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- π WELLY-X, Carlucci Carnival & Matilda the Musical
π WELLY-X, Carlucci Carnival & Matilda the Musical
Plus Verb Fest, WOW GLO glows on, cherry blossom at Aston Norwood, Bark in the Park at the rugby and LEGO Star Wars for kids π
Kirstie and Steve
September 24, 2026
WellyBuzz π
Your Wellington Weekend Sorted
π WELLY-X, Carlucci Carnival & Matilda the Musical
Plus Verb Fest, WOW GLO glows on, cherry blossom at Aston Norwood, Bark in the Park at the rugby and LEGO Star Wars for kids π
π Welcome
Kia ora Wellington! πΈ
The days are stretching out even if the temperature hasn't caught up, and this weekend is loaded. We were lucky enough to get tickets to WOW GLO last Friday and absolutely loved it - honestly, go if you can (thanks to WOW for the tickets, and to Wellington Alive). Add Verb Festival at The Hannah, cherry blossom at Aston Norwood, the Carlucci Carnival and Bark in the Park at the rugby. Term 3 ends Friday, and daylight saving starts 2am Sunday, so you'll lose an hour in bed. Let's get buzzing! π
π₯ Quick Picks
π Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical (Fri to Sun) - Minchin, Dahl and a very scary Miss Trunchbull, on until 11 Oct - see sponsor feature.
π¨ 2026 WOW Show: GLO! (Fri) - We loved it. Go before the season runs out - every weekend session is marked selling fast.
π Verb Readers & Writers Festival (Fri) - The literary festival is back after a year off, and several sessions are free.
𧱠LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition (Fri) - Holidays start here, and it stays dry when the rain arrives.
π¦Έ WELLY-X Comic and Pop Culture Expo (Sat) - Comics, collectibles and local creators in Porirua, food court attached.
πΈ Blossom Valley at Aston Norwood (Sat) - Cherry blossom in timed sessions, and the morning is the drier window.
πͺ Carlucci Carnival (Sat) - The sculptures wake up once a year out at Carlucci Land.
π Lions v Waikato: Bark in the Park (Sun) - Adult $20, under 16s free, and dogs welcome from 1pm with a signed waiver.
π The Great Global Greyhound Walk (Sun) - Waterfront walk from TSB Arena, no ticket needed. Bring the dog, or come without one.
π Sponsor - Capital Theatre Trust and G&T Productions
Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical
Tim Minchin's songs, Roald Dahl's revolting children and a Miss Trunchbull worth hiding behind your seat for. Matilda's first ever Wellington season is on now at the St James, with an all-local cast that includes some of New Zealand's most talented child performers. The school holidays start Saturday, so this one's a proper whΔnau outing.
π On now until Sun 11 Oct. This weekend: Fri 7.30pm, Sat 2pm and 7.30pm, Sun 4pm, with few seats left at Saturday's matinee and Sunday's show
π St James Theatre, 77-87 Courtenay Place, Te Aro
π° Adults from $92.24, kids 5 to 14 from $64, plus a handling fee of $5 to $12.95 a transaction | π Recommended 6+
π½οΈ Food & Drink
Glou Glou - the Te Aro cafe that grew a wine bar.
An espresso bar since January 2024, it added a wine list in March 2026 and now does the rare Wellington double act properly - Coffee Supreme and a brunch menu until 2pm by day, natural wine and small plates by night.
The evening menu has a British streak: smoked warehou beignets $23, Welsh rarebit $19, chicken and tarragon vol-au-vent $17.
Worth knowing: the wine bar runs Wednesday to Saturday evenings with the kitchen shut by 9pm. Off to WOW? The GLO! ME pre-show set menu is three sharing courses with a glass of Laurent-Perrier, $75 a head, minimum two. Earlier in the day, brunch with a glass of Blanc de Blancs is $45, 9am to 11am daily.
Find them at 17A Allen Street, The Exchange, Te Aro. More at glouglou.nz
π Events - What's On This Weekend
π
Friday 25 September - last day of Term 3 π
π¨ 2026 WOW Show: GLO!
Six themed segments, and the Bizarre Bra is back for the first time since 2023. Every weekend session is flagged as selling fast.
π TSB Arena, 4 Queens Wharf, Wellington Central | π Fri 7.30pm, also Sat 2.30pm and 7.30pm, Sun 1.30pm and 6.30pm | π° $79 to $469 depending on session and seat, plus a 2.5% card fee | π All ages
Back after a year off, with 26 events and 50+ artists. Friday's free Janet Frame lecture has sold out, but the Lawrence and Gibson launch at Unity is free, no ticket needed.
