Information for your day: Weekend Planner

Compiled by PHOEBE FALCONER

Weather:

Fine with cloudy periods today and southwesterlies in the afternoon. Tomorrow, cloudy with a few showers, and the southwesterly swings to the southeast later in the afternoon. On Sunday, fine again with light winds and afternoon sea breezes.

Sport:

Parramatta Power play the soccer Kingz tomorrow, screening live on Sky Sport at 9.30pm.

World Cup cricket continues, with a replay of the last two hours of the Black Caps' match against the West Indies screening on Sky Sport from 6am today, and the Black Caps v South Africa live on Sky Sport and TV3 from 8.30pm on Sunday. For a full list of all matches see this week's e.g.

The Manukau Velodrome hosts a big night of cycling, with the Valentine's Day Carnival featuring a variety of handicap, sprint and scratch races. The North Island series has round four in Taupo at 4pm tomorrow and round five in Rotorua at midday on Sunday. For a full programme of cycling events visit the manukau veledrome website.

Surf lifesaving's Tri-Nations challenge gets under way at the Mt Maunganui surf club at 8am today with New Zealand vs Australia and South Africa. The second and third tests are on Sunday and Tuesday.

Festival:

The Asia 2000 Lantern Festival lights up at 5pm today in Albert Park, and marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations. The huge variety of stunning lanterns will be lit again tomorrow and Sunday from 5pm. Other entertainment includes a fashion show, folk singing, dancing, fortune-telling, calligraphy, shadow puppets and the lotus lantern dragon dance. Prime Minister Helen Clark will officially open the festival at 8pm today. Admission to the whole show is free. For more information visit www.asia2000.org.nz or www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/lantern. Welcome to the Year of the Sheep/Goat/Ram.

Today

* It's Valentine's Day. Got the chocs, flowers and heart-shaped balloons organised?

* Gold Heart Day collectors are out on the streets selling little heart pins for $3 and taking donations for the Variety children's charity.

* Enjoy romantic music from classical guitarist Peter McAven and flautist Martin Feinstein, plus a candlelit supper at the Rose Garden Community Centre in School Rd, Belmont, at 7.45pm. Tickets are $36, which includes a chocolate gift pack. Phone Ticketek on 307-5000.

* Be romanced at a Valentine's Day concert at the band rotunda in Auckland Zoo, with saxophonist Walter Bianco, percussionist Miguel Fuentes and The Supper Club. Bring a blanket and a picnic, and enjoy complimentary beverages. The concert starts at 5pm, and normal zoo admission charges apply.

* A special Valentine's Day liturgy will be held at St Patrick's Cathedral in Wyndham St, Auckland, at 7pm. All engaged and married couples and those involved in marriage ministries are welcome to attend.

* The Vintage Jazz Band plays at 7.30pm today in the Nixon Centre, Sale St, Howick, and at 7.30pm on Sunday in the Bayswater Boating Club, Sir Peter Blake Parade, Bayswater.

* The legendary Dave McArtney, late of Hello Sailor and Pink Flamingos, plays tonight at Temple, 486 Queen St. Tickets are only $20, and are limited to 40, so phone 377-4866 now.

* Free information sessions to hear about funding opportunities for community groups will be held today from 10am to noon in the following centres: Mt Roskill Community House, Grahame Breed Drive, Mt Roskill; Avondale Community Centre, 99 Rosebank Rd, Avondale; Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn; Panmure Community Centre, 1 Pilkington Rd, Panmure; Meadowbank Community Centre, 29 St Johns Rd, Meadowbank. Groups must deliver benefits to three or more Auckland City community board areas. For more information phone 379-2020.

Tomorrow

* Music in Parks features the Nairobi Trio and Czardas Gypsy Band playing in the Tahaki Reserve, Mt Eden Rd, from 6pm.

* The Broadwood A & P Show is on today in Northland. Phone (09) 409-5857 for details.

* And the Kerikeri Rotary Club has organised a Day on the Bay. Visit www.kerikeri.co.nz for more information.

* The North Shore summer music series visits Onepoto Domain in Northcote today at 2pm with the Jews Brothers and Daddy Marmalade. Tomorrow the series takes jazz to Killarney Park in Takapuna at 4pm.

* The 12th annual Healthy Living Festival this weekend in the QE2 Centre, 15th Avenue, Tauranga, offers holistic practitioners, books, health products, crystals and tomorrow at 1.30pm, Belly Hoo, the belly-dancing troupe. Phone (07) 552-4236 for festival information.

* Enjoy a lazy summer picnic in the grounds of the Whenuapai home of George Watts, who has been planting trees on his property for 60 years. Meet at 11am at 139 Kauri Rd, Whenuapai. Phone 818-3241 for details.

* Go Wild Out West at a musicfest at the Corban Estate Arts Centre in Great North Rd, Henderson. Performers include Deceptikonz, Unity, Forth Element, DJ Cian and Star Drunk. Food stalls, coffee cart, pro basketball demonstrations and more. Entry is by gold coin, from 2pm.

* The Trans Tasman drags is the most prestigious event on the New Zealand drag-racing calendar. If you like speed, the place to be is the Champion Dragway at Meremere from 10am today and Sunday. There are lots of prizes to be won, with proceeds from the prize pool going to Youthline.

* The Korean film Jeong (My Heart) screens at 3.30pm today in Building 12 of the School of Performing and Screen Arts at Unitec in Mt Albert. The film has English subtitles. Admission is free. Use Gate 2 from Carrington Rd.

* There will be loads of entertainment and stalls at the fun day at Pt Chevalier Community Centre, 18 Huia Rd, from 10am.

* The Auckland Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society's annual dahlia show opens at 11am today at 990 Great North Rd, Western Springs. Admission is $2.

* A rally and march to oppose war against Iraq will be held at noon in Queen Elizabeth Square at the bottom of Queen St. Phone 846-4896 for details.

Sunday

* Take an urban safari to Owairaka Domain in Mt Albert, and explore one of the first volcanic cones to be quarried in Auckland. Meet at the cattlestop in Summit Rd, off Mt Albert Rd, at either 9am or 11.30am. Places are limited so book on 379-1341.

* Music in Parks has Sara-Jane Auva'a singing soul jazz at the band rotunda in Auckland Domain from 2pm, and Dalewool Auckland Brass sounding out in the Winter Gardens from 5pm. Admission is free.

* And you can enjoy jazz on the Memorial Steps in Cornwall Park from 11am to 5pm, with June Hayes, the Phil Broadhurst Quintet and Prima Swing Riot.

* Motorcycles roar around central Paeroa in the Battle of the Streets. An action-packed programme starts at 11.15am and has 21 races, 264 competitors and even sidecar teams. Admission is $20, $10 and children are free. Phone (07) 862-8000 for information.

* Preview the Real Theatre Company's production of Amadeus at 3pm in the Castle Gallery of Auckland Museum. Normal museum admission applies. The season begins on March 1 at the Pumphouse in Takapuna.

* Find out more about travelling and touring in India at a free public seminar at 5.30pm in the council chamber of the Mt Eden War Memorial Hall, 489 Dominion Rd. Phone 630-4733 or 827-3763.

* Sit in the shade of the pohutukawa and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Hinemoa Park at Birkenhead Wharf from 3pm, in a Families in Parks event.

* A day of music, peace and politics to support the anti-war with Iraq movement begins at 1pm in Potters Park, on the corner of Balmoral and Dominion Rds. Shona Laing, Don McGlashan, Caitlin Smith, Golden Horse, Karen Hunter and friends will all be there to push the message. Admission is free.