🐝 Wellington’s biggest weekend?

👋 Kia ora Wellington!

What a weekend we have in store for us! The 36th annual New Zealand Fringe Festival wraps on 7 March after weeks of bold, creative performances across the city. The Rainbow community takes over Courtenay Place and Dixon Street on Saturday as Wellington celebrates 40 years of Pride with this year’s colourful Pride Parade. If you're headed to the Wairarapa, more than 500 stalls will spread beneath the trees in Martinborough for the Fair. And Sunday? Sunday belongs to Newtown. Thirty-two years strong, 16 stages, 200+ artists and Riddiford Street closed to traffic - all completely free.

It's one of those rare weekends where you genuinely have to make hard choices. Here's everything you need to make the right ones.

Jump to Friday | Saturday | Sunday.

🔥 11 Quick Picks This Weekend

🛍 Martinborough Fair (Sat) - Huge market day with stalls, food and live entertainment.
🏳️‍🌈 Wellington Pride Parade 2026 (Sat) - Colourful city parade celebrating rainbow pride.
🌈 Holi Festival of Colours (Sat) - Colour throws, DJs and vibrant celebrations.
🎺 Pipes In The Park 2026 (Sat) - Pipe bands, Highland dancing and Scottish festivities.
🖤 Kapiti Tattoo & Arts Festival 2026 (Sat) - Tattoos, art, DJs and creative showcases.
🎶 Avalanche City + Mountain Boy (Sat) - Indie-folk live with soaring local sounds.
🍺 The Great Reikorangi Bierfest (Sat) - Big Top beer festival with brews and live music.
🎶 OFFSITE: Mt Vic Quarry (Sat) - Experimental live music in a quarry setting.
🚵 Gazley Škoda Karapoti Classic (Sat) - Iconic mountain bike race in the Akatarawa Ranges.
🎉 Newtown Festival 2026 (Sun) - Wellington’s biggest street party of music, food and culture.
🎶 Hutt Sounds 2026 (Sun) - Classic hits and festival vibes at Brewtown.

Going to any of these? Hit reply and tell us your weekend plans - we love hearing what WellyBuzz readers are getting up to 👀

🕰️ Time Machine: Wellington Harbour Time Ball

🍽️ Food & Drink – Gibbons Hotel

Inside the historic Hope Gibbons Building on Taranaki Street, Gibbons Hotel brings a modern spin to the classic Kiwi pub, and it was buzzing when we visited on a Saturday night. The space has that perfect mix of polished and relaxed, with a lively crowd and an easy, welcoming feel.

We were kindly invited in a couple of weeks ago and kicked things off with crispy chicken tenders to share, followed by the lamb and a seriously solid double smashed beef burger - both generous, seriously satisfying plates. We finished properly with cheesecake for dessert (no regrets).

It’s the kind of place that works just as well for after-work drinks as it does for settling in to watch the game, or turning it into a proper weekend night out when the live music and DJs kick in.

If you’re looking for somewhere lively in Te Aro this weekend, this is a great option.

📍 52 Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington
https://gibbonshotel.co.nz

🏳️‍🌈 Pride Parade – 40 Years of Pride

This year’s Wellington Pride Parade on Saturday celebrates a huge milestone - 40 years since the very first Gay and Lesbian Fair in Newtown in 1986. The parade honours the activists who fought for Homosexual Law Reform and celebrates how far Aotearoa has come. Around 60 floats are expected this year, with community groups, businesses, dancers, drag performers, Dykes on Bikes and more filling Courtenay Place with colour and music.

Street celebrations kick off from 4pm, with the Parade starting at 5pm. And in true Wellington fashion, once the final float passes everyone is invited to join the procession and keep the party going in Te Aro Park.

🎉 Events: What's On This Weekend

Friday, March 6:

🌃 Welly Night Market
A lively CBD night market that keeps getting busier by the week! Packed with street food, local creatives and late-night bites, perfect for an easy Friday dinner with buzzing city atmosphere.
📍 Welly Night Market, 45A Abel Smith Street | 🕢 Fri 5–11pm | 💰 Free | 🎟 All Ages

🐑 World Golden Shears Championships 2026
The world’s best shearers and woolhandlers go head-to-head in a high-speed showcase of skill, precision and rural sporting excellence.
📍 Masterton War Memorial Stadium, 2 Dixon Street, Masterton | 🕢 Fri 7am–4:30pm | 💰 From $10 | 🎟 All Ages

