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- 🐝 Halloween: Boo at the Zoo, Witches Market & the Big Top
Kirstie and Steve
October 29, 2026
WellyBuzz 🐝
Your Wellington Weekend Sorted
🐝 Halloween Weekend: Boo at the Zoo, Witches Market & the Big Top
Plus Creepy Cute Market, a Karori haunted house, an Opera House clue hunt, Louis Baker live + the Kāpiti Women's Expo turns 10. Plus WIN Well Ahead passes! 🎃
👋 Welcome
Kia ora Wellington! 🌸
Halloween weekend is nearly here and Wellington's going all out! The Zoo throws its first-ever Boo at the Zoo, the Royal New Zealand Ballet's Sleeping Beauty takes the St James stage, Weber Bros pitch their big top in Upper Hutt, Wellington Repertory Theatre's thriller Accomplice plays the Gryphon, and the Kāpiti Women's Expo celebrates 10 years on Sunday, when the Witches Market also casts its spell over Brewtown. Saturday's morning rain should clear early, so dust off those costumes. Let's get buzzing! 🐝
🎁 WIN! 5 double passes to Well Ahead
We've teamed up with Conquer Health to give away 5 double passes to Well Ahead (worth $220 each, as full passes are $110) - a day built around women's health, resilience and healthy ageing, with speakers including Dame Susan Devoy, at Victoria University Kelburn on Thursday 12 November. To enter, just reply to this email with the words WELL AHEAD by 5pm Wednesday 4 November.
Find out more about Well Ahead
We've teamed up with Conquer Health to give away 5 double passes to Well Ahead (worth $220 each, as full passes are $110) - a day built around women's health, resilience and healthy ageing, with speakers including Dame Susan Devoy, at Victoria University Kelburn on Thursday 12 November. To enter, just reply to this email with the words WELL AHEAD by 5pm Wednesday 4 November.Find out more about Well Ahead🔥 Quick Picks
🎃 Haunted House (Fri) - Live-actor scares, with all profits to charity.
🕵️ Accomplice (Fri-Sat) - Wellington Repertory Theatre's twisty Rupert Holmes thriller.
🩰 RNZB: The Sleeping Beauty (Fri-Sun) - Tchaikovsky, tutus and Wētā Workshop magic.
🎪 Weber Bros 'THE CIRCUS' (Fri-Sun) - Big-top thrills from international performers in Upper Hutt.
🦇 The Creepy Cute Market (Sat) - Gothic bakes, kawaii plushies and spooky art.
🎡 Karori Normal School Gala (Sat) - Bake sale, preloved treasures, face painting and candy floss.
🔦 The Great Opera House Halloween Hunt (Sat) - A spooky clue hunt for kids 12 and under.
🦁 Boo at the Zoo (Sat) - The Zoo's first-ever Halloween night.
📚 Wellington Zinefest (Sat-Sun) - 60 zine stalls each day. Free entry, bring cash!
🔮 The Witches Market (Sun) - 35+ witchy stalls, workshops and live music at Brewtown.
💛 Kāpiti Women's Expo (Sun) - 10 years, 100+ sites and gold coin entry - see sponsor feature.
💛 Sponsor - Kāpiti Women’s Expo
See the full list of exhibitors
🎉 Celebrate 10 Years of the Kāpiti Women’s Expo 🎉
Sunday 1 November 2026 | 10am–3pm
Southward Car Museum
Gold Coin Entry
Proceeds proudly supporting Kāpiti Women’s Refuge
Come along and help us celebrate the 10th Birthday of the Kāpiti Women’s Expo under the direction of Julie and Emily.
With over 100 sites under one roof, there really is something for everyone. Discover a fantastic mix of art, beauty, fashion, food and drink, health and fitness, homeware, pet care, services, travel and tourism, and so much more.
It’s the perfect opportunity to get a head start on your Christmas shopping while supporting New Zealand-based businesses, all in one convenient location. Bring the whole family, enjoy a fun day out, discover something new and support a great local cause.
With so much to see and do, this is a 10th Birthday celebration not to be missed!
For a full list of exhibitors, visit www.KapitiWomensExpo.co.nz
And while you're there, why not make a day of it and enjoy a visit to the Southward Car Museum too.
We look forward to celebrating 10 amazing years with you
With thanks to the Expo's main sponsors
🎉 Events - What's On This Weekend
📅 Friday 30 October
⭐ FEATURED EVENT
🕵️ Accomplice
A fiendishly clever thriller full of twists, deception and dark humour. When a mysterious crime unfolds, no one is quite who they seem, and the secrets, lies and double-crosses keep characters and audience guessing. Wellington Repertory Theatre presents Rupert Holmes' unpredictable play. Get your tickets here
📍 Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee Street, Te Aro | 🕢 Fri & Sat 7:30pm (Sun 3pm sold out), season to Sat 7 Nov | 💰 Adult $29.90, concession $24.90, child $19.90 | 🎟 All ages
The LA-based Kiwi singer-songwriter marks his 60th with hits like Isabelle and Liberty, plus new songs.