π The Hannah, 12 Cambridge Terrace, Te Aro, plus Unity Books and the National Library | π Fri sessions from 5.30pm | π° Sessions $25 to $30 plus booking fee, some free. Four-event pass $80 until midday Thu 24 Sep | π All ages
Marking 75 years of the League, with Dame Whina Cooper's fox stole among the taonga, and live kΕrero and waiata all weekend.
π Te Papa, Level 4, 55 Cable Street, Te Aro | π Fri 1pm to 3pm, also Sat 10.15am to 3.45pm and Sun 10.15am to 12.45pm | π° Free with museum entry, free for NZers and residents, international visitors 16+ pay $35 | π All ages
Eight million bricks, 25,000 hours of building and a custom lightsaber station.
π TΔkina, 50 Cable Street, Te Aro | π Thu to Mon 10am to 5pm, closed Tue and Wed | π° From $35 adult, $22.50 child, $105 family | π All ages
π€ Judy's Encore
Ali Harper as Judy Garland in 1967, mounting a comeback after a disastrous Australian tour. Saturday is the last show.
π Circa Two, Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street, Te Aro | π Fri 7.30pm, final show Sat 26 Sep | π° Adult $60, senior $50, concession $40, under 30s $30, plus $3 booking fee | π All ages
π· Uncle Vanya
Chekhov moved to a rural vineyard, with Peter Hambleton and Kali Kopae. Circa's care note: mental health and violence themes, simulated gun shots, strong language, haze, flashing lights and vaping.
π Circa One, Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street, Te Aro | π Fri 7pm, Tue to Sat 7pm and Sun 4pm, to 10 Oct | π° Adult $60, senior $50, concession $40, child $25, plus $3 booking fee | π All ages
Three German-style beers brewed for the occasion in 500ml steins, with giant bretzels and beer cheese.
π Garage Project Taproom, 91 Aro Street, Aro Valley | π Fri 3pm to 9pm, also Sat & Sun 12pm to 9pm | π° Free entry | π All ages, licensed
Five courses and a palate cleanser, each with a Martinborough Luna Estate pour: saffron octopus with pina colada, aged beef eye fillet, feijoa pudding with jalapeΓ±o rum. Note they can't cater for dietary requirements.
π Forage, MΓΆvenpick Hotel, 345 The Terrace, Te Aro | π Fri 6pm | π° $125pp including the wine pairing
π° Bard & Barley
Massey Music Club's first fundraiser, medieval dress encouraged, with Mothburn, Lucid, Mass-Hammer, Maddey Puppets, a B2B set and Cindy up from Auckland. 67% of proceeds go to the Compassion Soup Kitchen.
π The Great Hall, Massey University, Wallace Street, Mount Cook | π Fri 6pm to 11pm | π° $15 general, $10 students | π All ages
Stand-up from NZ Comedy School alumni, raising money for the school's Diversity Scholarship fund.
π The Fringe Bar, 26 Allen Street, Te Aro | π Fri 8pm | π° $23.25 general, $16.58 concession incl. fees, $25 door | π R18
A debut live show from a four-piece leaning on 90s indie and Britpop, with TestPot and Zoe Scott and the Sisters supporting.
π Vogelmorn Bowling Club (upstairs), 93 Mornington Road, Brooklyn | π Fri doors 7pm, music 7.30pm | π° $20 plus booking fee | π R18 (supervised)
ποΈ Jon Stevens
The Noiseworks and INXS collection - Take Me Back, Never Tear Us Apart and New Sensation in one night.
π Meow Nui, 92 Vivian Street, Te Aro | π Fri doors 7pm, support 7.30pm, Jon Stevens 8.30pm | π° $81 plus a $5.50 service fee and a 2.2% infrastructure fee | π 18+, under 18s with a parent or guardian
The full body of NZSD students in four classical ballet works and four contemporary pieces, including three world premieres.
π Whirinaki Whare Taonga, 836 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt | π Fri 7.30pm, also Sat 2pm & 7.30pm | π° Adult $27, student and senior $21, child $17, plus booking fee | π All ages
A free screening of The Edukators with German Abendbrot snacks. Registration required.
