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- ๐ A Free Spring Street Festival, Suzanne Vega, and Home & Garden
๐ A Free Spring Street Festival, Suzanne Vega, and Home & Garden
The Black Seeds headline on Brandon St, K-Festival takes over the MFC, 40 acts across 10 Te Aro venues and Blossom Valley opens. Father's Day sorted ๐
Kirstie and Steve
September 03, 2026
WellyBuzz ๐
Your Wellington Weekend Sorted
๐ A Free Spring Street Festival, Suzanne Vega, and Home & Garden
The Black Seeds headline on Brandon St, K-Festival takes over the MFC, 40 acts across 10 Te Aro venues and Blossom Valley opens. Father's Day sorted ๐
๐ Welcome
Kia ora Wellington! ๐ธ
Spring has landed and it's the fullest weekend we've put together all year. The Black Seeds headline a free afternoon party on Brandon Street for JB Hi-Fi's grand opening, K-Festival fills the Michael Fowler Centre for nothing, 40 acts spread across ten Te Aro venues for Great Sounds Great, Blossom Valley lights up for its first night, and Sunday is Father's Day with drag racing and Suzanne Vega. Let's get buzzing! ๐
Jump to: All weekend | Friday | Saturday | Sunday
๐ฅ Quick Picks
๐ถ Come Together: Stop Making Sense (Thu) - The Talking Heads concert film recreated live at the St James.
๐ก Home and Garden Show 2026 (Fri-Sun) - Three days of ideas at Hnry Stadium, $8 in and under-16s free.
๐ป NZSO Rhythm & Dance (Fri) - Gemma New conducts Bernstein's West Side Story dances, from $40.78.
๐ Southward Full Throttle (Sat) - Live car runs, theatre shows and 30% off day passes with code FULLTHROTTLE.
๐ JB Hi-Fi Grand Opening Street Festival (Sat) - A free street festival with The Black Seeds, plus COST + GST storewide - see sponsor feature.
๐ฐ๐ท 2026 K-Festival Wellington (Sat) - Korean food, music and culture at the MFC, free entry.
๐ธ Great Sounds Great festival 2026 (Sat) - One wristband, ten Te Aro venues, 40 acts including Bic Runga.
๐ธ Blossom Valley 2026 (Sat) - Opening night of NZ's biggest cherry blossom display, After Dark only.
๐ Dads Day Drags (Sun) - Father's Day street-car drag racing, $20 in and under-14s free.
๐ Suzanne Vega - Flying with Angels Tour (Sun) - Tom's Diner, Luka and Marlene On The Wall at the St James.
๐ Sponsor - JB Hi-Fi
See the street festival line-up
Get ready for COST + GST storewide at JB Hi-Fi! ๐คฏ
Join JB Hi-Fi this Saturday 5 September from 1PMโ5PM and score an EPIC deal on ALL products* including Apple! ๐๐ฅ
That's just 4 HOURS ONLY to shop COST + GST, so don't miss out!
โ ๏ธ Please note: The store will be closed from 12:30PMโ1PM while we get set up. Doors open at 1PM!
๐ JB Hi-Fi Wellington
๐๏ธ Saturday 5 September
โฐ 1PMโ5PM
See you there, Wellington! JB, you've done it again. ๐
*Cost reflects the average invoiced purchase price of the products but does not include any volume-related adjustments or other rebates which may apply. Some products may already be advertised below Cost. Deals available only on 5 September 2026 at Wellington JB Hi-Fi from 1PMโ5PM. Available on in-stock items only. Trade not supplied. Limit rights apply, no rainchecks or laybys. Excludes gift cards, all pre-paid cards, mobile phone top ups, warranties, Virtual Currency and Subscriptions, delivery & installation. Can't be used in conjunction with other promotions.
๐ Events - What's On This Weekend
๐ช On All Weekend
Renovation envy, garden gear, show-only specials and free expert sessions.
