17 Epic Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend

Boo! Guess what's this Friday? I'm sure you now know. Because what's better than a weekend? Why, a Halloween-themed weekend that is.

From dog parades to axe throwing, spooky raves to spooky sweet treats—this weekend has a Jack o' lantern full of Halloween affairs, plus everything else less scary to keep you busy throughout the day.

Whether you're running away from ghosts or running over the Harbour Bridge, here are 17 epic things to do this Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and all weekend.

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Friday 31 October

Head To This Coffee Shop Pop-Up For Some Spooky Treats

From 5.30pm (Until Sold Out) | Kompass Coffee | $

Image credit: Alieto Dessert | Instagram (@alieto_dessert)

If you’re a bit like me and prefer treats over tricks, make your way to Kompass Coffee on Halloween, where Alieto Desserts are doing their Halloween pop-up this Friday from 5.30pm (until sold out). We’re drooling over peanut butter bundt cake with a cute witches cookie hat, and the black sesame cream-cheese brownie grave—complete with edible soil and a headstone cookie garnish. Make your way there this Friday, dress-ups encouraged. - Vicki Young

Trick-Or-Treat A Haunted Victorian village

4-8pm | Howick Historical Village | $

Okay, so if you want some seriously authentic, immersive Halloween plans, then Howick Historic Village sounds like the place. Trick-or-treat your way through a Victorian village haunted by fiendish villagers lurking in creepy cottages and spooky sites—the experience is complete with a scavenger hunt and an old-fashioned sweet shop for lollies and fudge. BYO picnic, dress up, and bring the whānau for ghoulish good times—it's part of the Festival of Frights.

Go Watch Some Spooky Pooches Parade

From 5pm | Myers Park | Free

Adorable doggies in silly little outfits parading across the rainbow crossing—what more could you want? Meet at Myers Park from 5pm, with voting, pet portraits, and prizes (Scariest, Most Creative, Best Dog & Owner Duo) starting at 6.30pm. The parade kicks off at 7pm through St Kevins Arcade. Dogs on leash, pats mandatory.

Visit A Carnival of Carnage

5-9pm | Sweet Axe Throwing Co., CBD | $

Axel Hatchetson has taken over Sweet Axe for a twisted twilight event where axes fly and rage is the main course. Beat your way through haunted projections in The Smashroom or test your survival skills with axe-throwing games. Dress in your kookiest carnival best—the gates to madness open at 5pm.

See An Entire Street Get Fully Freaked

6pm-late | Karangahape Road | Free

K' Road goes full freak mode this Friday night to celebrate the scariest day of all—DJs, live music, lasers, Queens Market, OTT decor, tattoos, and more. Unconventional disguises of all persuasions are encouraged. It's a family-fun street party with chaos vibes—see you on the strip.

Head To This North And South Aotearoa Restaurant Collab

Various Bookings | The French Cafe | $$$

Image credit: INATI | Instagram (@inatitoshare) 

For one night only this Friday, Chef Simon Levy from INATI in Ōtautahi will be coming to Tāmaki Makaurau to team up with Chef Sid Sahrawat at The French Cafe for their first-ever collaboration. True to the spirit of INATI, which means “to share” in te reo Māori, expect chilli King crab and Sid’s dry-aged duck alongside the INATI duck trumpet special, to name some of the dishes on the four snack and four-course menu (including a Halloween pre-dessert special). Book online to avoid missing out. - Vicki Young

Watch The Butlers Serve Some Fresh Rock

From 8pm | Galatos | $

Image credit: The Butlers | Facebook

Another product of our thriving surf/alt/indie rock scene—The Butlers always live up to their name, serving what's righteous and rockworthy time and time again. If you haven't seen these fellas live, then what are you doing with your life? I know what you're doing, you're heading to Galatos Friday night.

Saturday 1 November

Enjoy A Poolside Popsicle At This Opening

8am-8pm | Parnell Baths | $

Image credit: Tip Top x Parnell Baths | Supplied

Two Kiwi summer icons are teaming up to make your swims even sweeter—Tip Top is partnering with the historic Parnell Baths to stock the poolside café with frozen treats when it opens for the season this Saturday. Debuting are the new Trumpet Choc Bar and Popsicle Watermelon, plus the return of nostalgic fan favourite Toppa that'll take you straight back to that one perfect summer long, long ago. From Saturday, the pool will be open daily—6am–8pm weekdays, 8am–8pm weekends—with free swimming for kids 16 and under, thanks to Auckland Council.

