What’s on in Auckland this last winter weekend: Art, fashion, film and family fun

Children’s label Sonnie is making its NZFW debut with a show featuring choreographed vignettes by young dancers. Photo / Jake Dennis

It’s officially the last weekend of winter and Tāmaki Makaurau is gradually waking up from a sluggish season for events. It’s the last weekend for New Zealand Fashion Week, We Read Auckland and the winter scavenger hunt at Cornwall Park, and the first weekend for the St Heliers Bay Art Fest. K Rd is jumping on board the NZFW train and Academy Cinemas is showing films about longing. Plus, there are three exciting events next week to get tickets for. If you’re looking for something to do in Auckland this weekend – and beyond – we’ve got you covered.

1) An inaugural art fest in the bays

Celebrate the arts at the first St Heliers Art Fest. Photo / Spid Pye “Jump” / Supplied by Turua Gallery

Yesterday was the first day of the first St Heliers Art Fest. The two-week, three-weekend festival is about celebrating the arts and features a range of workshops, exhibitions, performances and special events. Attendees can take themselves on a self-guided art trail through the village, or attend artist talks, a paint night, kokedama workshop, a watercolour workshop, an art appraisal roadshow in the style of Antiques Roadshow, nail art sessions, cupcake decorating, toddler and teen creativity workshops, a dog photography competition, a kids’ colouring competition, the list goes on. There’s a mix of free and ticketed events, so take a moment with the schedule and see what gets your creative juices flowing.

When: August 29-September 14.

Where: St Heliers, Auckland.

Price: Visit stheliers.com for the full schedule and tickets.

2) Final fashion week festivities

New Zealand Fashion Week draws to a close today, so it’s your final chance to don your oversized sunglasses and make a nonchalant appearance. Today at Shed 10, children’s label Sonnie is making its NZFW debut with a show featuring choreographed vignettes by young dancers. In Parnell, jewellery designer Jasmin Sparrow has teamed up with artist Jade Townsend to create an installation at Gallery Ne Guerra that showcases what they describe as their “shared appreciation for form, materiality and cultural storytelling”. If you’re up early, you might still have time to make it to the Walk the Line youth designer showcase at 10am. Later today, there’s The Graduates Collection, Pacific Fusion Fashion Show, The Keep, Knuefermann, and finally The Greatest Hits shows tonight.

When: Today, various times (Sonnie at noon).

Where: Shed 10, Auckland Waterfront (some shows off-site).

Price: Visit nzfashionweek.com for tickets.

3) Wham bam it’s FAM again

This weekend, FAM is all about fashion.

FAM is back. K Rd’s new semi-regular street fair, FAM, might stand for food, art and music, but this weekend it’s all about fashion. Already the best spot in the city for people watching, this afternoon Mercury Lane will be converted into a runway with live music and local DJs. There’s also an underground fashion show, Te Wiki Āhua O Aotearoa, a jewellery workshop, an art tour with Artspace, Celestial Markets, Stitch & Bitch High Tea featuring a clothes swap and headpiece-making workshop, and more. At Whammy Bar, get behind a good cause with Voices for Gaza – a live DJ gig with all proceeds going to @globalmovementtogaza.aunz. On any given weekend, creativity, experimentation and inclusivity abound on K Rd, but today, that’s being dialled up a notch or three.

When: Today, 10am–late.

Where: Karangahape Rd, Auckland Central.

Price: Visit karangahaperoad.com for the full schedule.

4) Last weekend of winter scavenger hunt

Head along to Huia Lodge in Cornwall Park and pick up a scavenger hunt. Photo / 123rf

As August comes to a close, so too does the Cornwall Park winter scavenger hunt, which has been a great way to keep little eyes off screens and little feet running around outdoors. If you have young people to entertain this weekend, head along to Huia Lodge in Cornwall Park and pick up a scavenger hunt (or print it at home). It’ll have the young and energetic in your group racing around the park checking items off their list, and the older, less energetic getting those steps up. It’s lambing and calving season, which means two things: so much cuteness and restricted areas. While you’re scavenging, make sure you pay attention to signage, especially if you have a dog, as some areas currently have restricted access to keep lambs and calves safe.

When: Today and tomorrow.

Where: Cornwall Park, Auckland.

Price: Free.

5) Longing to go to the movies

Lost in Translation stars Bill Murray and a teenage Scarlett Johansson.

When a film successfully captures the feeling of longing – romantic or otherwise – it can be profoundly moving. Academy Cinemas is currently hosting a mini film festival devoted entirely to films that do just that. Today, the Cinema of Longing festival is screening Sofia Coppola’s sophomore feature, Lost in Translation, starring Bill Murray and a teenage Scarlett Johansson, and Spike Jonze’s Her, the story of a man falling in love with his AI operating system, which has never felt more relevant. Tomorrow is Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters, and next week there’s Y Tu Mamá También and the closing film, Brokeback Mountain. It’s a creatively curated collection of excellent films that might remind you of the power of cinema.

When: Today and tomorrow, and September 5-6.

Where: Academy Cinemas, Lorne St, Auckland Central.

Price: Tickets start at $11 plus booking fees from academycinemas.co.nz.

6) Little-known literary festival

The Indie Writers Festival is the perfect place to discover new authors and hidden literary gems. Photo / Auckland Council

As part of Auckland Council’s We Read festival, today is the Indie Writers Festival at Westgate. There’s a book fair, author kōrero, readings, a comics meet-up, workshops and activities. Everything is free and walk-ins are welcome. This isn’t a festival of best-selling authors, you’re more likely to find self-published, niche and lesser-known writers in the mix. It’s the perfect place to discover new authors and hidden literary gems.

When: Today, 11am-2pm.

