What’s on in Auckland this weekend: Pride Month, family fun, festivals and food

The New Zealand International Convention Centre opens its doors to the public today. Photo / NZ International Convention Centre

Another weekend in Tāmaki Makaurau, another slew of events to keep you entertained. Auckland Pride Month continues with shows, exhibitions and activities taking place all over the city. It’s also the Auckland Rainbow Parade, which is entirely separate to Auckland Pride but just as much fun, if not more. There’s free entertainment courtesy of Movies in Parks and Lunar on Lorne, as well as a chance to tour the newly opened New Zealand International Conference Centre. One of the world’s best-known chefs is in town, there’s a Worm in Whangārei, and it’s time to make plans for the BNZ Lantern Festival next week. Here’s our list of the best things to do in Auckland this weekend and beyond.

1) All the colours of Ponsonby

The Auckland Rainbow Parade celebrates the basic human right to love whoever you choose and to live proudly as your authentic self.

It’s one of the events of the year and provides more joy per square metre than any other, and twice as much fabric. The Auckland Rainbow Parade is this evening, celebrating the basic human right to love whoever you choose and to live loudly and proudly as your authentic self. Entertainment starts early and so should you. Street performers get the party started at 5.30pm with the parade proper kicking off at the respectable time of 7.30pm. Wear something impressive, bring everyone you love (or want to) and get ready to have the time of your life.

When: Tonight, street entertainment from 5.30pm, parade from 7.30pm.

Where: Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby, Auckland.

Price: Free.

2) The big reveal

It’s had its setbacks and taken longer than planned, but the New Zealand International Convention Centre opens its doors to the public today, so we can all see what $750 million buys you these days. It’s the centre’s very first public open day, and there will be guided tours, self-guided wanderings and speaker sessions throughout the day. Head along and find out details of how one of the country’s biggest buildings got built right in the heart of its biggest city. And get a first glimpse of the new central venue that will see the likes of self-help author Mel Robbins, Bic Runga, The Pogues and more on its stage in the next few weeks.

When: Today, 10am-4pm.

Where: New Zealand International Convention Centre, 101 Hobson St, Auckland Central.

Price: Free – registration required via Eventbrite or nzicc.co.nz.

3) It’s-a me, Movies in Parks

There's fresh air, free entertainment, plenty of food trucks on-site and a movie that’s fun for the whole family. Photo / Cactus Photography

Auckland Council’s free Movies in Parks season is officially underway, and tonight’s screening is the crowd-pleasing The Super Mario Bros. Movie at the very central Potters Park. For those of you with kids, this is a no-brainer: fresh air, free entertainment, plenty of food trucks on-site and a movie that’s fun for the whole family. Grab a picnic blanket, round up the whānau and claim your patch of grass. The season runs until March 21 with screenings all over the city, showing films like A Minecraft Movie; The Princess Bride; Tinā and plenty more.

When: Today, 4.30pm-8pm (movie from 6.30pm).

Where: Potters Park, 173 Balmoral Rd, Mt Eden.

Price: Free.

4) Yes, chef!

Yotam Ottolenghi will be doing a live cooking demonstration on stage. Photo / Elena Heatherwick

Foodies, if you haven’t got tickets for tonight’s one-off event An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi, can you really call yourself a foodie? The chef behind some of the best-selling cookbooks in the world will be doing a live cooking demonstration on stage at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, throughout which he’ll weave tales of his career. There are just a handful of remaining tickets – and if you’re quick, you might be able to get in to enjoy an evening of wonderful aromas and probably some involuntary salivating.

When: Tonight, 7.30pm.

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

Price: Tickets start at $90 + booking fees from ticketmaster.co.nz.

5) Lunar on Lorne

Head down to the Lunar New Year street party on Lorne. Photo / ¥OUNG GHO$T

This week marked the start of Chinese New Year celebrations, and one way to get festive is to head down to Lorne St this afternoon to the Lunar New Year street party. This event is all about Asian Kiwi youth culture and will feature hip hop dance battles, K pop and rap artists. There’ll be karaoke if you’re game, with board and cultural games. Up by Auckland Art Gallery, the Tung Tek Lion dancers will perform outside at 10am and 2pm, and multilingual rap artist ¥OUNG GHO$T will perform at Khartoum Place, the epicentre of the street party. Lorne St is home to more than 30 Asian eateries, so you’re spoiled for choice food-wise too.

When: Today, 12pm-5pm.

Where: Te Hā o Hine (Khartoum) Place, Lorne St, Auckland Central.

Price: Free.