📍 Old St Paul's, 34 Mulgrave Street, Pipitea | 🕗 Fri 8pm | 💰 From $89.59 (incl. fees) | 🎟 All ages
Mo Munn and Austin Harrison serve up political satire, songs and sketches.
📍 Hannah Playhouse, 12 Cambridge Terrace, Te Aro | 🕢 Fri 7:30pm | 💰 $32.75, students $12.25 (incl. fees) | 🎟 R16
Live actors, creepy rooms and jump scares from the Lions Club of Karori, with all profits going to charity.
📍 Karori Park Cafe, 400 Karori Road, Karori | 🕡 Fri 6:30pm-8:30pm | 💰 Adults $8, kids $5 (door sales only) | 🎟 Not suitable for under 8s
Airhorn goes full spooky for Halloween eve - sketches, stand-up and even spooky ushers.
📍 Newtown Community Centre, cnr Rintoul & Colombo Streets, Newtown | 🕗 Fri 8pm | 💰 Early bird $18, two for $30, concession $12 | 🎟 R16
Wellington Improvisation Troupe's spooky jam, made up on the spot.
📍 Yogallery, 97 Ghuznee Street, Te Aro | 🕖 Fri 7pm | 💰 Pay what you can from $5 | 🎟 All ages
Greg Horsman's much-loved 2011 production returns, with Tchaikovsky's score and a touch of Wētā Workshop wizardry.
📍 St James Theatre, 77-87 Courtenay Place, Te Aro | 🕢 Fri 7:30pm, Sat 1:30pm & 7:30pm, Sun 1:30pm | 💰 Adult from $68, child from $40 | 🎟 All ages
InDuna celebrates his new single with Afro-pop, R&B and folk.
📍 Moon, 167 Riddiford Street, Newtown | 🕗 Fri 8pm (doors 7pm) | 💰 General $29.90, final release $34.90 (early birds sold out) | 🎟 R18
Shock rock with W.A.S.P. tribute The Headless Children, Plagueditch, Awarewolves and Buffalo Temple.
📍 Valhalla, 154 Vivian Street, Te Aro | 🕗 Fri doors 8pm | 💰 Early bird $15, general $18.50 + booking fee | 🎟 R18
The Nomad marks 30 years of bass culture with MC Antsman and warpTV visuals.
📍 MEOW, 9 Edward Street, Te Aro | 🕘 Fri 9pm-2am | 💰 General $50, final release $60 (early birds sold out) | 🎟 R18
The big top lands in Upper Hutt with international performers, here until 8 November.
📍 Riverbank Park, Riverbank Street, Ebdentown, Upper Hutt | 🕢 Fri 7:30pm, Sat 2pm & 7:30pm, Sun 12pm & 4pm | 💰 $25-$200 + booking fee
Sri Chakra School of Fine Arts students present Indian dance and music.
📍 Little Theatre, 2 Queens Drive, Lower Hutt | 🕖 Fri 7pm | 💰 $11.28 (incl. fees), under 7s free | 🎟 All ages
Hear from 2026 Supreme WOW Award winner Kayla Christensen and designer Rebecca Bond.
📍 Te Raukura ki Kāpiti, Coastlands Theatre, 34a Raumati Road, Paraparaumu | 🕖 Fri 7pm | 💰 From $36.68 (incl. fees) | 🎟 All ages
📅 Saturday 31 October - Halloween 🎃
The Zoo's very first Halloween event, with trick or treating, a spooky walk-through and a costume parade. Online sales close midnight Friday.
📍 Wellington Zoo, 200 Daniell Street, Newtown | 🕔 Sat from 5pm, zoo closes 7pm (last entry 6:15pm) | 💰 Online $26 adult, $12 child (door $28/$14) | 🎟 All ages
A self-guided spooky clue hunt through the Opera House for kids 12 and under, with an adult. Costumes welcome!
📍 The Opera House, 111-113 Manners Street, Te Aro | 🕐 Sat sessions 1pm-4pm | 💰 $16.79 + handling fee
A spooky steam train trip to Plimmerton and back. The 12:15pm and 2:15pm trains are fully booked.
📍 Wellington Railway Station, Bunny Street, Pipitea | 🕠 Sat 5:45pm | 💰 Adult $41, child $30, family (2+2) $135
Louis Baker plays new album Trouble with the full band - his first headline tour since 2021.
