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Vampires, day raves, and African jazz. Well, well, well, if it isn't another fine-looking weekend in the big city.
I hope your stomach is empty and your calendar is free, cause here are 15 epic ways to have fun in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, this Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and all weekend.
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Friday 10 October
Go On A Celestially Inspired Space Odyssey
2.30pm & 8.30pm | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium | $$
Image credit: Auckland Philharmonia | Facebook
Strings Under the Stars sold out in 2024 for good reason. This mesmerising, nebulous fusion of music and cosmos brings together two Auckland icons: Stardome Observatory & Planetarium and Auckland Philharmonia. They return this weekend with a string quartet performing celestially inspired works by Beethoven, Debussy, and Holst, plus the premiere of a new commission by Wellington composer Keith Moss.
Sink Your Teeth Into World Premiere
Multiple Showtimes | The Civic | $$-$$$
Forget sparkly vampires, sepia tone shots, and grown af adults attending high school for eternity—this production has TEETH. Dracula is making its world premiere at The Civic. It's seductive, sinister, beautiful and dripping with atmosphere, with enough dramatic tension to make your heart race (before someone inevitably drains it).
Binge On Bach By This Ozzie Maestro
Friday & Saturday, Various Showtimes | St Luke's Church | $$
NZ Barok is bringing Australian musician-extraordinaire Erin Helyard to Auckland for a sumptuous evening of Bach and Vivaldi that'll transport you straight to the 18th century—minus the plague, corsets and syphilis, of course.
Leave This Gig Happier Than When You Arrived
From 8pm | Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre | $$
Image credit: Rob Beckett | Instagram
From Bromley to Brisbane (and Auckland too), multi-faceted laugh merchant Rob Beckett is taking his new show, Giraffe, worldwide. His quest is simple: "Expectations on me: put on three stone from takeaways and post-show drinking. Expectations of you: leave the gig happier than when you arrived." If you know Beckett, you need no more convincing. If you don't, check out this.
Saturday 11 October
Try Some Tea & Get A Tattoo At This Bookshop Day
From 10am | Enamoured Books | Free Entry
Image credit: Alex Heart | Supplied
What happens when love stories, artistry, and community all come together under one roof? I'll tell ya what: Enamoured Books 2025 Bookshop Day with Magnolia & Soul plus friends. Goodie bags, tea tastings, tattoo artistry, and literary sweetness—the lust-filled-page-crazed team at Enamoured will be celebrating a decade of Bookshop Day in Aotearoa this Saturday, with its doors swinging open from 10am. And be sure you're not a second too late... there's prizes up for grabs, after all.
Discover Where Design Gets Personal At This Makers Market
Saturday & Sunday 10am–3pm | Good Form Gallery | Free Entry
Image credit: Catherine Griffiths / Keyhole Rug | Good Form Gallery
Makers' Market is a weekend celebration of all things chic, stylish and deliciously designed at Good Form Gallery, where independent designers are thrust front and centre. Showcasing only the most innovative and intriguing, the market draws inspiration from Copenhagen's 3 Days of Design and Melbourne Design Week, filling a gap in New Zealand's cultural calendar. Bad weekend to be an unfurnished living room, I tell ya.
Rave Your Heart Out Then Be In Bed By 10
4-9pm | The Mothership | $
Image credit: DayClubbers | Eventbrite
Remember when staying out till sunrise felt like a victory? Yeah, me neither. These days, the real flex is being home by 10, Kindle on, peppermint tea at hand. If that sounds like a bitta you, then you'd better grab a ticket to DayClubbers this Saturday. They're a sold-out global phenomenon dedicated to everyone who still loves a proper boogie but also loves their bed. Your knees and Sunday self can thank me later.
Take Part In A Massive Fundraising Dinner
6-11pm | Massive Theatre Company | $$$
Image credit: Massive Theatre Company | Instagram
It's a tough time in the creative world currently. Purse strings are pulled tight, wallets are sealed shut, and like so many other institutions around NZ, Massive Theatre Company—one of New Zealand’s longest-standing theatre companies—has been feeling the pinch. But lo and behold, a familiar hero has once again arisen: Aotearoa's most-famous chef, Peter Gordon ONZM, is joining forces with Billy T award-winning comedian Kura Forrester to host a fundraising night for the ages. Done ‘the Massive way’ with a relaxed atmosphere at their hub in the heart of Grey Lynn.
