🐝 WellyBuzz: The Harbour Is About to Roar

👋 Kia ora Pōneke,

If you’ve been waiting for that late-summer buzz to kick in - this is it.

Dragon Boats slicing through the harbour. Shipping containers turned into live art stages. Tākina wall-to-wall with original works. Mountain bikers airborne across the city’s wildest trails. Kids climbing diggers. The Phoenix facing Sydney in a huge Sunday showdown.

One of those rare Wellington weekends where everything hits at once.

Windy? Probably.
Worth leaving the house? Absolutely.

Let’s plan your weekend.

(jump to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday events).

🔥 10 Quick Picks This Weekend

🐉 Wellington Dragon Boat Festival (Fri-Sun) - The harbour at its loudest and most electric. Drum-driven heats and waterfront finals.
🚲 Wellington MTB Festival (Fri-Sun) - Three days of dirt, downhill and big-air action across the city’s wildest trails.
🧛 Transvision Vamp (Fri) - 80s pop-rock swagger lands at Meow Nui for one nostalgic night only.
🎨 The Wellington Art Show (Fri-Sun) - Tākina becomes the country’s largest walk-in gallery packed with original art.
🎭 The Performance Arcade (Wed-Sun) - Shipping containers on the waterfront transform into bold live art, dance and music spaces.
🌿 PARK(ing) Day - Cuba Street (Sat) - Car parks transform into pop-up parks, art and performance spaces.
🛍️ Coolmoves Charity Garage Sale (Sat) - Gold coin bargains for a good cause, supporting Kitty Kingdom Sanctuary.
👷‍♀️ Children’s Day 2026 (Sun) - Diggers, inflatables and full construction chaos for the kids.
⚽ Wellington Phoenix vs Sydney FC (Sun) - A huge Sunday showdown at Sky Stadium.
🚗 Wairarapa Automotive Swap Meet & Show (Sun) - Hot rods, classics and swap-meet treasures take over Tauherenikau Racecourse.

🕰️ Time Machine: Oriental Bay, before smartphones 📵☀️

🚢 Cruise Ship Arrivals at the Waterfront

It’s cruise season - expect a busier waterfront and cafés.

✨ Sponsored by ViewFromTheRoom.com
See the view before you book the room.

🍽️ Food & Drink – The Leafy Stop (9 Months On)

Nine months in, The Leafy Stop is building serious local momentum and it’s easy to see why. They were also featured in The Post earlier this week - worth a read.

Run by husband-and-wife duo Georgie and Peter, this place hasn’t just settled in, it’s thriving. They’ve now racked up a perfect 5-star rating from 137 Google reviews.

We popped in again last Saturday to see how things were tracking, and it still delivers.

We ordered the vEgg Mayo and the Maple Caramelised Balsamic Baked Beans for brunch - flavour-packed and thoughtfully prepared, with real attention to detail.

But what really stands out are the small touches:

• They come to your table to take your order
• Drinks are already slightly opened (yes, it matters)
• The décor is warm, leafy and calming
• Top-notch bathrooms (you know we notice these things)

There’s a quiet confidence about the place. Nothing flashy. Just done properly.

Their wall motto says it all:
Pause. Nourish. Connect.

And that’s exactly how it feels in there.

If you haven’t checked it out yet - now might be the time.

📍 35 Onepu Road, Kilbirnie

🎉 Events: What's On This Weekend

Friday, February 27:

🐉 Wellington Dragon Boat Festival
Hundreds of paddlers descend on Wellington Harbour for one of the city’s most iconic sporting spectacles - heats, finals and youth racing across the weekend.
📍 Wellington Waterfront, Wellington Harbour | 🕒 Fri-Sun (Heats Fri, Finals Sat, Youth Sun) | 💰 See weblink for details | All Ages

🎭 The Wellington Art Show – Opening Night
Over 100 artists transform Tākina into a vibrant showcase of art, with a complimentary drink and catered finger food on arrival.
📍 Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, 50 Cable Street, Te Aro | 🕒 Fri 7:30pm-10:30pm | 💰 $38 | R18

🎭 The Performance Arcade
A free waterfront festival turning shipping containers into live stages for dance, theatre, music, projections and pop-up creativity.
📍 Wellington Waterfront, behind Te Papa | 🕒 Daily until Sun | 💰 Free | All Ages

🍜 Welly Night Market
A lively Friday night market packed with global street food, sweet treats and an easy after-work buzz.
📍 45A Abel Smith St, Te Aro | 🕒 Fri 5:00pm-11:00pm | 💰 Free Entry | All Ages