🌊 Care for the Coast – SEAWEEK
Join a community conservation day at Te Raekaihau above Princess Bay - help remove pest plants and plant natives to protect our South Coast and support the moana. Gear and a light morning tea provided.
📍 Te Raekaihau Reserve, above Princess Bay, Wellington | 🕤 Fri, 9:30am-1:30pm | 💰 Free | 👥 All welcome

🎭 Messy – NZ Fringe 2026
A sharp, dark comedy exploring friendship, creative burnout and mental health, blending fast-paced humour with an emotional look at life after art school.
📍 BATS Theatre, 1 Kent Terrace | 🕢 Fri 9–9:50pm | 💰 From $15

🌋 Volcano: A Science Comedy Show
A clever, laugh-out-loud Fringe show blending stand-up comedy with real science, as comedian Ben Miller dives into volcanoes, space and absurd scientific discoveries.
📍 The Gods Paramount, 29 Courtenay Place, Te Aro | 🕢 Fri 8:30–9:30pm | 💰 From $20 | 🎟 All Ages

🎸 Lloyd Cole
The acclaimed British singer-songwriter returns with an electric solo performance spanning decades of iconic indie classics and fan favourites.
📍 Old St Paul’s, 34 Mulgrave Street, Pipitea | 🕢 Fri 8pm | 💰 $89 | 🎟 All Ages

🎶 Too Many Chiefs
Three legendary Kiwi musicians unite for an evening of folk, blues and Americana-infused storytelling, packed with sharp humour and relaxed live banter.
📍 Kapiti Playhouse, 7 Ruahine Street, Paraparaumu | 🕢 Fri 7:30–9:30pm | 💰 From $35 | 🎟 All Ages

🏳️‍⚧️ Transcending Trans Pride Show
A vibrant Pride Month kickoff celebrating trans excellence with powerhouse drag performances and an electric night of community, creativity and celebration.
📍 Ivy Bar and Cabaret, 63 Cuba Street, Te Aro | 🕢 Fri 9:30–11:55pm | 💰 From $20 | 🎟 R18

🪿 Oliver Pol: Featherbrained – NZ Fringe Festival
A chaotic and delightfully weird stand-up hour packed with overthinking, existential musings and surprisingly passionate bird facts.
📍 The Fringe Bar, 26 Allen Street | 🕢 Fri 6–7pm | 💰 From $12 | 🎟 All Ages Licensed

🎶 NONCONNAH (U.S.A.) – Live
An atmospheric live set of experimental soundscapes blending lo-fi textures, ambient drones and haunting cinematic audio worlds.
📍 Pyramid Club, 272 Taranaki Street | 🕢 Fri 8–11pm | 💰 From $10 | 🎟 All Ages

🎸 Day We Ran – Live
High-energy anthem rock hits Lyall Bay as Day We Ran bring their international tour momentum to a free Friday night gig.
📍 Parrotdog Bar, 60–66 Kingsford Smith Street | 🕢 Fri 8–11pm | 💰 Free | 🎟 All Ages

🎸 The Jackets – Aotearoa Tour
Swiss garage psych-punk trio The Jackets bring raw energy, gritty riffs and electrifying live presence to Valhalla on their first NZ tour.
📍 Valhalla, 154 Vivian Street | 🕢 Fri 8pm | 💰 $26 | 🎟 R18

🎧 Tech Hypnosis w/ Akari System
A late-night techno showcase featuring international act Akari System delivering deep psy-tech beats and immersive dancefloor energy.
📍 Otto Champagneria & Beer Hall, 125 Featherston Street | 🕢 Fri 9pm–2:30am | 💰 From $25 | 🎟 R18

😂 The Enshitenment – NZ Fringe Festival
A fast, filthy and fiercely satirical Fringe comedy skewering modern chaos, politics and the absurdities of everyday life.
📍 The Fringe Bar, 26 Allen Street | 🕢 Fri 9pm | 💰 From $10 | 🎟 R18

🔊 Smoke Cannon Presents: ED-V (EDII & GRAYV)
Two of Wellington’s fastest-rising drum and bass DJs team up for a high-energy back-to-back set in an intimate 360° rave experience.
📍 The Pow Wow Room, 74 Courtenay Place, Te Aro | 🕢 Fri from 9:30pm | 💰 From $20 | 🎟 R18

🧱 Let’s Go LEGO: Make a Rainbow
Get creative building colourful rainbow LEGO masterpieces in this Pride-themed hands-on session for young builders.
📍 Johnsonville Library at Waitohi Hub, 34 Moorefield Rd, Johnsonville | 🕓 Fri 3:30pm-4:30pm | 💰 Free | 👧 Ages 5+ with caregivers

