10 Of The Best Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend

It's the best part of the week—it's end. And this weekend we've got a giant festival, a giant birthday party, and a giant samples sale, plus several winning ways to keep the kids busy if you're cursed blessed with school holidays. You may have spotted that by the time the weekend hits it'll be October (surprise!) and, right on cue, there's a solid serve of Oktoberfest in the mix as well. 

Here are 10 of the best things to do in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this weekend. 

Jump to: 

• What’s On This Friday
• What’s On This Saturday
• What’s On This Sunday
• Things To Do All Weekend

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Friday

Spend A Night At The Museum

Professor Maven Sage has discovered a magic formula that brings museum objects to life. An essential addition to the school holiday lineup, Night at Auckland Museum: Top Secret, will see kids roaming the spaces of the darkened museum, torch in hand, trying to protect the magic formula from Sage’s arch-rival, while discovering fun activities and adventures along the way. 

The Details

Where: Auckland Museum, Auckland Domain, Parnell
When: 2-4 & 7, 9-10 October 2026
Cost: $40 general tickets, $45 door sales (10% discount for members)
Find out more here. 

Sit In On A Double Bill That’s A D&M In Contemporary Dance Form 

Watch, transfixed, as dancers explore queer time/liveness, intution/memory, care and expectation in A Becoming, a combination of two dance works: don’t cry a snail trail baby by Jasmine Reynolds and Caring, Queering by Lily-Mae Solhee Baird. Joined by Tyler Wilson and Josie Pepperell, with sound design by Felicity Downden and ‘fits by Katrina Marks, this 60-minute gig delivers on Basement’s kaupapa of urgent and adventurous live performance. 

The Details

Where: Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Avenue
When: 1-3 October 2026
Cost: Choose what you pay 
Find out more here. 

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Saturday

Discover Eiko Sato IRL

If you’ve been following along at home, you’ll already know that digital creator, Rose Kwon, has gorgeous taste. Earlier this year she created her own clothing label, Eiko Sato, and to celebrate the release of her second collection, she’s hosting a pop-up in collaboration with Edenic Studios at Odd Even from 10am. She’s been sharing the lead up on her socials and true to style she’s shaped a lot of the event detailing by hand. It’s worth attending just to be able to step into Rose’s realm. But there’ll also be goodie bags, a photobooth and 20% off both collection one and two. 

The Details

Where: Odd Even, 5 High Street, Auckland 
When: Saturday 3 October 2026
Cost: Entry is free
Find out more here.  

Celebrate Tāmaki Makaurau’s Rich Culinary Heritage 

For the uninitiated, Takeout Kids is an observational doco series directed by filmmaker and producer Julie Zhu for The Spinoff in 2022. The series follows young kids who grow up in their parents’ shops and it’s a solid watch. This year, as part of the Auckland Heritage Festival (the theme is kai), you can sit in on a discussion as Julie chats about the series. Arrive at the Central City Library for a  2pm start. 

The Details

Where: Whare Wānanga, Central City Library, 44-46 Lorne Street, Auckland Central
When: Saturday 3 October 2026
Cost: Free
Find out more here. 

Get A Little Cosmic 

In case you’ve never rolled out a mat at Kenkō Studios, let me catch you up to speed. The totally sublime inner-city Japandi wellness space hosts all sorts of movement and adjacent practices every week (from pilates and candlelit yoga to sound baths) and Ostara Gathering is held there every month. It’s a two-hour evening experience combining tea, astrology, meditation, sound healing, journaling and oracle/tarot cards, and it’s the perfect way to unwind or rebalance, whether you identify as cosmic or are curious about learning more. This month it’s hosted by Iris Bellve and Jess Pearson.  

The Details

Where: Kenkō Studios, Saint Benedicts Street, Eden Terrace
When: Saturday 3 October 2026
Cost: $55 
Find out more here. 

Find A Gem At Doug's

Embroidery shop, Doug’s, is throwing a lowkey enormous sample sale with friends, Anyware, Kiosk and Eightthirty this Saturday and it’s packed to the hilt with goodies (which could be up to 70% off). The sale kicks off at 9am sharp and runs through to 3pm, with free Eighthirty coffee, DIY scrapbook keyrings, tees, musclin blankets, vintage and retro toys, vintage lighting, stationary, and homewares. 

The Details

Where: Doug’s, 1 Morton Street, Auckland Central
When: Saturday 3 October 2026
Cost: Entry is free
Find out more here. 

Raise A Pint (Or Six)

Don your lederhosen and make a beeline for Vulcan Lane this Saturday for all things Oktoberfest. Set across three bars–The Forge, The Occidental and Queens Ferry–you’ll pick up an Oktoberfest beer card and earn stamps as you sip your way through six German-style beers, snapping up exclusive merch and wrapping your mouth around German-inspired kai specials. If that sounds like a bit of you, make for Vulcan Lane from midday. 

The Details

Where: Vulcan Lane
When: Saturday 3 October 2026
Cost: Entry is free
Find out more here.

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Sunday

Get Your First Taste Of Yola

One of the highlights of local foods news lately has been edging closer to the opening of Yola. From Elie Assaf and Keelan Bowkett-Assaf comes the “fun little sister” to The Lebanese Grocer and its first day of service was  this Tuesday. It’ll come as no surprise that excited (and hungry) punters have been snapping up dinner bookings since they were released about a week ago, but at the time of writing, there were still a few tables left for this Sunday evening. And what a way to wind up the weekend. 

The Details

Where: Yola, within Ponsonby Central, 136/146 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby
When: Sunday 4 October 2026
Cost: Entry is free
Find out more here. 

Attend A Giant Birthday Party

Speaking of kai, food truck gathering Open Circle Markets is assembling at Vic Park this Sunday arvo to celebrate 365 days of giving the masses what they want: slick eats. The location isn’t by chance, either. It’s actually full circle–their first ever event was right there too–and it’s shaping up to be their biggest yet. Swing by with an empty belly between 3 and 9pm to devour it all. 

The Details

Where: Victoria Park, 203-271 Victoria Street West
When: Sunday 4 October 2026
Cost: Entry is free
Find out more here. 

The Best Things To Do This Weekend

Fall Down The Rabbit Hole Into The Wonderverse 

An awe-inspiring sensory adventure awaits at Wonderverse, an immersive experience for kids between the ages of 4 and 10. Part guided tour, part gallivant through a glowing forest of light and sound, it’s part of We The Young, a kids’ festival that’s the tonic to the school holiday overwhelm of how to keep kids entertained without breaking the bank. 

The Details

Where: Hunua Rooms, Aotea Centre, 50 Mayoral Drive
When: 3 & 4 October 2026
Cost: $15-$35
Find out more here.

Want more? Check out: 

• All The Essential Food News (So You Can Be In The Know And Eat It Too)
• What's On In Auckland This Month And This Year
• Tāmaki Makaurau's Best Restaurants To Feast At