Being the good sort that Peter is, he's offering his time for free to prepare a whānau-style three-course meal, raising some much-needed funds for the multigenerational theatre company. What's more, Forrester will be cooking up the laughs, throwing a quiz into the mix, and slinging off a few stellar auction items up for grabs. All proceeds go towards supporting Massive’s ongoing mahi in the arts community, which includes dozens of free annual workshops for young people and countless hours of professional development for emerging and professional artists in what is now their 35th year. So, grab a ticket. I dare ya.
Get Reacquainted With This NZ Comedy Icon
7-8pm | The Classic Comedy Club Studio | $
NZ comedy darling Ben Hurley is taking up a special monthly residency in a very special venue—The Classic's intimate Studio Lounge. An hour of the latest and greatest live stand-up with rotating friends. It's casual, it's close-quarters, it's Ben Hurley & Friends: Live in The Studio Lounge.
Groove 'Til The Wee Hours With This Ghanaian Maestro And His Nine-Piece Band
7pm–3am | Ponsonby Social Club | Free Entry
Image credit: Ozi Ozaa | Instagram
If you didn't know already, the drum crushing, African flute-wielding xylophone, bass and song-sheet Ghanaian musical master—and certified burst of sunshine—Yaw Asumadu moved to NZ in 2018 and formed Ozi Ozaa. And this nine-piece band is plying Ponsonby Social Club with funk, jazz, sweet highlife, and traditional African rhythms this Saturday 'til 3am.
Sunday 12 October
Pull The Curtain On Shooting Short Flicks
12–1.30pm | Academy Cinemas |
Image credit: 2025 Auckland Filmmaker Talk—Show Me Shorts | Eventfinda
Want to know what it actually takes to make a short film? This moderated discussion with three top filmmakers—Alyx Duncan, Chunjing Zhang, and Raymond Edwards—will give you the candid stories, behind-the-scenes chaos, and the chance to ask all your burning questions. You'll watch their films, hear how they pulled it off, and leave itching to pick up the cam.
Get Amongst A Bona Fide Extravaganza In Aotea Square
Saturday & Sunday 12-9pm | Auckland Central | Free
Image credit: BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival | Supplied
Back for a bang in typical kaleidoscopic fashion, the BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival is here this weekend to turn Aotea Square, Queen Street, and Rutland Street into a bona fide extravaganza. You'll want to be in town both Saturday and Sunday for one of the most important festivals on the Hindu calendar. From 12-9pm, you’ll witness modern and traditional Indian cultural performances, theatre, music, dance, exhibitions, art installations, light projections, gorge on sweet and savoury vegetarian food, enjoy arts and crafts, activities and workshops, yoga classes, Bollywood movies, annnddddd a fireworks show. Sheesh. Oh, it’s free too.
All Weekend
Douse Your Crack Chicken Addiction In Heinz's Latest Creation
From 11.30am | Crack Chicken Ponsonby | Free
Image credit: Heinz x Crack Chicken x Eat Lit Food | Instagram
Heinz's cult-favourite Fried Chicken Sauce has finally landed in Aotearoa, and it's making a pop-up debut at Crack Chicken (nationwide) for one week and one week only. Think Supreme Chicken Burger (crispy fried chicken, slaw, pickles, and a generous slather of sauce), Crack Chicken's golden Blooming Onion made for dipping, all paired with the creamy, sweet and spicy kick of this famous sauce, plus the option to add it to literally anything on the menu. But once it's gone, it's gone, so get in quick.
Devour The Best Fish & Chips That Side Of The Bridge
3-8pm | Takapuna Beach Cafe | $-$$
Image credit: Takapuna Beach Cafe's Fish & Chip Shop Pop-Up | Supplied
How's this for tasty news, eh? The very iconic but so fleeting Takapuna Beach Cafe Fish & Chip Shop Pop-Up is back, serving salty, fishy goodness from the most popular summer spot that side of the bridge. Whitebait fritter butties, crispy calamari rolls, a seafood basket of mussels, oysters, scallops and calamari, and a cheeky deep-fried pineapple-lump chocolate fish—this droolworthy expanded menu comes courtesy of last summer's strong showing, so you'd better get down there and support the only FnC spot directly beach-side in Takapuna. Open seven days a week, including public holidays.
Relive The Tastiest Pop-Up In Town
5:30–9:30pm | Satya Chai Lounge | Free Entry
Old pals Garage Project and Satya Chai Lounge are bringing back an AKL icon—Hyderabad Hotel —for a strictly limited run. What exactly do they have in store? No less than an Indian street food-inspired menu paired with a full-service Garage Project bar and the cozy vibes of Satya's back room. How good.
All that weekend planning left you hangry? Check out The Feed.
Image credit: Dracula/Auckland Live | Website.
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