Go On A Wine Wander

12-4pm | Ponsonby | $$

Image credit: Urban Wine Walk | Facebook

Ponsonby's streets and laneways are turning into a wine-lover's summer evening paradise: Urban Wine Walk is back, with local hotspots turning into pop-up cellar doors along a self-guided trail. Explore the Pons sip scene at your own pace, sampling delicious wines from stellar Kiwi winemakers at some of the precinct's very best venues. It’s kind of like Frodo & Sam’s adventure, but a lot more wine.

Learn To Belt It Out Like The Best, With The Best

12.30-7pm | Somervell Presbyterian Church | $$-$$$

Image credit: Bach Musica NZ  | Supplied

If you're looking to improve your classical chops, then this one's for you. Bach Musica NZ is putting on their singing workshop this week, where you can brush up on essential techniques and improve your sound, both as a chorister and as a soloist, and do so alongside members of the highly acclaimed chorus. How good.

Go West For The Most Wicked Bash Of All

3-10pm | Suburbs Rugby Club, New Lynn | Gold Coin Donations

West Auckland is set for a proper spooky Halloween bash (yes, how insane is it that it's already time for this), and it's for a good cause. The Trusts are transforming Suburbs Rugby Club into a ghoulie wonderland where your gold coins go straight to local community organisations—Plunket, NZ Police, Life Education Trust, and more. Wander through Trick or Treat Lane collecting sweets and undertaking tasks brave the Haunted House (Marples Manor has a no-scare session 3-5pm for the littlies), snag a feed from local trucks like What A BBQ and Taste of Rwanda (15% of sales support community groups), and wind down with free screenings of The Nightmare Before Christmas at 5.30pm and Ghostbusters at 7.30pm. There's face painting, fundraising games, a bar for the adults, and it's all zero-waste.

Get Amongst A Kaleidoscope Of Culture

From 6pm | Karangahape Road | Free 

Image credit: Karangahape Road | Website

Every first Saturday of the month, the mythical and gorgeous K' Road transforms into a full-sensory extravaganza with FAM—a bold celebration of Aotearoa's finest food, art, and music. From noon till 6pm, this pulsing street party will showcase local talent across multiple disciplines, shifting one of Auckland's most iconic streets into its very top gear.

Witness One Of Aotearoa's Best Lyricists

From 8pm | The Civic | $$

Image credit: Tom Scott | Supplied

Tom Scott is an icon of Aotearoa hip-hop, rap and exploratory jazz. If you don't know the name, then you surely know the voice dancing along the melodies of Home Brew, @peace and Avantdale Bowling Club—just to name a few standout expressions in damn good Kiwi music. And if you do know Tom Scott, then you know how mint it is to be seeing a new solo album on its way and an album release show to boot. At The Civic no less. Sheeesh. And if you still don't know Tom Scott, then that's all the more reason to cop a ticket. Ain't it?

Dance Back To A Decade Of Scary Good Music

9pm–3am | Reign & Pour, Kemuri Hi-Fi, Ghost Donkey | $

Auckland's biggest 90s inner-city dance festival takes over three venues with headliner Jolyon Petch and 14 more DJs spinning house, eurodance, trance, deep house, garage, RnB, and party hits. One ticket gets you into all three levels—Daft Punk to Destiny's Child, Faithless to Spice Girls. Less than 10 tickets left, so move fast.

Learn How The Latins Do Halloween

10pm–3.30am | Wynyard Pavilion | $

Image credit: The Latin Club | Eventbrite

Auckland's wildest partiers are doing it spooky-style with 900+ people in full costume dancing to salsa, reggaeton, merengue, and bachata across two floors. Expect live shows, costume contests, photo zones, themed cocktails, and non-stop heat. Strictly costume party, R18+. And with the first 100 tickets only twenty bucks, you'll have to grab yours before they vanish like, well, ghosts.

Sunday 2 November

Post The Ultimate Strava Pic

Various Start Times | Auckland City | Entry Fees Vary

Image credit: Auckland Marathon | Facebook

The big one is back, and with run clubs and Strava steeze dominating all aspects of modern society, it's almost certain that the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Marathon will be the biggest yet. Offering five distances to suit everyone—from the full 42.2km to the half, 11km Traverse, 5km, and kids run—the AKL Mara winds in and around the city, with the showpiece being that iconic harbour bridge crossing. And there's still time to sign up!

All Weekend

Get Your Brains Blown By These Twisty Peeps

30 October-9 November, Various Show Times | Spark Arena | $$$

Image credit: Cirque du Soleil | Aldo Arguello

Cirque du Soleil is returning to Aotearoa this week, with the Auckland debut of Corteo. Directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, Corteo is a festive parade imagined from a clown’s perspective, set on a double-sided stage. Expect grace, power, and comedy played out in a liminal space between heaven and earth.

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

Main image credit: Halloween Dog Parade | Eventfinda

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