💃 Swingvasion IV
A high-energy weekend celebration of swing dancing returns with workshops, socials and plenty of vintage-inspired dancefloor fun.
📍 Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Mount Cook | 🕢 Fri from 3pm | 💰 See here | 🎟 All Ages

Saturday, March 7:

🛍️ Martinborough Fair
One of the region’s biggest and most loved markets returns with hundreds of stalls, artisan goods, food vendors and live entertainment.
📍 Martinborough Square, Martinborough | 🕢 Sat 8am–4pm | 💰 Free Entry | 🎟 All Ages

🚶 Belmont Historic Bunker Walk
Step back into WWII history on a guided-style walk exploring Belmont Regional Park’s historic munitions bunkers and wartime stories.
📍 Belmont Regional Park, Hill Road Entrance, Belmont, Lower Hutt | 🕢 Sat 10am–1pm | 💰 Free (see booking details in weblink) | 🎟 All Ages

🍺 The Great Reikorangi Bierfest
A lively country-style beer festival under the Big Top featuring local brews, live music and community fundraising vibes.
📍 Reikorangi Community Hall, 1/5 Akatarawa Road, Waikanae | 🕢 Sat 7:30–11pm | 💰 $35 | 🎟 R18

🎺 Pipes In The Park 2026
Wellington’s Highland Gathering returns with pipe bands, dance performances, markets, food stalls and family-friendly Scottish festivities.
📍 Avalon Park, Taita Drive, Avalon, Lower Hutt | 🕢 Sat 10am–5pm | 🎟 All Ages

🎶 Avalanche City + Mountain Boy
An intimate indie-folk evening featuring Avalanche City’s heartfelt songwriting alongside Mountain Boy’s rich, cinematic folk-rock sound.
📍 Meow Nui, 92 Vivian Street, Te Aro | 🕢 Sat 7–10:30pm | 💰 $59.50 | 🎟 All Ages

🖤 Kapiti Tattoo & Arts Festival 2026
A vibrant celebration of ink, creativity and local talent featuring live tattooing, artists, DJs, food vendors and interactive art zones.
📍 Paraparaumu Memorial Hall, Aorangi Street, Paraparaumu | 🕢 Sat 10am–4pm | 💰 From $15 (children 16 and under free) | 🎟 All Ages

👑 Lip Sync Assassins: A Drag Show Smackdown (Pride Edition)
A fierce Pride-season drag battle packed with iconic anthems, jaw-dropping performances and high-energy lip-sync showdowns.
📍 Ivy Bar and Cabaret, 63 Cuba Street, Te Aro | 🕢 Sat 10pm | 💰 From $10 | 🎟 R18

🎶 NONCONNAH (U.S.A.) – Live
An immersive experimental live performance blending ambient textures, lo-fi soundscapes and cinematic sonic storytelling.
📍 The Bakehouse Collective, 4 Wakefield Street, Featherston | 🕢 Sat 7–10pm | 💰 From $25 | 🎟 All Ages

🔮 Psychic Medium Kerry-Marie: Bridging The 2 Worlds
An intimate evening of live mediumship with TVNZ Sensing Murder psychic Kerry-Marie, sharing uplifting messages and spiritual connections.
📍 Lower Hutt Event Centre, 30C Laings Road, Lower Hutt | 🕢 Sat 7–9pm | 💰 From $65 | 🎟 R12

🏳️‍🌈 Wellington Pride Parade 2026
Wellington’s biggest celebration of rainbow pride returns with a vibrant city parade, street performances and thousands lining Courtenay Place and Dixon Street in support of the Rainbow and Takatāpui communities.
📍 Courtenay Place & Dixon Street, Wellington | 💲 Free | All Ages | Sat 5pm-7pm

👗 Sustainable Fashion Market
Browse racks of preloved, vintage and locally made fashion at NZ’s largest sustainable clothing market.
📍 Waikanae Memorial Hall, 7 Pehi Kupa Street, Waikanae | 🕢 Sat 10am–2pm | 💰 Gold coin entry | 🎟 All Ages

📚 Explore Bravepaw with Lili Wilkinson
Meet bestselling Australian author Lili Wilkinson and step behind the scenes of her Bravepaw series in this fun, interactive session for young readers.
📍 Karori Library, 247 Karori Rd, Karori | 🕓 Sat 2pm-3pm | 💰 Free | 👧 Ages 7-12 with caregivers