🎪 Nostalgia
A dazzling evening of circus artistry and equestrian flair set to iconic hits through the decades.
📍 Kapiti Equestrian Centre, 13B Nimmo Ave, Waikanae | 🕒 Fri 6:30pm-8:00pm | 💰 From $10 | All Ages

🎭 The Cardinal Rules – NZ Fringe
An award-winning theatre work blending sharp humour and emotional depth as one woman revisits her 90s Catholic childhood and the truths she avoided.
📍 Hannah Playhouse, 12 Cambridge Terrace | 🕒 Fri-Sun (various times) | 💰 $30 | R16

🎧 Motion Sickness – NZ Fringe
An immersive EDM-meets-theatre experience blending live electronic music, projection and existential internet-age commentary.
📍 The Gods Paramount, 29 Courtenay Place | 🕒 Wed-Sat 7:30pm | 💰 $30 | All Ages

🦆 DUCK DAY at Archie Brothers & Holey Moley
Rubber ducks, themed cocktails, raffles and prize-packed competitions take over Willis Lane for one chaotic, quack-filled Friday night.
📍 Archie Brothers & Holey Moley, 1 Willis Street | 🕒 Fri 6:00pm-10:00pm | 💰 Free entry | R18

🎭 Weekend Laughs at Abandoned Taproom Petone - NZ Fringe Festival
Weekend Laughs showcases top NZ and international comedians at Abandoned Taproom in Petone.
📍 Abandoned Taproom Petone, 38 Fitzherbert St, Petone, Lower Hutt | 🕒 Fri 8:00pm-9:45pm | 💰 General Admission: $30.00 | R18

🎭 The Renegade Cabaret - Wellington Fringe Festival
The award winning Renegade Cabaret returns with circus, burlesque and cabaret artists celebrating the strange.
📍 Whisky & Wood, 60 Cambridge Terrace | 🕒 Fri 9:00pm-10:30pm | 💰 General Admission: $30.00 | R18

🎭 Werewolf
A gripping blend of thriller and comedy inspired by the classic game of deception, set inside Circa Theatre.
📍 Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki St | 🕒 Fri 7:00pm-8:10pm | 💰 Adult: $45.00 | Recommended for ages 12+

🎭 Sexy Ghost Boy - Wellington Fringe
An award-winning wordless burlesque clown performance dissecting sex, insecurity and self-presentation.
📍 Sweet Axe Throwing Co., 60 Cambridge Terrace | 🕒 Fri 6:00pm-7:00pm | 💰 Full Price: $25 | R18

🎭 Royal New Zealand Ballet Presents Macbeth
A bold contemporary ballet retelling of Macbeth exploring ambition, power and madness.
📍 St James Theatre, 77-87 Courtenay Place | 🕒 Fri 7:30pm-9:30pm | 💰 From $68 | R14

🎭 Most Likely - NZ Fringe Festival
Four of Pōneke’s funniest comedians team up for a night of laughs, new jokes and silly times.
📍 The Fringe Bar, 26 Allen Street | 🕒 Fri 7:30pm-8:30pm | 💰 Full Price: $20.00 | R18

🎭 Speed Dating 25-35, 35-45
A fun and friendly evening of speed dating with two age groups running simultaneously and a drink and food included.
📍 Kanteen Cafe, 7 Waterloo Quay | 🕒 Fri 6:30pm-9:00pm | 💰 $47.30 | Adults Only

🎭 Transvision Vamp
British pop rock band Transvision Vamp return to New Zealand for their first tour here in 31 years.
📍 Meow Nui, 92 Vivian Street, Te Aro | 🕒 Fri 8:00pm | 💰 $94 | R18

🎭 Wellington MTB Festival
A free mountain bike festival celebrating Wellington’s trails with rides, shuttles, demos, food trucks and DJs.
📍 Day 1 - Festival Hub outside Mud Cycles, 424 Karori Road (see weblink for Day 2 and Day 3 locations) | 🕒 Fri 3:00pm-9:00pm | 💰 Free Admission | All Ages

🎭 Night Market (Waikanae)
A local market featuring preloved clothing, handmade crafts, jewellery, upcycled furniture and antiques.
📍 Waikanae Arts and Crafts Society, 27a Elizabeth St, Waikanae | 🕒 Fri 4:00pm-7:00pm | 💰 Free Admission | All Ages