Where: Te Manawa, 11 Kohuhu Lane, Westgate, Auckland.

Price: Free.

7) Family fan zone

Take the kids down to the Auckland Forever fan zone tomorrow, where you can meet players and win prizes.

If your family, like many, jumped on the Auckland FC train this year, then take the kids to the Auckland Forever fan zone tomorrow where you can meet players and win prizes. Held at the ANZ downtown branch, opposite Commercial Bay, visitors can get photos with players, get autographs, play games and score some giveaways. It’s all in the name of growing the city’s already fierce support for this team before the A-League season starting in October.

When: Tomorrow, 12pm-2pm.

Where: ANZ, 45 Queen St (opposite H&M Commercial Bay), Auckland Central.

Price: Free.

8) Plan ahead: Illuminating the waterfront at Ōkahu Bay

Darklight: The Edge of Light will illuminate Ōkahu Bay with seven new light installations by seven artists.

Earlier this year, prolific light artist Angus Muir created a sold-out light and sound experience called Darklight. Next week, it returns in a new iteration. Darklight: The Edge of Light will illuminate Ōkahu Bay with seven new light installations by seven artists, including Muir. Visiting Darklight is an immersive and multi-sensory, one-hour experience where attendees move through the installation at waterfront venue Ōkahu. Along with light and sound, this time there’s a tasting element with some light nibbles included in the ticket price. Darklight will once again close with Resonate, a collaboration with Music First that features a line-up of DJs creating musical soundscapes to enhance the visual experience. Set against the backdrop of the Waitematā, it’s a unique and visually stunning exhibition.

When: September 2-4 (Resonate September 5), 6pm-10pm.

Where: Ōkahu, 18 Tamaki Drive, Auckland.

Price: Tickets $10-$39.50 + booking fees from darklight.co.

9) Plan ahead: Like carpool karaoke but better

Catch Tom Knowles' one-of-a-kind show: Roadkill, The Uber-Cool Musical.

Multi-talented performer Tom Knowles is parking his van in the Basement car park for a one-of-a-kind show: Roadkill, The Uber-Cool Musical. The intimate performance has nine seats available in the van for each show, in which Knowles – as Uber-driver Terry – takes you on a musical journey through his personal life, which includes romance, murder and some solid laughs. There are two sessions each night and two separate four-night runs in September. The show has won multiple awards, including Best in Fringe at Dunedin Fringe and Most Innovative at the NZ Fringe Awards. You’re guaranteed to have something to talk about afterwards.

When: September 3-6 and 24-27, 6pm and 8pm.

Where: Basement Theatre (carpark), Lower Greys Ave, Auckland.

Price: Tickets $29-$31 + booking fees from basementtheatre.co.nz.

10) Plan ahead: Bic’s back with Auckland Phil

One of Aotearoa’s most iconic singer-songwriters will join the Auckland Phil for a one-off concert at Aotea Centre. Photo / Tom Grut

It’s been over 20 years since Bic Runga has performed with a live orchestra – an unfathomably long time. Next Saturday, one of Aotearoa’s most iconic singer-songwriters will join the Auckland Phil for a one-off concert at Aotea Centre. Tickets are in high demand so at this point you’re probably going to be in the balcony but, if you’re a fan, it will be worth it. Runga is going to play a selection of her biggest hits such as Bursting Through, Something Good and Precious Things along with some new music. It’s bound to be a memorable night of New Zealand music greatness.

When: September 6, 7.30pm.

Where: Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland Central.

Price: Tickets $60-$139 + booking fees from ticketmaster.co.nz or aucklandphil.nz.

Coming up

• Mother Play: September 4-20, Q Theatre, Auckland.
• Light + Shade, photojournalism exhibition: September 5-14, Auckland.
• NZ Opera’s The Monster in the Maze: September 5-20, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland.
• NZSO Mahler Symphony No.6 in A Minor: September 6, Auckland Town Hall.
• Indie Game Showcase: September 6, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland.
• Kōanga Festival: September 12-21, Te Pou Theatre, Auckland.
• Auckland Horticultural Council Spring Show: September 13, Western Springs, Auckland.
• We The Young (youth arts festival): September 16-28, Auckland.
• The World of WearableArt (WOW): September 18-October 5, TSB Arena, Wellington.
• Art in the Park: September 18-21, Eden Park, Auckland.
• Auckland Pet & Animal Expo: September 20-21, Auckland Showgrounds, Greenlane.
• Bach Musica NZ’s World Premieres & Bach: September 21, Auckland Town Hall.
• It’s Alive by Impoverished: September 23-27, Pumphouse Theatre, Auckland.
• Can I Get an Underground Location and a Mythical Creature: September 25-28, Pumphouse Theatre, Takapuna.
• Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: October 4, Eden Park, Auckland.
• Faulty Towers The Dining Experience: October 8-26, Christchurch, Wellington, Whanganui, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Tauranga, Auckland.
• Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones: October 9–18, Artworks Theatre, Waiheke.
• The NZ Highwaymen tour: October 15-19, Tauranga, Putaruru, Auckland, Whangārei, Orewa.
• Nelson Arts Festival: October 23-November 2, Nelson.
• Bill Bailey – Vaudevillean: nationwide tour from October 29–November 23.
• NZ Sculpture OnShore: November 7-23, Devonport, Auckland.
• Eddie Izzard – The Remix Tour Live: November 21-26, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland.
• H.R. The Musical #2: November 25-December 6, Q Theatre, Auckland.
• Kirk Franklin, The World Tour: December 10-13, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland.
• Dynamotion & Q Theatre present A Christmas Crisis: December 10-20, Q Theatre, Auckland.
• Oprah In Conversation: December 14, Spark Arena, Auckland.

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