๐ Hnry Stadium, 105 Waterloo Quay, Pipitea | ๐ Fri and Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm | ๐ฐ Adult $8, Gold Card Friday $4, under 16 free (plus fees) | ๐ All ages
๐ธ Blossom Valley 2026
Over 350 Sakura cherry trees planted in 1994. Opening weekend is After Dark only, a lit walk with fire pits and marshmallows.
๐ Aston Norwood Gardens, 1747 SH2, Kaitoke, Upper Hutt | ๐ Sat and Sun, Twilight 6pm-8.30pm or Night 7pm-9.30pm | ๐ฐ Adult $20, youth 13-17 $15, child 3-12 $10, family pass $50
Code DAD2026 gets Dad's 90-minute Workshop tour free with a paying adult or child ticket, plus a photo keepsake.
๐ Wฤtฤ Workshop, 1 Weka Street, Miramar | ๐ Fri to Sun, tour times vary | ๐ฐ Tours from $59 online, Dad free with code DAD2026 | ๐ All ages
๐ Legally Blonde
Victoria Musical Society's debut, VUW students taking on Elle Woods.
๐ Memorial Theatre, Student Union Building, Kelburn Parade, Kelburn | ๐ Fri and Sat 7.30pm, Sun 2pm and 7.30pm | ๐ฐ Adult $25, student $20 (plus fees). Friday nearly sold out
NZSM students do Offenbach's daft 1875 comic opera, sung in French with English surtitles, dialogue in English.
๐ Adam Concert Room, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade, Kelburn | ๐ Fri 7.30pm, Sat 3pm and 7.30pm, Sun 3pm | ๐ฐ Waged $44.30, student/concession $16.58 (incl. fees) | ๐ All ages
๐ญ Lettice and Lovage
Peter Shaffer's comedy about a tour guide who improves history a bit too generously.
๐ Mana Little Theatre, 9 Sunset Parade, Plimmerton, Porirua | ๐ Fri and Sat 7.30pm (Sunday sold out) | ๐ฐ Adult $28, concession $22, groups of 10+ $20 (plus fees) | ๐ All ages
Seven artists respond to the ground floor of Wellington's oldest cottage. Free tours 12pm and 3pm.
๐ Nairn Street Cottage, 68 Nairn Street, Mount Cook | ๐ Sat and Sun 12pm-4pm | ๐ฐ Free | ๐ All ages
๐ Vipers Carport Sale
Round two for the Victoria University Vipers, raising funds for their national champs trip.
๐ 7 Randwick Road, Northland | ๐ Sat and Sun 10.30am-3pm | ๐ฐ Cash or bank transfer
Fifty-four years of this much-loved Upper Hutt exhibition. Friday includes a drink and nibbles.
๐ Pinehaven School, 67-85 Pinehaven Road, Pinehaven, Upper Hutt | ๐ Fri 6pm-9pm, Sat 9am-4pm | ๐ฐ Fri $5 (includes a drink and nibbles), Sat gold coin
๐ฅ On Tonight - Thursday 3 September
Three speakers, ten minutes each. Tonight: former TEDxWellington licensee DK, Ash Holwell and The Grief Shop's Dr Shelley Brunskill-Matson.
๐ Level 6, Equinox House, 222 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central | ๐ Thu 5.30pm-6.30pm | ๐ฐ Free
๐ท Hiatus Kaiyote
The Melbourne future-soul crew, back in Aotearoa after five years.
๐ Meow Nui, 92 Vivian Street, Te Aro | ๐ Thu doors 7pm | ๐ฐ $84.90 plus a $5.50 service fee and 2.2% infrastructure fee | ๐ 18+, under 18s supervised
James Milne, Anthonie Tonnon, Dianne Swann, Julia Deans and band recreate the Talking Heads concert film, track by track.
๐ St James Theatre, 77-87 Courtenay Place, Te Aro | ๐ Thu 8pm | ๐ฐ From $102.43 plus a $5 to $12.95 handling fee
Street food and international kai every Thursday, opposite the council building.
