What’s on in Wellington this weekend
TODAY
Concert: NZSSC Finale Concert
Lower Hutt Town Hall, 7.30pm, $10-$25
The New Zealand Secondary Students Choir gathers our finest young voices (13 to 18 years) from all over the country. Tonight, the choir members round off what has been an unusual two-year membership with no international tours.
Theatre: The Older The Better
Circa Theatre, 6pm, $25-$46
Hens’ Teeth is delighted to present at Circa, a highly entertaining theatrical season showcasing the remarkable talents of Coral Trimmer, Sunny Amey and Dame Kate Harcourt.
Tickets circa.co.nz.
Event: Night Lights and Christmas Market
Old Government Buildings, 55 Lambton Quay, 5pm-10pm, December 18-20, $2
Night Lights and Christmas Market is a community event hosted by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Victoria University, a first for Wellington at a special heritage place in the gardens of the Old Government Buildings. The aim of this event is to unite the community after a difficult year of lockdown with fun for all the family. A Christmas wonderland of lights, food and gifts stalls, traditional Christmas carols. Lots of talented artists, musicians and choral music.
Exhibition: World of WearableArt Up Close
Te Papa, until February 14, $22.50
This theatrical exhibition is a spectacular brandnew experience created for all ages that translates the theatricality of the annualWOW Awards Show into an unforgettable immersive experience. Tickets from Ticketmaster.
TOMORROW Market: Island Bay
St Francis De Sales Church, 173 Clyde St, 9am-2pm
This newmarket offers everything from coffee and cheese to pre-loved clothing, handmade ornaments and jewellery.
Exhibition: Mahara Gallery
Waikanae, 5pm
The opening of Trevor Pye’s exhibition, The Still Life Of Reverie, and Te Ara Korowai’sWalking The Creative Path To Well-being. All welcome. Kids: Fairy-Tale Adventures – Christmas Special Capital E, 11am, free
Join Fairy Cat in this Christmas special. See
classic fairy-tales come to life with your suggestions. Will Cinderella find the porridge that is too hot? Or will Rapunzel get a haircut? It’s up to you in this fun, improvised fairy-tale adventure.
Music: Bulldogs Allstar Goodtime Show
Upper Hutt Cossie Club, 7.30pm, $25
Two hours of wall-to-wall music, and toe-tapping fun featuring all the band’s No 1 hits from the seventies. Hear such nostalgic gems as Aunty Alice Bought Us This and Pretty Girl.
Tickets from Eventfinda or the Cossie Club. Tours: Twilight Tours
Zealandia Eco-Sanctuary, Karori, 7.15pm, $40-$85
Experience the sanctuary as it transforms from daylight to twilight during this special guided experience, offered after closing time. You’ll see our gorgeous native birds returning to the sanctuary to settle into their nests, the changing behaviours of birds as they transition from day to night, and perhaps even hear the first sounds of our nocturnal birds, such as kiwi and ruru as they wake.
Tickets: visitzealandia.com.
SUNDAY
Event: Poetry At The Fringe
The Fringe, Allen St, 4pm-6pm, free
The final Poetry At The Fringe programme for 2020 is all open mic – spoken word and music items welcomed. Snacks provided.
Exhibition: Reuben Paterson – Black Matter The Dowse, until March 21, free
The firework takes on new significance in this series of works by Auckland-based artist Reuben Paterson (Nga¯ti Rangitihi, Nga¯i Tu¯hoe, Tu¯hourangi). Paterson’s signature glitter canvasses feature cascades in skin-toned shades, including the black backgrounds that reference dark matter and Te Kore, aMa¯ori concept used to describe a time and space before light entered the world.
Exhibition: The Toi 3 Hundy
Toi Po¯neke Arts Centre, until December 22 Looking for an opportunity to start your own art collection or expand on your current one? See what the residents of Toi Po¯neke have been up to in the centre’s annual cash and carry exhibition.