Wellington provides quirky, creative and out-this-world festivals and events like no other. From a concert of dogs, wearable art and a culinary festival all month, this little capital has a jammed packed year of events not to miss.
New Zealand Festival of the Arts – February/March
The New Zealand Festival of the Arts 2020 is going to be a biggie. With three high-profile artists invited to curate a signature series of events that will take place alongside the overall festival programme of work from Aotearoa and the world. The curators have each been assigned a week of the three-week-long festival, so that each week will have a different feel and flavour, with a programme of works that are more varied, surprising and inspiring than ever before. Wellington darling, resident and Oscar winner, Bret McKenzie will work alongside Grammy Award-winning Laurie Anderson and contemporary artist and radical theatre-maker Lemi Ponifasio.
Website: https://www.festival.nz/
Matariki Maori New Year – June
The Māori New Year is becoming an annual event of national significance. Matariki celebrations illuminate the tangata whenua (original people of the land) worldview, reminding us of natural ways to mark the passage of time – in contrast to artificial timekeeping mechanisms, such as the watch. They help to revitalise customary knowledge and encourage the flourishing of new knowledge. Matariki offers a time for New Zealanders to consider their relationship with the natural world – the islands, sea, and sky of their home. The star cluster Matariki (also known as the Pleiades) reappears in the dawn sky above Aotearoa New Zealand in late May or early June. The new moon following the rising of Matariki signals the Māori New Year. Today, Matariki has been revived as a celebration of people, culture, language, spirituality, and history. It is a time for whānau (family) and friends to come together to reflect on the past 12 months and look towards the year ahead.
Wellington On a Plate/Beervana – August
The culinary extravaganza that takes over the city and the wider Wellington region for the whole of August, Visa Wellington On a Plate is the ultimate culinary festival in the capital. With a long list of guest chefs and local restaurant collaborations it’ll be a struggle to choose between the hundreds of pop-ups, events, special menus, burgers, cocktails and exhibitions in the programme. And during one August weekend every year, beer enthusiasts descend on Wellington for Beervana. This huge celebration of all things beery is a must-do whether you consider yourself a seasoned expert or don’t know your Simcoe from your Amarillo (hops, that is).
Website: https://www.visawoap.com/ & https://beervana.co.nz/
World of WearableArt – September/October
It’s been described as ‘Part Cirque du Soleil, part Broadway play and part avant-garde couture show.’ After three decades of thrilling audiences, it’s unsurprising the World of Wearable Art Awards Show is now New Zealand’s largest and most spectacular theatrical production, entertaining 60,000 people for three weeks every year in Wellington. With a range of talented designers from all over the world – gracing the capital city with their outstanding and out-this-world wearable art. Did we mention that recently artist Lizzo was seen wearing a World of WearableArt garment in her Rolling Stone feature!
Website: https://www.worldofwearableart.com/
.jpg){kind=tracking}