π Te Matapihi Central Library, 65 Victoria Street, Wellington Central | π Fri 4.30pm to 7pm | π° Free, booking required | π Ages 12 to 18, film rated R12
Botanic Garden guide Reg Harris on mycelium communication, fungal computers and forest carbon.
π Te Matapihi Central Library, 65 Victoria Street, Wellington Central | π Fri 5.30pm to 6.30pm | π° Free | π All ages
βοΈ Daniel Falconer book signing
The WΔtΔ designer signs the 25th anniversary reissue of Middle-earth: From Script to Screen, with a signed-book giveaway too.
π The WΔtΔ Cave, 1 Weka Street, Miramar | π Fri 11am to 2pm | π° Free | π All ages
Ten days of tulips, thousands of them across a four-star country garden. Rain or shine, and no dogs during the festival.
π Longbush Cottage, 1023 Longbush Road, RD 4, Masterton | π Daily to Sun 4 Oct, 10am to 4pm | π° $15, children free with a paying adult | π All ages
π
Saturday 26 September
Back for year two in a new Porirua home. Comics, vintage toys, rare memorabilia, local sellers and a food court.
π Kai Tahi Harbourside Eateries, 20 Parumoana Street, Porirua | π Sat 10am to 3pm | π° Entry price not published | π All ages, family friendly
Two shows today, and the 2pm matinee is running low. More in our sponsor feature.
π St James Theatre, 77-87 Courtenay Place, Te Aro | π Sat 2pm and 7.30pm, also Fri 7.30pm and Sun 4pm | π° Adults from $92.24, kids 5 to 14 from $64, plus a $5 to $12.95 handling fee | π Recommended 6+
The cherry blossom festival, in timed day sessions plus After Dark sessions into the evening. No dogs or picnics at weekends.
π Aston Norwood Gardens, 1747 SH2, Kaitoke, Upper Hutt | π Sat 9am to 9.30pm in timed sessions, also Fri and Sun, to Sun 4 Oct | π° Weekend day $20 adult, $10 child 3 to 12, $50 family, Friday day $16 and $8. Saturday After Dark is sold out, Sunday After Dark $25 | π All ages
π―οΈ Candlelight at the Cathedral
Vivid Strings play Hans Zimmer at 6.30pm, then Ed Sheeran meets Coldplay at 8.30pm. No late entry.
π Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, 2 Hill Street, Thorndon | π Sat 6.30pm and 8.30pm | π° Cheapest still on sale: Zimmer $64, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay $56.50, no booking fees | π Ages 8+, under 16s with an adult
The festival's biggest day: Witi Ihimaera Smiler at 10am and the free all-day A Riot of Words. Jon Toogood, Dame Silvia Cartwright and the Verb Debate have sold out.
π The Hannah, 12 Cambridge Terrace, and The Tasting Room, 2 Courtenay Place, Te Aro | π Sat from 10am, A Riot of Words 11.30am to 4.30pm | π° Most sessions $25 plus booking fee, A Riot of Words free | π All ages
π Rainbow Night In
Dylan van Heerden hosts a birthday and community fundraiser night - board games, crafts, kai and good company. The address goes out once you book.
π Willis Street, Wellington Central, exact address once you book | π Sat 6.30pm to 8pm | π° $15 plus a $1.81 booking fee | π 18+, rainbow community
πͺ Carlucci Carnival
Once a year the sculptures wake up. Two Step NZ and Rhythm Output take over the Carlucci Land sculpture park.
π Carlucci Land, 281 Happy Valley Road, Happy Valley | π Sat 3pm to 10pm | π° Final release $129.99 plus booking fee, official CBD bus passes $12 | π R18
Live pro wrestling at the Town Hall with New Zealand and international names, plus merch and a meet and greet.
π Lower Hutt Town Hall, 30c Laings Road, Lower Hutt | π Sat 5pm to 8.30pm | π° Balcony $23.25 up to front row $34.05, ground GA family pass $101.20 for four, incl. fees | π All ages
Dancers show how pointe shoes get prepared, customised and coloured, with tutus from past productions on display.
π RNZB Studios, St James Theatre, 77-87 Courtenay Place, Te Aro | π Sat 10.30am | π° $35
βοΈ Welly GAA open training
Gaelic football, hurling and camogie, open to anyone who fancies a go. Men's football 9am, hurling and ladies football 10am, camogie 11am.