🎭 Boulcott School Twilight Gala
A community fundraising gala packed with food trucks, inflatables, carnival games, raffles and stalls.
📍 21 Boulcott St, Boulcott, Lower Hutt | 🕒 Fri 4:00pm-8:00pm | All Ages

Saturday, February 28:

🎨 The Wellington Art Show 2026
Over 100 artists and thousands of artworks transform Tākina into a vibrant showcase of Aotearoa creativity - meet the artists, watch live demos and take a piece home.
📍 Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, 50 Cable St, Te Aro | 🕒 Sat 10:00am-8:00pm | 💰 Weekend Pass $8 (children 16 and under free) | All Ages

🎭 Summer Hummer 2026 - Featuring Chaii and Frankie Venter
A family-friendly summer festival at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton with live music, food trucks and fun activities.
📍 Queen Elizabeth Park, Dixon Street, Masterton | 🕒 Sat 1:00pm-7:00pm | 💰 $5 | All Ages

🎭 NZTrio He Taonga Wairere presents “Groove Café”
NZTrio performs a vibrant programme featuring works by John Psathas, Eliodoro Sollima, Vivian Fung and Nikolai Kapustin.
📍 Te Raukura ki Kapiti, Coastlands Theatre, 34a Raumati Rd, Paraparaumu | 🕒 Sat 6:00pm-7:00pm | 💰 see website for ticket prices | All Ages

🎭 Gotta Catch 'Em All - A Pokémon 30th Anniversary Drag Show
Wellington drag performers celebrate 30 years of Pokémon with themed numbers, iconic characters and camp chaos.
📍 Ivy Bar and Cabaret, 63 Cuba Street, Te Aro | 🕒 Sat 8:30pm-11:30pm | 💰 From $23.25 | R18

🎭 Matt Joe Gow
Award-winning kiwi troubadour Matt Joe Gow returns for an intimate house concert performance.
📍 Hilltop, 17 Upland Road, Kelburn | 🕒 Sat 7:30pm | 💰 General Admission: $34.05 each | All Ages

🎭 Otaki Spiritual Fair Aroha Vibration
A community spiritual fair featuring crystals, card readings, healing modalities and café treats.
📍 Ōtaki Memorial Hall, Main St, Ōtaki | 🕒 Sat 10:00am-4:00pm | 💰 Gold coin or Non-perishable food item | All Ages

🛍️ Upper Hutt Car Boot Sale
A classic community car boot sale packed with second-hand bargains, vintage finds and hidden treasures.
📍 RACE Trentham (Trentham Racecourse), 10 Racecourse Road, Trentham, Upper Hutt | 🕒 Sat 10:00am-1:00pm | 💰 Free Admission | All Ages

🎶 Charlotte Yates & Show Pony – Live at The Shed
Back after a 2025 sell-out, this intimate two-set evening pairs Charlotte Yates’ acclaimed songwriting with Show Pony’s multi-instrument magic.
📍 The Shed, 46a Victoria Street, Alicetown, Lower Hutt | 🕒 Sat 7:30pm-9:30pm | 💰 $30 | All Ages

🌊 Wāhi huihuinga: Meeting Spaces for the Future
A roaming, embodied workshop inviting participants to explore space, story and collective experience across the festival site.
📍 DVB Music Stage (behind Te Papa), Wellington Waterfront, 55 Cable Street | 🕒 Sat 11:00am | 💰 Free | All Ages

💃 1920’s Dance Party
Feather boas, live jazz and a quick Charleston lesson – a roaring ’20s dance night with the Aro Valley Jazz Jam Band.
📍 Vogelmorn Bowling Club, 93 Mornington Road, Brooklyn | 🕒 Sat 7:30pm-10:30pm | 💰 Koha Entry | All Ages

🎸 This Dog - Likewise World Tour - Valhalla
Ōtautahi indie-rockers This Dog hit Valhalla for their ‘Likewise’ single release tour, supported by Bleach.
📍 Valhalla, 154 Vivian Street | 🕒 Sat 8:00pm | 💰 GA $8 | R18

🎧 Atomic
Wellington’s longest-running club night returns with an all-vinyl spin of New Wave, New Romance and Synth Pop.
📍 San Fran, 171 Cuba Street | 🕒 Sat 8:00pm-4:00am | 💰 $20 door sales (cash)

🍷 Chill Vibe Afternoon - Family Friendly
Live music, food truck eats and relaxed vineyard vibes at Big Sky Wines – family and dog-friendly.
📍 Big Sky Wines, 415 Te Muna Road, Martinborough | 🕒 Sat 12:00pm-5:00pm | 💰 Free Admission