๐ Dowse Square, 45 Laings Road, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt | ๐ Thu 4pm-8pm | ๐ฐ Food trucks pay as you go
๐
Friday 4 September
๐ป NZSO Rhythm & Dance
Gemma New conducts Bernstein's West Side Story dances, the Copland Clarinet Concerto and a Gabriela Ortiz premiere.
๐ Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield Street, Te Aro | ๐ Fri 6.30pm | ๐ฐ Adult from $40.78 plus fees, concession $36.70, NZSO members from $31 | ๐ All ages
Eighteen years of cabaret mischief, with violin, accordion, cello and a theremin.
๐ Hannah Playhouse, 12 Cambridge Terrace, Te Aro | ๐ Fri 7.30pm-9pm | ๐ฐ General $22.50, concession $12.25 (incl. fees) | ๐ All ages
Improvisers get a headline and invent the rest on the spot. Enter on Arthur St.
๐ Thistle Hall, 293 Cuba Street, Te Aro | ๐ Fri 7pm-8pm | ๐ฐ Pay what you can, $10.25 default online (from $5), or on the door | ๐ All ages
Lyall Bay living room jams that went off in Auckland, now home in the courtyard. Crooked Mind 8pm, String House Project 9.30pm, Lady Fee 11pm.
๐ Cuba St Tavern, 170-172 Cuba Street, Te Aro | ๐ Fri 8pm-1am | ๐ฐ General admission $35 plus booking fee (earlybirds sold out) | ๐ R18
Eyegum's warm-up for Saturday: 12 up-and-comers, three Newtown venues, one wristband.
๐ Moon, Office Bar and Newtown Community Centre, Newtown | ๐ Fri doors 7pm, music 7.30pm | ๐ฐ General admission $35 plus booking fee | ๐ R18
One night only in Wellington, and an early start so you can still make dinner after.
๐ St James Theatre, 77-87 Courtenay Place, Te Aro | ๐ Fri 6.30pm-7.30pm | ๐ฐ Dress Circle $49.90 (plus fees) | ๐ Recommended 15+
๐ฎ Newtown Night Market
The food trucks hit Newtown for the first time this month, in the school courtyard where the Saturday market runs.
๐ Newtown School, Mein Street, Newtown, enter opposite the hospital carpark | ๐ Fri 5pm-9pm | ๐ฐ Food trucks pay as you go
๐ถ e tipu e rea
Rameka Tamaki returns to Pลneke after three years with an Ahikaea performance exploring his connection to Mฤoritanga, mixing classical, contemporary and new work.
๐ Soundshell, Wellington Botanic Garden, 101 Glenmore Street, Kelburn | ๐ Fri 6pm-7pm | ๐ฐ Free | ๐ All ages
Japanese punk and new wave from DEATHRO, with Unsanitary Napkin and more.
๐ Newtown Bowling Club, 303 Mansfield Street, Newtown | ๐ Fri doors 6pm, music 6.30pm | ๐ฐ General admission $20 (plus fees) | ๐ R18
Billy T winner Justine Smith headlines a Kฤpiti stand-up showcase.
๐ Kapiti Playhouse, 7 Ruahine Street, Paraparaumu | ๐ Fri 8pm | ๐ฐ Support the Artists $39.18, general $34.05, concession $28.92 (incl. fees) | ๐ R18
๐ถ Kpop Club Night
Two decades of K-pop from Auckland DJ SAMMI FC, with a photo area and giveaways.
๐ San Fran, 171 Cuba Street, Te Aro | ๐ Fri from 9pm | ๐ฐ Final release $25.22 plus a $1.95 transaction fee per order (earlier tiers exhausted) | ๐ R18
A one-way drive-through past the Display Garden's tulips and daffodils, for anyone who finds the gardens hard on foot. In the Glenmore St gates, out the West Gate.
๐ Wellington Botanic Garden, 101 Glenmore Street, Kelburn | ๐ Fri 10am-3pm | ๐ฐ Free | ๐ All ages
An audio-visual opener then a guided walk around the stone circle, covering astronomy, archaeology and myth.