🎶 Soul Connections
A relaxed afternoon of deep grooves and local DJs celebrating the soundsystem roots behind Fat Freddy’s Drop.
📍 Wellington Museum, 3 Jervois Quay, Queens Wharf | 🕢 Sat 1–4pm | 💰 Free for NZ residents | 🎟 All Ages

🤘 Merciless Deathfest 2
A full-throttle night of black metal, hardcore and heavy riffs as underground acts unleash pure sonic chaos at Valhalla.
📍 Valhalla, 154 Vivian Street | 🕢 Sat 8pm | 💰 From $20 | 🎟 R18

🥁 Sam Manzanza’s Afrobeat Band
A high-energy night of Afrobeat, Afropop and infectious rhythms guaranteed to get the dancefloor moving.
📍 The Rogue and Vagabond, 18 Garrett Street | 🕢 Sat 9:30–11:30pm | 💰 Free (koha for the band encouraged) | 🎟 R18

🎭 Thirty-Six
A sharp, funny and revealing modern rom-com exploring love, vulnerability and connection through one unforgettable Tinder date.
📍 Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street | 🕢 Sat 7:30–9pm | 💰 From $30 | 🎟 R16

🎶 OFFSITE: Mt Vic Quarry – Ludus, UMU, Lucky Omen & hara
A unique outdoor experimental music session blending ambient electronics, folk, dub textures and live performance in the Mt Victoria Quarry setting.
📍 Mt Victoria Quarry, 104 Ellice St, Mount Victoria | 🕓 Sat from 4pm | 💰 Koha Entry

🎤 International Women’s Day – Hoot’n’Annies Live
Celebrate International Women’s Day with an energetic live performance from Hoot’n’Annies, bringing all-girl flair, great vibes and classic crowd-pleasing tunes.
📍 Waitoa Victoria Street, 175 Victoria St, Te Aro | 🕡 Sat 6:30–8:30pm | 🎟 All Ages

🌈 FRISKY PRIDE Afterparty
Keep the Wellington Pride celebrations going with a high-energy LGBTQIA+ dance party packed with DJs, drag performances and seven hours of hands-in-the-air anthems.
📍 Eva Beva, 31-35 Dixon St, Te Aro | 💲 From $29 | R18 | Sat 9pm-4am

🌈 Holi Festival of Colours – Upper Hutt 2026
Celebrate one of Wellington’s most vibrant festivals with colour throws, live DJs, food trucks and high-energy family-friendly fun.
📍 Harcourt Park, Upper Hutt | 🕢 Sat 11am–4pm | 💰 Free Entry | 🎟 All Ages

🌱 Kaicycle Community Open Day – Local Food Week
Get hands-on with local food at Kaicycle’s community open day featuring a working bee, shared kai, seed swap, farm tour and seed-saving workshop celebrating sustainable urban growing.
📍 Kaicycle Urban Farm, 5 Hospital Rd, Newtown | 🕤 Sat 9:30am–3pm | 💰 Koha / Free activities | 👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages

🚵 Gazley Škoda Karapoti Classic
NZ’s original mountain bike race returns to the rugged Akatarawa Ranges, with the legendary 50km Classic alongside 20km and kids’ events for riders of all ages and abilities.
📍 Karapoti Rd, Upper Hutt | 🕙 Sat 10am–5pm | 💰 From $25 | 👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages

Sunday, March 8:

🎉 Newtown Festival 2026
Wellington’s biggest street party returns with live music, global food, art, performances and hundreds of stalls transforming Newtown into an all-day celebration of community and culture.
📍 Newtown – Riddiford St & side streets | 🕘 Sun 9am–11:55pm | 💰 Free Entry | 👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages

🦇 BATS Incredible! Fundraiser
A magical storytelling and music experience exploring Aotearoa’s only native land mammal, blending bat folklore, science and family-friendly fun while raising funds for Wairarapa bat conservation.
📍 Wairarapa Events Centre, Holloway St, Carterton | 🕓 Sun from 4pm | 💰 $6 | 👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages

🎉 Nairnville Recreation Centre Open Day
A free community open day packed with inflatables, sports, kids activities and a classic sausage sizzle - perfect for a relaxed Sunday outing with the whānau.
📍 Nairnville Recreation Centre, Corner Cockayne Rd & Lucknow Tce, Khandallah | 🕙 Sun 10am-2pm | 💰 Free | 👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages

