month of vibrant and varied events that centre our LGBTQIA+ community. There’s a lot happening for opening weekend including the launch of this year’s exhibition by Te Tīmatanga residency artist Louie Zalk-Neale (Ngāi Te Rangi, Pākehā) at Seasons Gallery, featuring an artist talk on Sunday at 10am with Zalk-Neale and fellow exhibiting artist Neke Moa. Ongoing festivities include a polaroid portrait wall at Ellen Melville Centre that you can feature in; pronoun badge making at the Leys Institute; photography exhibition Gay & Proud Too at Auckland Central Library; drag icon Hugo Grrl’s musical exploration of the skies, Hugo’s Rainbow Show, and many more events throughout Tāmaki Makaurau. Get out and support Auckland Pride and the freedom to love whoever you love.
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When: February 1-March 1.
Where: Various locations throughout Tāmaki Makaurau. Visit aucklandpride.org.nz for the full schedule of events.
6) Opera in the Park
If you missed out on the Opera in the Park event in St Heliers, don’t fret because on Saturday NZ Opera is offering up round two, this time at the Auckland Botanic Gardens. There are few better locations for a summer picnic and concert than this, so bring your dinner and prepare to be wowed by the incredible vocal prowess of Joanna Foote, Sarah Mileham, Taylor Wallbank, Joel Amosa and Alfred Fonoti-Fuimaono. Like all Music in Parks events, it’s free and provides a wonderful way to bring opera to a wider audience. For a double whammy of outdoor entertainment this weekend, on Sunday afternoon, Music in Parks is being held at Monte Cecilia Park by the Pah Homestead with a contemporary musical line-up featuring South for Winter, Aro, Albi & The Wolves.
When: Opera in the Park: February 1, 6pm-8pm.
Where: Auckland Botanic Gardens, Hill Rd, The Gardens.
When: Music in Parks: February 2, 1pm-4pm.
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Where: Monte Cecilia Park, Luck Cres, Hillsborough.
Price: Free.
7) Lunar New Year
Chinese Lunar New Year festivities kicked off in Auckland Central last week and the city is in full celebration mode throughout much of February. This Saturday, there’s a Lunar New Year Festival at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki featuring Tung Tek lion dancers, family calligraphy workshops, live music, a live recorded panel discussion by Asians in Aotearoa and bubble tea. While you’re in the city, check out the Lunar New Year lightbox art in Bledisloe Lane or head along to the Midtown Street Party where there will be early rounds of the Lunar New Year Karaoke Competition, 3-on-3 hip hop dance battles, lion and dragon dances, cultural performances, workshops, games, activities and some very tasty Asian food from late Saturday morning extending into the evening. Gong Xi Fa Cai!
When: February 1, 10am-5pm.
Where: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Wellesley Street East, Auckland City.
Price: Free.
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When: February 1, 11am-9pm.
Where: Te Ha o Hine [Khartoum] Place, 33-36 Lorne Street, Auckland City Centre.
Price: Free.
Visit ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for a full schedule of Lunar New Year events throughout Tāmaki Makaurau until February 22.
8) Plan ahead: Waitangi Ki Manukau
Looking for a way to embrace te ao Māori with your whānau this Waitangi Day? Head out to Barry Curtis Park in Flat Bush for Waitangi ki Manukau, a festive day of entertainment, education and community. There will be weaving workshops, craft stalls, plenty of kai and opportunities to engage in discussions and learn about Te Tiriti o Waitangi. For kids, there’s poi making, Atreu The Bubble Man, Brian the Critter Man and more. Plus, there’s top-tier live music all day including performances by Dam Native, MAJIC, Tipene, Jordyn with a Why, MOHI, Valkyrie, Tree, Maaka and NLC.
When: February 6, 10am-4pm.
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Where: Barry Curtis Park, 260 Chapel Rd, Flat Bush.
Price: Free.
9) Plan ahead: Meatstock
If your New Year’s resolution was to cut down on your meat consumption, then you better plan for a cheat weekend because in two weeks time, Meatstock is taking over Mystery Creek in Hamilton and it’s going to be loaded with the best barbecue Aotearoa has to offer. More than just an ode to the art of barbecue, Meatstock is a bona fide festival, this year featuring some of New Zealand’s biggest musical acts including Shapeshifter, Kora, Ladyhawke, Salmonella Dub Sound System and lots more. The competitive spirit is alive and well at Meatstock with BBQ Wars, Butcher Wars, Better Beer Dad Bod Contest, Beard and Mo Wars, Medieval Wars, Powerlifting Crew Wars, Arm Battles and a Sausage Sizzle Throwdown, so plenty to keep you entertained between ribs. Pack your bags for two full days of meat-inspired good times and, for the complete festival experience, camp on site to ensure you don’t miss a minute of Meatstock mayhem.
When: February 14-15.
Where: Mystery Creek Event Centre, Hamilton.
Price: Tickets start at $66.50 from meatstock.co.nz.
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