๐ Stonehenge Aotearoa, 51 Ahiaruhe Road, Carterton | ๐ Fri 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm | ๐ฐ Adult $69.92, child tickets from $8.20 (incl. fees) | ๐ All ages
๐
Saturday 5 September
A free street festival out front plus COST + GST storewide for four hours only. DJ Takas 12.30pm, PRINS 1.30pm and The Black Seeds from 3pm, both signing after. Food trucks and giveaways. Terms in our sponsor feature.
๐ JB Hi-Fi, 29A Brandon Street, Wellington Central | ๐ Sat 1pm-5pm, music from 12.30pm | ๐ฐ Free entry | ๐ All ages
Five live car runs with Q&As, three miniature theatre shows, backstage access, a limited-time vehicle reveal and the Berry Burnout. Code FULLTHROTTLE takes 30% off day passes online.
๐ Southward Car Museum, 250 Otaihanga Road, Paraparaumu | ๐ Sat 9am-4.30pm | ๐ฐ Adult $23, child $6, under 5s free, 30% off online with code FULLTHROTTLE | ๐ All ages
๐ฐ๐ท 2026 K-Festival Wellington
Live performances, hands-on cultural experiences and Korean food, free entry.
๐ Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield Street, Te Aro | ๐ Sat 12pm-5pm | ๐ฐ Free | ๐ All ages
Mel Parsons and her band on tour for new album CASTLE HILL.
๐ The Opera House, 111-113 Manners Street, Te Aro | ๐ Sat 7.30pm-9.30pm | ๐ฐ From $72.97 plus a $5 to $12.95 handling fee | ๐ All ages
Ten of the region's newest comedians compete for a Grand Final spot.
๐ Hannah Playhouse, 12 Cambridge Terrace, Te Aro | ๐ Sat 8pm | ๐ฐ Support the Artists $43, general $37.88, concession $32.75 (incl. fees) | ๐ R18
One wristband, ten venues including Meow Nui, San Fran and Valhalla. Forty acts including Bic Runga.
๐ Ten venues across Te Aro, centred on Cuba Street | ๐ Sat from 3pm | ๐ฐ General release $119 plus a $5.50 transaction fee (early bird exhausted) | ๐ 18+ supervised, under-18s need a parent or legal guardian and venue rules apply
A whole night for Wellington drag queens, kings and things making their debut. Doors 9.30pm.
๐ Ivy Bar and Cabaret, 63 Cuba Street, Te Aro | ๐ Sat 10pm | ๐ฐ VIP $39.18, general $23.25, drag discount $10.25 (incl. fees) | ๐ R18
๐คผ Valiant Pro: Jackpot
NZ pro wrestling where the crowd votes on the match stipulations.
๐ Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club, 11 Logan Street, Upper Hutt | ๐ Sat 5pm-8pm | ๐ฐ Second row $23.25, general admission $16.58, family passes available (incl. fees). Front row sold out | ๐ All ages
๐ Linden/Tawa Market
First-Saturday craft market: handmade and upcycled goods, jewellery and artworks.
๐ Linden Community Centre, 10 Linden Avenue, Tawa | ๐ Sat 10am-1pm | ๐ฐ Free entry | ๐ All ages
Handmade homeware, vintage finds, art, food and often live music.
๐ St Peter's Village Hall, corner Beach Road & Ames Street, Paekฤkฤriki | ๐ Sat 10am-2pm | ๐ฐ Free entry | ๐ All ages
๐
Sunday 6 September - Father's Day ๐
๐ Dads Day Drags
An Ultimate Streetcar showdown for Father's Day, with a car display and preferential parking for classics in by 10am.
๐ Masterton Motorplex, Manaia Road, Masterton | ๐ Sun gates 7am, racing 10am-5pm | ๐ฐ $20 per person at the gate, under 14 free (gate sales only) | ๐ All ages
Last chance at Wellington Museum's love letter to the city's food scene, from The Green Parrot's griddle to a 1950s Cona machine. The C is for Coffee tour runs 10.30am-12pm, $25 adult or $20 student and unwaged.