📍 Meow Nui, 92 Vivian Street, Te Aro | 🕢 Sat doors 7:30pm | 💰 $59-$69 + $5.50 fee | 🎟 18+ (supervised)
60 stalls of self-made zines each day, with an accessibility hour from 11am to noon.
📍 Te Aro Campus, Victoria University, 139 Vivian Street, Te Aro | 🕚 Sat & Sun 11am-4pm | 💰 Free entry, bring cash for zines | 🎟 All ages
Cat cuddles at the rescue's first-ever adoption centre - every ngeru is up for adoption!
📍 Level 1, 6 Broomhedge Street, Mount Cook | 🕙 Sat & Sun sessions 10am-4pm | 💰 $23.25 (incl. fees) or pay what you can | 🎟 All ages
Creeps opens its big new store with live sets from Cruelly, Tegan Nott and more.
📍 173 Riddiford Street, Newtown | 🕙 Sat 10am-6pm
A free family Diwali celebration hosted by Devbhoomi Charitable Trust NZ.
📍 Chilton Saint James School, 124 Waterloo Road, Lower Hutt | 🕦 Sat 11:30am-4pm | 💰 Free entry
Pastel goth fashion, horror-kawaii plushies, spooky art and gothic bakes. Costumes encouraged!
📍 Level 1, Thistle Hall, 293 Cuba Street, Te Aro | 🕤 Sat 9:30am-2:30pm | 💰 Free entry | 🎟 All ages
Tour Hikitia as she turns 100. Steep ladders, so wear sturdy shoes.
📍 Taranaki Street Wharf (next to Te Papa), Te Aro | 🕙 Sat 10am-4pm | 💰 $10, just turn up
Live music, kids' activities, workshops, vendors and farm tours. With 2,500+ already registered, carpool if you can.
📍 Mangaroa Farms, 98 Whitemans Valley Road, Upper Hutt | 🕙 Sat 10am-3pm | 💰 Free (register first), tours $20 | 🎟 All ages
Original works by artists from across Aotearoa, all for sale.
📍 Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Marsden Avenue, Karori | 🕙 Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10am-2pm | 💰 Koha entry, supporting Dwell Housing Trust
Rare access to the winding room plus a museum tour. Steep stairs, closed-toe shoes required.
📍 Wellington Cable Car, 280 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central | 🕙 Sat 10am-11:30am | 💰 Adult $45, concession $35
Dreamy chamber works, plus a new commission by Karlo Margetič.
📍 Te Matapihi Central Library, 65 Victoria Street, Wellington Central | 🕖 Sat 7pm | 💰 $54.55, student $28.92 (incl. fees) | 🎟 All ages
Blues and roots from Pip Payne, Richard Klein and Alan Norman.
📍 Hilltop House Concerts, 17 Upland Road, Kelburn | 🕢 Sat 7:30pm (gate 7pm) | 💰 $34.05 (incl. fees) | 🎟 All ages
Halloween stand-up with dark beers and bright Welly comedians. Seats are limited!
📍 Dub Hub Island Bay, 163A The Parade, Island Bay | 🕗 Sat 8pm (doors 7:30pm) | 💰 $23.25 (incl. fees) | 🎟 R18 (under 18s with a parent or guardian)
A frightful night of Halloween drag, with tricks and treats.
📍 Ivy Bar & Cabaret, 63 Cuba Street, Te Aro | 🕙 Sat 10pm | 💰 From $16.58 (incl. fees) | 🎟 R18
Bake sale, preloved toys, plants, hot food, face painting and candy floss.
📍 Karori Normal School, cnr Karori Road & Donald Street, Karori | 🕚 Sat 11am-2pm | 🎟 All ages
RadioActive.FM's Halloween fundraiser with 40+ DJs. Earlier tiers have sold out.
📍 The Grand, 69 Courtenay Place, Te Aro | 🕗 Sat 8pm-3am | 💰 Final release $63.25, top supporter $74.75 | 🎟 R18
Ford Trophy one-day cricket at the Basin, also streaming live on NZC's YouTube.
📍 Cello Basin Reserve, Mount Cook | 🕥 Sat 10:30am | 💰 Free entry
20+ bouts from Aotearoa's rising young boxers, plus craft beer, food trucks and a DJ.
📍 Brewtown Greenspace, 27 Blenheim Street, Upper Hutt | 🕛 Sat 12pm-6pm | 💰 From $10 in advance
A community celebration of light over darkness, with performances and traditional food.
📍 Maidstone Intermediate, Redwood Street, Elderslea, Upper Hutt | 🕔 Sat 5pm-7pm | 💰 Free | 🎟 All ages
Run or walk 10km or 21km through vineyards that open to the public just for this.
