10 Of The Best Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend

We've arrived at my favourite moment of the year. A moment that's straight from the fiery pits of Hell. The day the dead walk. Look, for some reason unbeknownst to me, being Team Freaky or Team Festive seem to be mutually exclusive. I firmly and adamently disagree (provided Chrimbo stays in its lane and we don't mention it until November 1st at the earliest). Did I just break my own rule? 

In any case, this weekend is wild. It kicks off with a party that can only be described as the result of Morpheous offering a Care Bear the blue pill, and frolics through cheesy 80s horror vibes to emerge at the cultural and culinary icon that is Diwali. You've also got a chance to sprint around town in the hopes of winning City Rail merch (yes it exists and don't pretend you're too cool to want to get your mitts on it), plus I've blatantly staged a highkey Halloween takeover, and you're welcome. 

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

Partake In A Gloomy Bear Rave 

Your Friday night could look like nine DJs, plushies that are equal parts cute and gloomy (that you’ll immediately develop an obsession for), specialty drinks, and a kandi-making station. Sounding like something out of a fever dream, it’s going to be totally off the chain. And tickets are being snatched up quickly so if you want in, you better hit a few buttons and make it official right away. 

The Details

Where: Neck Of The Woods, 155 Karangahape Road
When: Friday 30 October 2026
Cost: $55-60
Find out more here. 

Mess With The Bull, Get The Fright Of Your Freakin' Life 

Friendly Friday improv group, Bullrush, is upping the ante this weekend with a haunting take on their usual shenanigans. So skip on over to Basement Theatre to see some of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most hilarious people doing ridiculously impressive, bizarre and frightening things as you’re pulled along on a romp through spooky sci-fi, cheesy 80s horror, paranormal happenings and horror musical. And this week’s actually a double bill so you can head back on Saturday and do it all again. 

The Details

Where: Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Avenue
When: Friday 30 & 31 October 2026
Cost: Choose what you pay
Find out more here. 

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Halloween Saturday

Eat All The Things At The Festival Of Lights

Queen Street is turning into a bloc party of sorts as it becomes lined with Indian food stalls and plays host to pop-up performances. Right next door in Aotea Square, the celebrations continue with a rolling lineup of dance centre stage. The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival is back. Stop by, get adorned with henna and eat as much as you can.

The Details

When: 31 October-1 November 2026
Where: Aotea Square, 291-297 Queen Street 
Cost: Entry is free
Find out more here. 

Battle It Out In The Amazing Race

The good folks at Objectspace are hosting The Amazing Race and if that show shaped your childhood as much as it did mine, you’ll want to get your registration in, stat. Starting at Objectspace at 10am you’ll receive a mystery location and a list of items to collect. The catch? You can only walk or use public transport to get there. Be the first team to make it back to Objectspace and you’ll win serious bragging rights, plus a week of free travel, a box of Black Estate wine and City Rail Link merch. Open to teams of 1-4 people. 

The Details

Where: Objectspace, 13 Rose Road, Grey Lynn
When: Saturday 31 October 2026
Cost: Registration is free. 
Find out more here.  

Have A Frighteningly Good Night On Karangahape Road

One of Tāmaki’s most iconic Halloween shindigs is Karangahape Road’s FREAKOUT. If you’ve got kids in tow (and they aren’t yet resembling little terrors), the first stop has got to be The Frog for free facepainting, then unleash them across thirteen locations primed for trick or treating. Perhaps stop by and see which pup has been dubbed the most murderous mutt by Suzanne Paul and Chris Parker at the Crushes Halloween Dog Parade, and then as darkness falls the brave souls will want to take a graveyard tour before hitting the dancefloor. And that’s just a smattering of the full lineup. 

The Details

Where: Karangahape Road
When: Saturday 31 October 2026
Cost: Entry is free
Find out more here. 

Run Away With The Circus

For a night of awe, debauchery, and incredible talent, lock in tickets to Cult Cirque. With the effervescent Hugo Grrrl as ringleader, you’re in for one helluva ride. Get ready to be astounded by aerials, juggling, burlesque, a hair contortionist (which sounds terrifying but I’m also so, so in) and a whole lot more. Starring Rochelle Mangan, Lisa Komatsubara, Robin YaBlind, Zoe Kelly, Lisa Jurakovich, and Lucy Lynch. 

The Details

Where: Tapac, 100 Motions Road, Auckland 
When: Saturday 31 October 2026
Cost: $35-36
Find out more here. 

Accept Only Treats This Halloween

Woman-owned pilates studio, Hiraya, is putting the treat in trick or treat with a sublime morning of self-care they’ve dubbed ‘Rituals and Petals’. Start with a beginner-friendly mat pilates flow class at 8am, refuel with a cosy morning tea, then learn the Japanese art of Ikebana in a floral arrangement workshop led by the folks at &Flowers. Everything you need is provided, just bring yourself. 

The Details

Where: Hiraya Studio, 51 New North Road, Eden Terrace
When: Saturday 31 October 2026
Cost: $120
Find out more here. 

Get Spooky With Scribe

*The* Scribe is headlining an enormous whānau-friendly Halloween party at The Trusts Arena with support from an outdoor screening of Hotel Transylvania, trick or treating, an indoor silent disco, carnival rides, bouncy castles, food trucks and a 15-minute long fireworks finale. Holy hell. Family passes available. 

The Details

Where: The Trusts Arena, Henderson
When: Saturday 31 October 2026
Cost: $17.50-$36.50 
Find out more here.

Party It Out At The Broken Lantern

Never to do anything by halves, the folks at The Broken Lantern will be pulling out all the stops this Halloween, with a spooky fit-out, a haunted photo booth, free face painting, Arii Jade and Kirsty Sutherland on the decks and four stunning Kraken Rum cocktails that are straight from the fiery (and devilishly delicious) pits of Hell.

The Details

Where: 198 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland
When: Saturday 31 October 2026, 9.30pm-3am
Cost: Entry is free.

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Sunday

Score A Tattoo With Your Taco 

You could be walking out of Rosie’s Red-Hot Cantina this Sunday with more than just a belly full of Mexican kai. In an ongoing collab series, every last Sunday of the month is for getting inked, taco in hand (and this month has some Halloween options thrown in for good measure). As per, there’ll be plenty of Rosie’s-themed temporary tattoos for little ones to ply themselves with as well. Sessions start at 2pm and run ‘til 6pm, and are flash only, first come first served. 

The Details

Where: Rosie’s Red-Hot Cantina, 204 Quay Street, Viaduct and The Strand, Takapuna
When: Sunday 1 November 2026
Cost: $40 cash 
Find out more here. 

The Best Things To Do This Weekend

Make A Pit Stop At HOKA

If you like a bit of a dash, chances are you’ve been gearing up for this weekend for a while now. Because this Sunday, it’s the Auckland Marathon. But, thanks to HOKA’s Pit Stop pop-up at their flagship store in central, you can kickstart the endorphins early, from 7am Friday morning. Stop by to get amongst the first ever HOKA Run Club or customise your HOKA gear while wrapping your mouth around an exclusive blueberry cold foam iced latte and Daily Bread pastry special.  

The Details

Where: HOKA, 9 Jean Batten Place
When: Friday 30 October
Cost: Store entry is free 
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