11 Epic Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend

It's another stellar weekend in good old Tāmaki Makaurau, and with December knocking at the door, would it be rude to say it's starting to feel.... a little Christmasy?

Here are 11 epic things to do this Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and all weekend.

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Friday 28 November

Pici's 5th Birthday

28 November | Pici | $$-$$$

Image credit: Pici | Vicki Young 

Pici are celebrating five years of delicious pasta and natural wines on Karangahape road this Friday 28th November, at Pici Wine Bar. With magnums pouring and DJs on deck, join them in celebrating the five years (and here’s to many more). Happy Birthday Pici! - Vicki Young

Boogie To A 24 Hour DJ Set Raising Money To Support Movember

28-29 November | Queen's Rooftop

Image credit: Queens Rooftop | Supplied

Head to Queens Rooftop for the last week of Movember, a month of raising awareness on men’s health in November. From 12pm Friday to Saturday, DJ Tim Richards will be spinning the decks non-stop for 24 hours, raising $10,000 to support men’s mental health, suicidie prevention, and prostate and testicular cancer for Movember. Get your Saturday brekkie boogie on with a side of Allpress coffee, Morning Made matcha and a Bloody Mary Cart, plus a set menu with granola and bacon butties. Donate over on DJ Tim Richards’ Mo Space. - Vicki Young

Saturday 29 November

The Others Way

29 November | Karangahape Road | $$$

Image credit: The Others Way | Facebook

Simply nothin' better than a good street festy. particularly when the festy in question is on the mighty K' Road. The Others Way is back this Saturday for a smorgasbord of fine, fine acts including headliners Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory,  Conna Mockasin, Georgia Knight and many, many more. All ages areas and an R18 mosh ready for wee self to go boogie in.

RÜFÜS DU SOL

29 November | The Outer Fields, Western Springs | $$$

Image credit: RÜFÜS DU SOL | Instagram

The most mind-bending, dimension-transcending electro experience known to humankind—RÜFÜS DU SOL—will light up the expansive Outer Fields of Western Springs this weekend. The Australian purveyors of electronic music-meets-legendary-lights-extravaganza-times-unholy-soundscapes are just too good not to go see, listen, embrace.

Sunday 30 November

Start Your Sundays With This Epic Lebanese Breakfast Menu

Image credit: Za’atar Bakehouse | Vicki Young 

Starting this Sunday, the Lebanese Grocer is offering their Lebanese breakfast menu (from 10am-2pm). Weekends are for Lebanese coffee and manoushe-inspired breakfast offerings—flatbreads filled with spiced meats and gooey cheese, piping hot and fresh out of the oven, with the toasty smell of za’atar (which side-note, is made from a family recipe using oregano grown and sun-dried at his parents’ very own garden in Pōneke). If you’ve missed their Za’atar Bakehouse pop-up on Saturdays, then take this as a sign to make this your next Sunday breakfast ritual. 

Farmers Santa Parade

30 November | Queen Street | Free

Image credit: Farmers Santa Parade | Website

Quite possibly the merriest day of the year besides the big day itself, Farmers Santa Parade is as quintessential to the Kiwi summer calendar as chips and onion dip. This Sunday from 1pm the 92nd edition of this beloved day out will be taking place, with grand floats, lively marching bands, treasured characters, dazzling costumes, and The Enchanted Woodland float; a whimsical fairytale scene of mushroom houses, butterflies, and woodland creatures. AND a special trans-Tasman appearance from everyone's favourite Blue Heeler...

Loyle Carner: 'hopefully !'

30 November | Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall | $$

Image credit: Loyle Carner | Facebook

One of the true dons of the game in a beautiful venue for under $100. I don't think there's too much more to say than thank you, Loyle Carner, for gracing our shores with your sultry, smooth musical genius.

Auckland FC Home Games + Derby

30 November & 6 December | Go Media Stadium | $-$$

Image credit: Auckland FC | Supplied

The next two weekends herald home games for the city's favourite football club. Auckland FC will be taking on the Newcastle Jets this Sunday, at a whanau-friendly 3pm. Then next Saturday, December 6, it’s the big one, the clash of the cities, the wise old man versus the up and comer, the upstart versus the status quo—it's the return of the Wellington Phoenix for derby day. Perfect chance to have an outing with the crew, get the little ones down there early to enjoy the inflatable slide, face painting, mini football and for the Newcastle Jets game, to meet Father Christmas and his elves. Oh, and of course, the already beloved tailgate—BYO sossies and jump on one of the many free BBQs before firing up for the game itself.

All Weekend

The Wizard of Oz

28-30 November | Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre | $$

Image credit: NYT | Website

National Youth Theatre's yellow-brick whirlwind touches down for three nights only at the end of this week. Dorothy, Toto, and the gang in technicolour glory, with Kiwi flair and a live orchestra. Click your heels thrice to grab tickets... or click this link.

Christmas in Aotea Square

28 November-21 December | Aotea Square | Free

Another classic for the Kiwi Christmas calendar (in the big smoke) has to be Christmas in Aotea Square. For most of the month the square is transforming into an extravangza of holiday cheer, which you and the whanau can get down to and enjoy for free. All the info here.

IKEA Secret Kiwi Housewarming Parties

28, 29 & 30 November | Various Venues

If you didn't already know, IKEA is coming to town. Yes, that's a fact and before they throw open their big blue doors on 4 December, they're first throwing three secret Kiwi housewarming
parties across Auckland. In collab with UK pop-up party innovators, Lab54, it's three parties, three secret locations, celebrating three different aspects of Kiwi life, namely a house party, garage party and beach party. And it's free. How good.

All that weekend planning left you hangry? Check out The Feed.

Main image credit: Image credit: IKEA x Lab54 | Supplied

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