π Prince of Wales Park top pitch, Salisbury Terrace, Mount Cook | π Sat 9am to midday | π All welcome, no experience needed
π Social Climbers
Roger Hall's comedy about six women teachers stuck in a mountain hut by rain and a washed-out bridge.
π Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee Street, Te Aro | π Sat 7.30pm, Sunday matinee sold out | π° $15 to $30 plus booking fee
A new KidzStuff puppet show about the time the Rainbow Fish lost its colours, in English, te reo MΔori and SΔmoan.
π Tararua Tramping Club Clubrooms, 4 Moncrieff Street, Mount Victoria | π Sat 10am to 10.45am | π° $7 Saturday preview, $15 general, under 2s free | π All ages
πΊ Starstruck
Porirua City Brass play a programme built around the moon, the stars and the galaxies, with solo spots from band members.
π Te Manawa Auditorium, Aotea College, Okowai Road, Aotea, Porirua | π Sat 2pm to 4pm | π° $25 general, $20 concession
π³οΈ Kotahitanga: E tΕ« mΕ te pΕti
E tΕ« Musicians' Union and ActionStation close the TΔiki Δ! enrolment festival with Sianne, Valley Kids, AWA and The Mokos.
π Meow Nui, 92 Vivian Street, Te Aro | π Sat 6pm to 12am | π° $10, or $20 with a koha, plus a $5.50 fee and a 2.2% infrastructure fee | π 18+, under 18s with a parent or legal guardian
π Video Vixens
A drag show built around video game characters - Katana, Lara Croft and Duke Nukem all get a look in.
π Ivy Bar & Cabaret, 63 Cuba Street, Te Aro | π Sat 9.30pm to 12am | π° $23.25 incl. fees | π R18
TΔmaki Makaurau garage-punk four-piece Cindy bring the tour for debut album The Way I Do to Valhalla, with Cruelly and Homing.
π Valhalla, 154 Vivian Street, Te Aro | π Sat doors 8pm | π° $25 early bird plus booking fee, or $18 student and unwaged | π R18
Go behind the scenes at a working animal rescue and meet the ponies, pigs, goats and ducks. Bring gumboots, take the steep driveway slowly, and note tours need four people to run.
π HUHA Haywards Hub, Haywards Hill, Upper Hutt, directions on booking | π Sat 10.30am and 1.30pm, then Mon to Thu and Sat through the holidays | π° Adult $26.05, child 5 to 16 $15.75, family of four $73.30 incl. fees | π All ages, children with a guardian
π
Sunday 27 September - clocks go forward β°
The Lions' last home game, and Bark in the Park is back with CareVets on site. Dogs need a signed waiver, no entry before 1pm, not at the Pride match.
π Hnry Stadium, 105 Waterloo Quay, Pipitea | π Sun kick-off 2.05pm, Pride v Tasman 11.35am, doors 11am | π° Adult $20, student $10, under 16s free (3 per paying adult), family pass $40 for 2 adults and up to 6 kids | π All ages
A waterfront walk from outside TSB Arena, part of one global walk taking place on the same day, with a meet-up at Garage Project afterwards.
π Meet outside TSB Arena, 4 Queens Wharf, Wellington Central | π Sun from 10am, 45 to 60 minutes | π° No ticket and no registration, just turn up | π All ages, all dogs on leads and muzzled if required
π Verb Festival Sunday
Michelle de Kretser at 10am, The Politics of Disabled Joy at 2pm with NZSL interpretation, and The Wild Ones, a free kids' session in the Botanic Garden.
π The Hannah, 12 Cambridge Terrace, Te Aro, and Wellington Botanic Garden, Kelburn | π Sun from 10am, The Wild Ones 10am to 12pm | π° Most sessions $25 plus booking fee, Your Reading List $10, The Wild Ones free | π All ages
π¦ T.REX at Space Place
T.REX, a new dinosaur planetarium film narrated by Sam Neill, screens from Saturday through the holidays, plus the Tamariki Star Trail with admission. Indoors, and shows often sell out.
π Space Place at Carter Observatory, 40 Salamanca Road, Kelburn | π Sun 10am to 5pm, daily through the holidays | π° Adult $16, child 4 to 14 $10, family $49, under 4s free | π T.REX best suits ages 5 and up
An hour sculpting a clay creature with the clay and techniques the WΔtΔ crew use. The monster goes home with them.
