Stuff To Do This Weekend

Awww, MAN. How amazing is this weather right now?! No doubts about it, I am a summer person and Auckland is a summer city. So, what does the second official weekend of summer have in store for you? 


First off, if your weekend is starting on Friday then head down to Aotea Square to catch the Random Acts series before it's over. Free amazing street theatre till Sunday!


Also happening right now is the Margaret Mahy themed sandpit down in the Wynyard Quarter. That ends this weekend too so don't miss out.


If you've got older kids the New Zealand/New York film "Love Story" is playing outside in Silo Park in the Wynyard Quarter on Friday night at 9pm. Also free!


My pick for the weekend is happening at the Wynyard Quarter (they are really cranking out the goodness this weekend!) on Saturday from 12pm - 5pm : The Turnaround! Take your kids down and have a bit of a dance. If you've got a babysitter this weekend this could be your warm up. If not then this is your chance to shake your groove thing and show those tikes how it's done.


Santa will be at The Department Store on Saturday. Go visit and you get a free polaroid with the old guy!


Now, I know Christmas In The Park is on this weekend but honestly, the Christmas tradition I'm looking more forward to is a visit to Santa's Enchanted Forest in Smith & Caughey's, followed by dinner at the Ponsonby Food Court (Haeata recommends either the Marinara Pizza or the Pad Thai with prawns. I get regular cravings for the seafood Laksa) and then a stroll down and back up Franklin Rd to see all the amazing Christmas Lights. We did exactly this last year and I plan on making it a yearly tradition. 


Another really cool Christmas event is Motat Nights, Christmas Lights at Motat. They have night tram rides, live music, Victorian games, Christmas lights and even mulled wine for sale. Festive! Every weekend from 8pm - 11pm and entry is just a gold coin!


If you haven't started your Christmas shopping yet then go along to the Ponsonby Christmas Market Day from 11am on Saturday. Always heaps of bargains to be found at all the stores (honest!) plus live music all over and free samples of delicious food. One of my favourites.


If you survive all that then on Sunday evening is the yearly Christmas event, Glow - basically carols by glowstick - at the Vector Arena. It's supposed to be pretty amazing and only costs $5.
Go on, go get a little festive.  


Now, if you think you might be able to wrangle a babysitter for Saturday night, do it. Base FM's Xmas Party is on at The Kings Arms and if ever there was a night worth bribing someone else to sit at home and watch TV then this is it. Such a great list of DJs and bands lined up for the night. We all deserve a night off at this time of year so see you there! 


And definitely see you at the Wynyard Quarter on Saturday. Yay summer!