📍 Martinborough Square, Martinborough | 🕣 Sat from 8:30am | 💰 Adult $90, child $35, family $240
A weekend of drag racing, with Two-Wheel Thunder bikes on Sunday.
📍 Masterton Motorplex, Manaia Road, Masterton | 🕙 Sat 10am, Sun 9am | 💰 $25 per day at the gate, under 14s free
A wild west whodunnit where every guest becomes a sheriff.
📍 Te Raukura ki Kāpiti, Coastlands Theatre, 34a Raumati Road, Paraparaumu | 🕖 Sat 7pm | 💰 $58.20 (incl. fees) | 🎟 All ages
📅 Sunday 1 November
⭐ FEATURED EVENT
The Witches Market is back at the Brewtown Greenspace with 35+ stalls of handmade witchy wares, vintage gear, art and more from across Pōneke. Expect magickal workshops in the morning, live music and performers all afternoon, food on site, spot prizes for best dressed and goodie bags for the first through the portal. Pets welcome! Get your tickets here
📍 Brewtown, 27 Blenheim Street, Upper Hutt | 🕥 Sun 10:30am-5pm | 💰 $10 online, $13 door, under 13s free
10 years, 100+ sites, supporting Kāpiti Women's Refuge. See our sponsor feature above!
📍 Southward Car Museum, Otaihanga Road, Otaihanga | 🕙 Sun 10am-3pm | 💰 Gold coin entry | 🎟 All ages
Vintage-lens black-and-white photos of John Scott's chapel, plus a Sunday public talk from 2pm to 3:30pm. Seats are limited, so register first.
📍 Futuna Chapel, 67 Futuna Close, Karori | 🕚 Sat 11am-3pm, Sun 11am-2pm | 💰 Koha
Old Jail Museum, Petone (Sat & Sun 10am-2pm), Robert Orr Homestead (Sat & Sun 10am-4pm) and Lower Hutt Heritage Centre (Sun 11am-5pm).
📍 Petone & Lower Hutt | 🕐 Sat & Sun, times vary | 💰 Free or koha
Cuddle foster pups from Ellie's Canine Rescue.
📍 Cuba St Tavern, 172 Cuba Street, Te Aro | 🕛 Sun 12pm-3pm | 💰 Free entry, $5 donation for cuddles if you're not drinking | 🎟 All ages (licensed venue)
Stories of the women who shaped early Wellington.
📍 Bolton Street Cemetery Museum, 19 Bolton Street, Thorndon | 🕑 Sun 2pm | 💰 $10.25 (incl. fees)
Pool, spa, petanque and pickleball. No dogs, no photography.
📍 Wellington Naturist Club, 20 Molloys Road, Te Marua, Upper Hutt | 🕚 Sun 11am-3pm | 💰 Free entry
Around 40 stalls of preloved, vintage and local clothing.
📍 Lower Hutt Event Centre, 30c Laings Road, Lower Hutt | 🕙 Sun 10am-2pm | 💰 Gold coin entry
👀 Heads Up - Next Week
Extra session! A chill classical and jazz series with up-and-coming Pōneke musicians. Everyone must bring ID.
📍 Bedlam & Squalor, Level 1, 18 Garrett Street, Te Aro | 🕡 Wed 4 Nov 6:30pm | 💰 Choose your price from $5 | 🎟 All ages (under 18s with a parent or guardian)
☀️ Welly Weather Watch
🌦️ Friday 30 October: Showers developing in the morning. Westerlies, turning southerly in the evening. High 18°C, low 7°C
🌤️ Saturday 31 October: Occasional rain clearing to fine in the morning. Southerlies, turning northwesterly in the afternoon. High 14°C, low 9°C
⛅ Sunday 1 November: Partly cloudy with the chance of a shower. Northwesterlies. High 15°C, low 12°C
Pack a jacket for Friday's showers - Saturday should be fine well before trick or treating kicks off!
✨ Extra Sprinkles
💚 Vibe
The Hutt Valley's youth one stop shop offers free, confidential health care, mental health support and youth work for 10 to 24 year-olds in Lower and Upper Hutt - from GP visits to help finding a job. Know a young person who needs a hand? Freephone 0800 CHAT2VIBE (0800 24 28 28).
Support Vibe
The Hutt Valley's youth one stop shop offers free, confidential health care, mental health support and youth work for 10 to 24 year-olds in Lower and Upper Hutt - from GP visits to help finding a job. Know a young person who needs a hand? Freephone 0800 CHAT2VIBE (0800 24 28 28).
Support Vibe
Have a spooktacular Halloween weekend Wellington - see you out there! 🎃
Ngā mihi nui,
Kirstie & Steve 🐝
Ngā mihi nui,
Kirstie & Steve 🐝
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