๐ Wellington Museum, 3 Jervois Quay, Queens Wharf | ๐ Sun 10am-5pm, final day | ๐ฐ Free for NZ residents, international visitor fees apply | ๐ All ages
An artist walks you through painting a portrait of your dad. Materials and a drink included.
๐ Double Vision Brewery, 128A Unit E Park Road, Miramar | ๐ Sun 12pm-2pm | ๐ฐ $34.05 (incl. fees) | ๐ All ages licensed, under 18s with a paying parent or guardian
A career-spanning set including Tom's Diner, Luka and Marlene On The Wall.
๐ St James Theatre, 77-87 Courtenay Place, Te Aro | ๐ Sun 7.30pm | ๐ฐ Grand Circle from $103.35 plus a $5 to $12.95 handling fee
Half an hour of coaching then 90 minutes of throwing and games.
๐ Sweet Axe Throwing Co., 60 Cambridge Terrace, Te Aro | ๐ Sun 2pm-4pm | ๐ฐ $69.92 (incl. fees) | ๐ R12
One of Wellington's most remarkable buildings, open for the afternoon. Take Dad and soak up the famous light.
๐ Futuna Chapel, 67 Friend Street, Karori | ๐ Sun 11am-3pm | ๐ฐ Entry by koha | ๐ All ages
๐ต Rounds in the Square
Turn up, learn a round line by line, then sing it in canon.
๐ Te Ngฤkau Civic Square, Wellington Central | ๐ Sun 1pm-2pm | ๐ฐ No sign-up, just turn up
Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful and the coast crew team up on the inlet. Bring gloves, gumboots and a raincoat.
๐ Grass between Pak'nSave (12 Parumoana Street) and Pirate's Cove, Porirua | ๐ Sun 9am-10.30am | ๐ฐ No charge, bags and grabbers supplied | ๐ All ages, children with an adult
Around 40 stalls of preloved, upcycled and locally made clothing, with flags marking plus-size and menswear racks.
๐ Lower Hutt Event Centre, 30c Laings Road, Lower Hutt | ๐ Sun 10am-2pm | ๐ฐ Gold coin entry | ๐ All ages
๐ฆ๏ธ Welly Weather Watch
๐ฆ Friday 4 September: Showers, some heavy, clearing to fine in the afternoon. Northwesterlies, becoming strong for a time in the morning. High 17ยฐC, low 11ยฐC
โ๏ธ Saturday 5 September: Mainly fine, chance of a shower from afternoon. Northwesterlies, becoming strong in the afternoon. High 15ยฐC, low 12ยฐC
๐ง Sunday 6 September: Rain developing in the morning. Northwesterlies. High 15ยฐC, low 10ยฐC
Friday's showers clear to a fine afternoon and Saturday is the pick of the weekend, so that's the day for anything outdoors. Sunday's rain sets in during the morning, so plan Father's Day under a roof. Source: MetService.
โจ Extra Sprinkles - Charity of the Week
Fitting for Father's Day weekend: Big Buddy screens and trains volunteer men, then matches them one to one with boys aged 7 to 13 with no dad or male role model in their lives. Long friendships, not one-off outings.
Over 1,240 matches made since 1997, and their Wellington region runs Waikanae to the city and out to the Hutt. It asks 2-3 hours most weeks and a year's commitment, so it's a real one.
๐ (09) 828 1358 | โ๏ธ [email protected] | bigbuddy.org.nz
Over 1,240 matches made since 1997, and their Wellington region runs Waikanae to the city and out to the Hutt. It asks 2-3 hours most weeks and a year's commitment, so it's a real one.
๐ (09) 828 1358 | โ๏ธ [email protected] | bigbuddy.org.nz
Whatever you land on, we hope it's a good one - and to all the dads out there, happy Father's Day for Sunday. ๐
Ngฤ mihi nui,
Kirstie & Steve ๐
Ngฤ mihi nui,
Kirstie & Steve ๐
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