🛍️ Stay Creative Market
A vibrant Aro Valley market packed with pottery, jewellery, vintage, vinyl, donuts and local tunes at Garage Project.
📍 Garage Project, 68 Aro St, Aro Valley | 🕒 Sat 10:00am-3:00pm | 💰 Free Admission | All Ages

🛼 Roller Derby - Home Brew Round 1
Richter City Roller Derby’s 2026 Home Brew Series kicks off with Stone Cold Classics vs Craft Heads.
📍 Kilbirnie Recreation Centre, 101 Kilbirnie Crescent | 🕒 Sat 5:00pm-8:30pm | 💰 From $12.00 (free for children under 12 years) | All Ages

👟 The Good Foot 3
A high-energy community arts day with breaking battles, live graffiti, performances and free haircuts.
📍 Wharewaka Function Centre, 2 Taranaki St, Taranaki Wharf | 🕒 Sat 11:00am-4:00pm | 💰 Free Admission | All Ages

🥁 Balinese Gamelan
A vibrant open-air performance of traditional Balinese percussion by Gamelan Taniwha Jaya in The Dell, plus Ratoh Jaroe dance and a free workshop.
📍 The Dell, Wellington Botanic Gardens, 101 Glenmore St | 🕒 Sat 12:00pm-2:00pm | 💰 Free (koha appreciated) | All Ages

🐾 Celebrate Children's Day at Staglands!
Half-price child entry all weekend – explore the wildlife reserve and celebrate with the whānau.
📍 Staglands Wildlife Reserve, 2362 Akatarawa Rd, Upper Hutt | 🕒 Sat & Sun 9:30am-5:00pm | 💰 Child $6 (4–16yrs) while children 3yrs and under are free | All Ages

🍎 Pick Your Own Apples at Molewood Orchard 2026
Spend the day picking sun-warmed apples and pears straight from the trees at this family-run Greytown orchard.
📍 Molewood Orchard, 17 Mole Street, Greytown | 🕒 Sat & Sun 9:00am-4:00pm | 💰 Free entry (pay per kg) | All Ages

🤝 2026 Wairarapa Disability Expo
A free community expo showcasing disability services, resources, workshops and performances under the theme “Living Our Best Lives.”
📍 Wairarapa Events Centre, Holloway St, Carterton | 🕒 Sat 9:30am-3:00pm | 💰 Free Admission | All Ages

📸 Global Photowalk Meetup
A social photowalk exploring Cuba Street, Lambton Quay and the waterfront - bring your phone or camera and meet new people.
📍 Fidel’s Cafe (meeting point), 234 Cuba St, Te Aro | 🕒 Sat 10:00am-12:00pm | 💰 $4 contribution (online registration) | All Ages

🛍️ Coolmoves Charity Garage Sale
A gold coin donation garage sale packed with furniture, toys, tools and more - with proceeds supporting Kitty Kingdom Sanctuary.
📍 11 Jean Batten Street, Rongotai | 🕒 Sat 10:00am-2:00pm | 💰 Gold coin per item | All Ages

🏀 Kilbirnie Recreation Centre Open Day
A free community open day with games, activities, kai and roller skating fun for all ages.
📍 Kilbirnie Recreation Centre, 101 Kilbirnie Crescent, Kilbirnie | 🕒 Sat 10:00am-2:00pm | 💰 Free | All Ages

🌿 PARK(ing) Day – Cuba Street
Car parks transform into pop-up parks, art installations and performance spaces along Cuba Street for this creative urban takeover.
📍 Cuba Street (between Ghuznee and Vivian St), Te Aro | 🕒 Sat 10:00am-5:00pm | 💰 Free | All Ages

🎶 2026 Faag Sammelan
A vibrant cultural celebration hosted by the Hindu Heritage Foundation of Porirua.
📍 Mungavin Community Hall, 18B Mungavin Ave, Ranui, Porirua | 🕒 Sat from 6:00pm | 💰 $10 (under 5 free) | All Ages

Sunday, March 1:

👷‍♀️ Children's Day 2026
A construction-themed celebration packed with diggers, demolition fun, inflatables and family entertainment.
📍 Ngāti Toa Domain, Paremata, Porirua - Mana | 🕒 Sun 11:00am-3:00pm | 💰 Free Admission | All Ages

