Celebration of the Performing Arts: Queen's Birthday weekend

1500 artists are involved in this citywide event - and it's all free. It kicks off at noon on Saturday at the Town Hall, with Mika's group Torotoro, followed by an afternoon of multicultural dance and music.

There are many highlights - "strolling performers" wandering the inner city, town hall workshops on various aspects of the performing arts, bands at Albert's in the Aotea Centre, a kids' drama stage, and a mini-version of The Marriage of Figaro by young artists from NBR New Zealand Opera and the Auckland Philharmonia.

In other words, 1500 reasons to get out of the house during the long weekend.

Auckland City Council