π WΔtΔ Workshop creative workshops, 129 Park Road, Miramar | π Sun 10.45am, arrive 15 min early | π° $29 per child, accompanying adult free | π Ages 6 to 11, must be accompanied
Jonathan Kennett and Bronwen Wall on 25 years of restoration here, where volunteers have planted 55,000 trees. Numbers are limited, so book now.
π Εtari Visitors Centre, 150 Wilton Road, Wilton | π Sun 2pm to 3.30pm | π° $10.25 incl. fees, free for Trust members | π All ages, easy walking
π Seascapes
NZSO Section Principal Flute Bridget Douglas and harpist Michelle Velvin play a sea-themed recital of Takemitsu, Piazzolla and Gareth Farr.
π Erskine Chapel, 31 Avon Street, Island Bay | π Sun 3pm | π° Adult $30.98, concession $20, child $10.25 incl. fees | π All ages
An acoustic evening of Turkish classical and Sufi devotional music on ney, oud and saz. All welcome.
π Newlands Community Centre, 9 Batchelor Street, Newlands | π Sun 6pm to 7.30pm | π° Free | π All ages
Pashto and Urdu singer Gul Panra plays New Zealand for the first time. Note that anyone aged 6 and over pays the adult rate.
π Mungavin Hall, Mungavin Avenue, RΔnui, Porirua | π Sun 6.30pm to 10.30pm | π° Adult 6+ $44.29, child 5 and under $33.03 with no seat, family pass $136.08 for 2 adults and 2 under-5s, incl. fees | π All ages
Three young Wellington heavy bands - alt-djent, hardcore and metal - at Valhalla. Doors 7.30pm, music from 8pm.
π Valhalla, 154 Vivian Street, Te Aro | π Sun 7.30pm to 10.30pm | π° $10 plus $1.14 fee online, $15 on the door | π Age policy not stated, check with Valhalla
π Heads Up - Next Week
Started by The Tasting Room last year and now in its second run, with 38 venues from Wellington to Gisborne raising a pint for the Guinness founder. Each puts its own spin on it - last year that meant Irish menus, live music, giveaways and Guinness pouring competitions. The event pages list who is doing what near you.
π Venues across the region, on the Wellington and Lower North Island event pages | π Mon 28 Sep from 12pm | π° Free
π But Why, Dad?
Opens Tuesday 29 September. A laugh-out-loud family show built from the gloriously weird questions kids ask, with original songs and live music. The opening 10am show was down to 11 seats when we looked.
π Circa Two, Circa Theatre, 1 Taranaki Street, Te Aro | π Tue to Sat 10am and 11.30am to 10 Oct, plus Sun 4 Oct 1.30pm and 3pm | π° $20, or a Family Pass of 4 for $70, plus $3 booking fee per sale | π Ages 4+
π¦οΈ Welly Weather Watch
π¦οΈ Friday 25 Sep: Fine, then rain in the afternoon and evening. High 14Β°C, low 8Β°C
βοΈ Saturday 26 Sep: Cloudy, occasional rain from the afternoon. High 15Β°C, low 7Β°C
π§οΈ Sunday 27 Sep: A few showers, heavy rain in the afternoon. High 14Β°C, low 5Β°C
Friday and Saturday mornings look driest, so do Blossom Valley early. Carlucci starts at 3pm, so pack a raincoat. Sunday's 10am greyhound walk may dodge the worst, but the afternoon turns heavy - Space Place is the drier option. MetService, issued Wed 23 Sep.
β¨ Extra Sprinkles - Charity of the Week
Zeal Wellington runs a free youth space on Cuba Street - after-school drop-ins, Friday nights, and Stories Espresso Bar, where rangatahi train as baristas.
In its 2024-25 annual report, Zeal recorded 87 young Wellingtonians trained and given work experience, and 3,259 attendances at the free drop-in space.
Youth space: Level 1, 55 Cuba Street. Stories: 40A Cuba Street. Phone 0800 FIND ZEAL (0800 346 393). Chip in here.
In its 2024-25 annual report, Zeal recorded 87 young Wellingtonians trained and given work experience, and 3,259 attendances at the free drop-in space.
Youth space: Level 1, 55 Cuba Street. Stories: 40A Cuba Street. Phone 0800 FIND ZEAL (0800 346 393). Chip in here.
Two weeks of holidays, a full moon on Sunday and a properly packed weekend ahead. Go make a mess of it.
NgΔ mihi nui,
Kirstie & Steve π
NgΔ mihi nui,
Kirstie & Steve π
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