🫖 High Tea with the Clydesdales
A truly unique garden high tea experience featuring homemade sweet and savoury treats - plus rare, up-close time with magnificent gentle Clydesdales in a beautiful private setting.
📍 63 Miro St, Trentham, Upper Hutt | 🕒 Sun 2:00pm | 💰 $90 per person | R18

🍰 The Cake Club Picnic 2.0
A joyful cake-lovers’ gathering where every guest brings a full-sized homemade cake to share, slice and sample in a relaxed garden setting - no cake, no entry.
📍 Bellevue Gardens Hotel, 140 Woburn Road, Lower Hutt | 💰 From $25 - Promo code: CAKECLUB01 | All ages | Sun 11am-3pm

🌊 Keep Wellington Beautiful Beach Cleanup
Celebrate Seaweek with a coastal clean-up at Island Bay - gloves and bags provided, just bring your whānau and good vibes.
📍 Island Bay Beach, 252 The Esplanade | 🕒 Sun 10:30am-12:00pm | 💰 Free | All Ages

⚽ Wellington Phoenix FC vs Sydney FC
The Nix return to Sky Stadium for a Sunday afternoon A-League showdown against Sydney FC.
📍 Sky Stadium, 105 Waterloo Quay, Pipitea | 🕒 Sun 3:00pm | 💰 From $35 | All Ages

🛸 Dancing Oobleck Aliens
Get hands-on with gooey, jiggling Oobleck that dances to music in this messy National Children’s Day science activation.
📍 Outside Space Place at Carter Observatory, 40 Salamanca Rd, Kelburn | 🕒 Sun 10:00am-2:00pm | 💰 Free (donations appreciated) | All Ages

🛍️ Artisan Craft Market
A premium handmade market showcasing high-quality local artisans on the Wellington waterfront.
📍 Te Wharewaka o Poneke, Taranaki St Wharf | 🕒 Sun 10:00am-3:00pm | 💰 Free Admission | All Ages

🧭 Haerenga Moana - Connecting, Witnessing, Navigating, Justice
An open arts discussion reflecting on connection, navigation and justice through the works featured at this year’s festival.
📍 DVB Music Stage (behind Te Papa), Wellington Waterfront, 55 Cable Street | 🕒 Sun 5:30pm | 💰 Free | All Ages

🛍️ Otaki Market - March
A vibrant outdoor market with local crafts, produce, plants, antiques and plenty of tasty food stalls.
📍 Otaki Market, 58 Main Highway, Ōtaki | 🕒 Sun 10:00am-2:00pm | 💰 Free Admission | All Ages

🌿 Art & Plant Market – Wellington
Local artists, handmade pieces and lush indoor plants - all under one roof at this vibrant Sunday market.
📍 The Exchange Atrium, 22 Blair Street, Te Aro | 🕒 Sun 10:00am-3:00pm | All Ages

🚗 Wairarapa Automotive Swap Meet & Show
Hot rods, classics, swap meet finds and a full market vibe at Tauherenikau Racecourse.
📍 Tauherenikau Racecourse, State Highway 2, Featherston | 🕒 Sun 8:00am-3:00pm | 💰 $10 (under 14 free)

Also Coming Up

🎶 Rèver – Mr Spaceman EP Release Show
Reggae-indie band Rèver bring their debut EP launch to Meow with support from local favourites Raffla.
📍 Meow, 9 Edward Street, Te Aro | 🕒 Wed March 4, 7:00pm | 💰 $10 | R18

💃 FIESTA! – Latin American Show & Flavours
Live Latin music, salsa, comedy and authentic South American flavours come together for a high-energy, family-friendly cultural celebration.
📍 Newtown Community Centre – Te Whare Hapori o Nga Puna Waiora, Colombo Street & Rintoul Street, Newtown | 🕒 Sat April 11, 6:00pm-9:00pm | 💰 From $20 (early bird pricing available) | All Ages

🌦 Welly Weather Watch

🌦 Friday: Occasional rain clearing to fine in the afternoon. High 16°C, low 12°C
☀️ Saturday: Fine. Southeasterlies, easing in the evening. High 19°C, low 12°C
🌦 Sunday: Fine, then occasional rain from afternoon. High 19°C, low 9°C

💝 Extra Sprinkles

Youth Impact is a brilliant project by Volunteer Wellington that bridges the gap between young people and community needs. They empower the next generation of leaders by matching them with meaningful volunteer roles that build skills and social connection. https://volunteerwellington.nz/youthimpact/

Go make the most of summer’s last loud weekend.
Book one thing. Wander into one free thing. Let the rest unfold.

Kirstie & Steve 🐝