🎷 Sunday Jazz - Ayrton Foote
Settle into your Sunday with soulful live jazz as pianist Ayrton Foote and band pay tribute to Cannonball Adderley with hard bop classics and smooth bossa nova grooves.
📍 The Rogue and Vagabond, 18 Garrett St, Wellington | 🕔 Sun 5pm-7pm | 💰 Free (Koha for the band encouraged) | 👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages Licensed

🎼 Korimako - Piano Trio
Three of Aotearoa’s most accomplished classical musicians unite for a stunning afternoon of Haydn, Copland, Schubert and Brahms performed live in an intimate concert setting.
📍 Waikanae Memorial Hall, 7 Pehi Kupa St, Waikanae | 🕝 Sun 2:30pm | 💰 From $10 | 👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages

🎷 Sunday Jazz Club
Ease into Sunday afternoon with live jazz, relaxed vibes and excellent local musicians soundtracking beers and good chats at one of Lyall Bay’s favourite hangouts.
📍 Parrotdog Bar, 60–66 Kingsford Smith St | 🕑 Sun 2–5pm | 💰 Free Entry | 👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages

🎸 Classical Guitar at Tartines
Enjoy a relaxed courtyard lunch accompanied by beautiful live classical guitar, with Jake Church performing Spanish, Celtic and contemporary pieces in Eastbourne’s charming village setting.
📍 Tartines French Cafe & Deli, Village Corner, 1/2 Rimu St, Eastbourne | 🕛 Sun 12pm-2pm | 💰 Free | 👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages

🎤 Teacher Comedy Night – Daniel Delby
Award-winning Aussie comedian and ex-teacher Daniel Delby brings his sell-out interactive comedy show to Wellington - packed with teacher stories, sketches and big laughs (even if you’re not a teacher).
📍 13 Grey St, Wellington Central | 🕔 Sun 5pm | 🎟 see weblink | 🔞 R18

🎶 Hutt Sounds 2026
A huge outdoor summer concert bringing international legends and Kiwi favourites together for an afternoon of classic hits, brews and festival vibes at Brewtown.
📍 Brewtown, 27 Blenheim St, Upper Hutt | 🕑 Sun 2pm | 💰 From $159 | 🔞 R18

🎸 Luthiers Corner
A unique live showcase blending folk music, storytelling and master craftsmanship as two expert guitar builders perform and share the sounds behind their instruments.
📍 Abandoned Taproom Petone, 38 Fitzherbert St, Petone | 🕢 Sun 7:30–9:30pm | 💰 From $25 | 👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages

👗 Go Vibrant Saree Walk 2026
Celebrate International Women’s Day with a colourful waterfront saree walk supporting Wellington Rape Crisis - culture, community and a great cause all in one vibrant event.
📍 Frank Kitts Park, Jervois Quay, Wellington | 💲 Fundraiser - $15 entry fee | 👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages | Sun 11am-2pm

💃 Bailamos Bachata - Free Latin Dance Night
Wellington’s favourite monthly bachata social returns with a free beginner lesson followed by a lively Latin dance party welcoming everyone from first-timers to seasoned dancers.
📍 Southern Cross Garden Bar Restaurant, 39 Abel Smith St, Te Aro | 💲 Free (please support venue with food or drinks) | 👨‍👩‍👧 All Ages | Sun 6pm-9pm

🔊 Proto-Megazoid Sound Systems Combined
Two powerhouse Wellington sound systems collide for a massive Newtown Festival Sunday session blending reggae, dub, jungle and bass-heavy electronic sounds.
📍 Newtown Sports Bar, 34 Constable St, Newtown | 💲 $20 from 6pm | Sun from 12pm

🌦 Welly Weather Watch

🌤 Friday: Mainly fine, chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening. High 19°C, low 15°C.
🌥 Saturday: Partly cloudy, with the chance of a shower from afternoon. High 21°C, low 16°C.
🌦 Sunday: A few showers. Strong northwesterlies, easing in the evening. High 20°C, low 14°C.

💝 Extra Sprinkles: Yes for Success

Helping Wellington locals step confidently into employment, Yes for Success provides free professional clothing, styling support and skills programmes for people preparing for work. Formerly Dress for Success Wellington, they expanded in 2023 to support all genders - and you can make a real difference by donating quality clothing, volunteering your time, or supporting their recycled boutiques.
https://yesforsuccess.org.nz

Take in the colour of the Pride Parade, wander Martinborough’s market stalls, or soak up the magic of Newtown on Sunday. However you spend it, this is a great weekend to get out and about.

Kirstie & Steve 🐝