Vintage and classic cars, engines, tractors, helicopter tides, Vikings, military vehicles - the things that shaped our country in the past 100 years - are on show, along with displays, live music, arts and crafts stalls, food outlets, kids activities and more.
Tomorrow, Karaka sports ground.
Free parking onsite.
Adults $15, children $5, under-5s free. Family pass $30 2 adults/2 children.
Flauting convention
Flautist Catherine Bowie will perform Reinecke's flute concerto Opus 283 in D Major with the St Matthew's Chamber Orchestra. William Dart, Weekend magazine's classical music critic, writes of her consummate artistry and lyrical outpouring.
Tomorrow, 2.30pm, St Matthew-in-the-City, cnr Wellesley St and Hobson St. Door sales. Adults $25. Concessions $20, children under 12 free.
Stomp all over it
The Stadium Stomp Eden Park gives people the chance to be among the first to stair-climb this world class stadium. Taking stair climbing and endurance events to a whole new level, Stadium Stomp Eden Park provides entrants with the one-off opportunity to take on the 5000-plus steps of Eden Park and raise money for a nominated charity at the same time.
Stadium Stomp has events in four stadiums in Australia (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sydney Cricket Ground, Adelaide Oval and the Gabba) but this is the first time the event has been held in New Zealand.
Tomorrow, 8am-11am, Eden Park, Auckland.
Cultural festival
Travel the world in a day at the Auckland International Cultural Festival. Cornerstone Roots headline the festival alongside Oceania Storm, and they'll be joined by musicians and dancers representing everywhere from Japan to Croatia. Countries who have joined the festival for the first time this year are Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Congo, Portugal, West Indies, Egypt, and Bolivia.
Culinary delights include Portuguese pasteis de nata, Sri Lankan roti, home-style Egyptian dishes and Kurdish desserts.
Also happening is the fiercely contested International Football Tournament - games are played throughout the day with a host of countries competing.
Tomorrow, 10am-5pm, Mt Roskill War Memorial Park. Bike racks available for cyclists; car parking is available for $3 at Wesley Intermediate School.
Dual challenge
Whether you're an endurance athlete, a fitness fanatic, a family in need of a day out, or just have a New Year's Resolution to stick to, you might want to check out the Partners Life DUAL, a unique sporting event staged on Motutapu and Rangitoto islands.
Fullers ferries will be running from Auckland City to Home Bay, Motutapu for the 8am start time, and back to town at the end of the day. There will be all-day entertainment and refreshments, as well as a post-event barbecue, with childcare and overnight camping available.
Today, 8am, Motutapu and Rangitoto Islands.
For event options, and to register, visit thedual.co.nz
ACL
It's the acronym on everyone's lips this weekend - Auckland City Limits. Quite apart from stunning international headliners Kendrick Lamar and The National, there's food, glorious food. Fancy a duck dog - duck and fennel sausage, hazelnuts, pickled red cabbage and tarragon mayo in a brioche bun for $8? It's on the menu at Cazador restaurant. Wash it down with a cool beverage from the Golden Dawn pop-up bar. Bring the under 10-year-olds too. They get in free.
Door sales available.
Today, 11am-11pm, Western Springs.
PLAN AHEAD
Next weekend: Easter show
Celebrate the long Easter Weekend at New Zealand's largest fun event, the Royal Easter Show. As well as big, freaky rides (like theTurbo Boost), there are lots of fun activities and sideshows. Watch the Drift Trikes, have a go at the Zombie Urban Escape Challenge, see Chelsea and her amazing performing dogs and check out all the different animals on display. This year, there's a big pig competition, kids' "bunny shearing" (with wooden shears on toy animals), a nightly fireworks display and 10,000 free Waikato Chocolate Funky Bunnies each day.
Wednesday, March 23 to Easter Monday, ASB Showgrounds, Green Lane, Auckland. Admission is free.
Next weekend: Easter jazz festival
It will be a Good Friday indeed, when Waiheke Island plays host to an ecclectic and exciting lineup of international and local musicians.
Starting with the legendary Good Friday Groove, the festival embraces musos from other non-jazz genres like Greg Johnson, coming to New Zealand from LA with his band. Tahuna Breaks headline a show packed with some big names including SJD, Sal Valentine & the Babyshakes and Lawrence Arabia.
Top Melbourne eight-piece show band Sex on Toast are apparently spellbinding. Children 12 years and under are free.
March 25-27, Waiheke Island.
This month: Tahi open day
It's not often you get to glimpse behind the closed doors of exclusive retreats. Tahi is a privately owned ecological retreat of more than 350ha, with a surf beach and native forest. Located half an hour east of Whangarei, visitors can enjoy a day of exploring the land, taking a guided tour through regenerating native forest, learning about the rich Maori history with a visit to the Pā site. Tour Tahi's on-site honey processing plant, and the Tahi Cafe provides a breakfast and lunch menu, great coffee, and Tahi's delicious manuka honey icecream, made by Kohu Road.
Tahi Open Day, 1824 Pataua North Rd, Pataua North, Whangarei.
Easter Saturday, 9am-3pm. Entry free. On-site parking.
ph (09) 436 0082
Next month: Waiheke wine and food festival
Enjoy artisan food and award-winning wine on the island, with live music from Nathan Haines' band, Aaron Carpenter & the Revelators, Rikki Morris and Chet O'Connell and Rain Dogs. Buses will run from both ferries to Te Motu "The Airstrip" and return, so all you need to worry about is having fun.
Ticket price includes the ferry, bus, a wine glass, lanyard, festival flyer and a glass of wine on arrival. On-island tickets are also available.
In addition to this Festival Day, there is a whole Festival Week of events created for your pleasure - from wine and cheese masterclasses and winemakers' dinners, to a tango dance, a grape harvest and a foot stomp.
April 2, 11am-5.30pm, Waiheke Island.