6) A smorgasbord of drag

The closing night of Potluck is guaranteed to be a fabulously fun evening of queer chaos. Photo / Peter Jennings

Tonight is the closing night of Potluck, a five-night run of bold and unique drag performances at the Basement Theatre. It’s among the many things happening this weekend for Auckland Pride, and is guaranteed to be a fabulously fun evening of – as producer Haute Dish describes it – queer chaos. Each night has showcased a different line-up of local drag talent, with tonight being the big final blowout. This is eccentric, hilarious, creative entertainment that will make your Saturday evening anything but dull.

When: Tonight, 8pm.

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

Price: Tickets $17 - $30 from basementtheatre.co.nz.

7) Worming its way around the upper North Island

The Worm by Carl and Peter Bland is about a courageous worm who goes on an adventure. Photo / Andi Crown Photography

In Whangārei this weekend, creative innovators Nightsong present The Worm by Carl and Peter Bland. The show about a courageous worm who goes on an adventure premiered back in 2022 to rave reviews. In typical Nightsong style, it’s a bit of an off-beat story with a delightful aesthetic and features live music from Carnivorous Plant Society’s Finn Scholes. It’s suitable for children and adults alike and will be coming to Auckland in April for a three-venue tour.

When: Today 10.30am and 6pm; tomorrow 10.30am and 2pm.

Where: One One Six, 116a Bank St, Whangārei.

Price: Tickets $25 + booking fees from eventfinda.co.nz.

When and where: April 8-11 Te Pou Theatre; April 14-19 The Pumphouse Theatre, April 22-25 Māngere Arts Centre. Visit nightsong.co.nz for more information and the venues for tickets.

8) Plan ahead: BNZ Lantern Festival

Sit back, relax and take in the sights, sounds, performances and lanterns. Photo / Gareth Cooke

The very definition of lit, the BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival has long been one of the best-attended events on the city’s calendar, and this year is expected to be no exception. With more food stalls than you can shake a stick at, it’s also consistently one of the city’s most delicious destinations, so make sure you arrive with your wallet full and your belly empty, then sit back, relax and take in the sights, sounds, performances and lanterns. Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights will all conclude with a fireworks display beginning at 9.30pm.

When: February 26 - March 1, 4pm-10.30pm.

Where: Manukau Sports Bowl, Te Irirangi Drive, Manukau City Centre.

Price: Free but tickets required from aucklandnz.com.

9) Plan ahead: Make Monday mornings musical

Morning Melodies is returning to Bruce Mason Centre on Monday. Photo / Jinki Cambronero

Auckland Live’s Morning Melodies returns to Bruce Mason Centre on Monday, astonishingly for its 25th season. For little more than the price of a cup of coffee, you can enjoy some top-calibre musical entertainment. The first of the 60-minute concerts comes courtesy of New Zealand Opera and will feature the glorious vocal talents of soprano Maia Amosa, New Zealand-born Samoan tenor Ipu Laga’aia and Samoan bass-baritone Joel Amosa, with pianist David Kelly. Taking place monthly on a Monday morning, future concerts include the Auckland Gospel Choir, the Aotango Quintet, the Royal New Zealand Navy Band and many more musical talents.

When: February 23, 11am.

Where: Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna, Auckland.

Price: Ticket $7.14 from aucklandlive.co.nz.

Coming up

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (West End touring cast): February 26 - March 8, The Civic, Auckland.
• NZ Theatre Company presents Prima Facie: February 27, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland.
• Moana Auckland Ocean’s Festival: February 28 - March 15, Auckland’s Waterfront.
• Art Day for Gender Equality: March 1, Monte Cecilia Park, Auckland.
• Motion Sickness by a2 Company: March 3 - 6, Basement Theatre, Auckland.
• Red Phone: March 4 - 7, Aotea Centre, Auckland.
• Auckland Arts Festival Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki: March 5 - 22, Auckland.
• Wet: March 5 - 15, Te Pou Theatre, Auckland.
• Werewolf: March 5 - 8, Q Theatre, Auckland.
• Auckland Boat Show: March 5 - 8, Auckland.
• Little Kai Festival: March 8, Kelmarna Community Farm, Auckland.
• Menopause the Musical: March 10 - 23, nationwide.
• The Auckland Wooden Boat Festival: March 13 - 15, Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland.
• Mairangi Bay Food and Wine Festival: March 14, Mairangi Bay, Auckland.
• Kumeu Show: March 14 - 15, Kumeu Showgrounds, Auckland.
• Pasifika Festival: March 14 - 15, Western Springs, Auckland.
• Roots Auckland Tattoo Convention: March 14 - 15, The Cloud, Auckland.
• Warbirds on Parade: March 15, Ardmore, Auckland
• Seed by Elisabeth Easther: March 17 - 28, Titirangi Theatre, Auckland.
• EcoFest: March 22 - April 22, Auckland.
• Waiheke On Stage presents Stones In His Pockets: March 26 - 28, Q Theatre, Auckland.
• Aspiring Conversations, Festival of Ideas and Kōrero: March 27 - 29, Wānaka.

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