Information for your day: Weekend Planner

Weather

Not great. Cloudy with showers today, increasing later in the afternoon. Tomorrow the showers ease, and there will be a cool southwesterly breeze. Expect cloud and drizzle on Sunday, and on Monday fine spells and cloudy periods.

Traffic

If you are travelling north this Anniversary Weekend, Transit New Zealand again asks that you use State Highway 16 as an alternative to State Highway 1, to help avoid congestion and delays. You can get to State Highway 16 from the Northwestern Motorway, or from State Highway 17 via the Silverdale offramp from the Northern Motorway and then Kahikatea Flat Rd. Electronic messaging will keep you informed when traffic flows dictate that an alternative route would be prudent. If State Highway 1 traffic is heavy, some passing lanes between Wellsford and Orewa might be closed to help keep traffic moving.

Sport

The soccer Kingz play Adelaide City Force in New Plymouth tomorrow, with the game screened live on Sky Sport at 7.55pm.

Tennis at the Australian Open heads into its last days. The women's final screens live on Sky Sport 2 tomorrow at 3.30pm and the men's final on Sunday from 1pm on the same channel.

For racing fans, the Wellington Cup will be carried live on TV One from 5pm tomorrow.

Motorsport aficionados will have a late night tomorrow, with coverage of the Monte Carlo Rally starting on TV3 at 11pm.

And there's plenty of cricket, with State Shield one-day matches between Otago and Canterbury on Sky Sport at 2.20pm today and between Canterbury and Auckland on Sky Sport at 11.50am on Sunday. As well, there will be coverage of the tri-series second final between Australia and England live on Sky Sport at 4pm tomorrow and a third final if required at 4pm on Monday.

The Karapiro Rowing Regatta on Lake Karapiro near Cambridge begins tomorrow and continues on Sunday.

If you're anywhere near Taupo, the second round of the NZ offshore powerboat championships start at 12.30pm on Sunday and should be great to watch.

Freebie

The Parnell Baths reopen with a splash tomorrow, with an official ceremony at 1pm and a free-for-all from 1.30. Wear your most outrageous swimming costume and join in the fun, hosted by DJ Peter Urlich. Admission is free. From Sunday, normal opening hours will apply: 6am to 8pm on weekdays, and 8am to 8pm on weekends.

Today

* The 30th Auckland Folk Festival opens today at 8pm at the Kumeu Showgrounds, and runs until Monday. A feature of this year's event is the appearance of Irish traditional folk group Grada. As well, there will be the usual workshops, kids sessions, concerts and more. Visit the Festival website for full details.

* The Classic, the home of Auckland comedy, offers an Anniversary Weekend special of 10 comedians for $10, at 8pm today and tomorrow at 321 Queen St.

* The annual Parachute Music Festival opens today at Totara Springs Christian Centre in Matamata, with four days of top local and international artists. It's drug-free and alcohol-free so it will be a safe environment for the whole family. Phone (09) 366-1627 for further information about the festival.

* Australia's doyenne of feminist folk music, Penelope Swales, struts her stuff at Temple, 486 Queen St, from 8pm today. The concert is smokefree. Phone 377-4866 for details and bookings.

Tomorrow

* North Shore's summer music series rocks on with Dave Ngawhika and the Larry Morris Band at Browns Bay Beach at 2pm. Tomorrow, cabaret comes to Milford Reserve at the end of Craig Rd in Milford from 3pm.

* Hear spectacular singing in a unique venue at Opera in the Pa at Rotowhio Marae in Rotorua. Book at Ticketek on (07) 350-2244.

* Kaipatiki Ecological Restoration Project, which concerns itself with restoring and replanting waterways on the North Shore, is holding a working bee today from 9am to noon, and organisers could use some help. Meet at the office at 17 Lauderdale Rd, Birkdale. Phone 482-1172 for details.

* For all your antique and collectable needs, visit the fair in Coronation Hall, Waipu, this weekend.

* The big event in Whakatane this weekend is the summer arts festival, opening at 10am today, Sunday and Monday in the War Memorial complex. It promises art works from invited artists, antiques, entertainment and busking. Admission is $5 adults, $2 students and the under-12s are free.

* Discover the art of happiness at a meditation workshop today at Rocklands, 187 Gillies Ave, Epsom. The cost is $45 and $25, which includes a vegetarian lunch. Phone 361-2072 to book, or (021) 216-5980 for more information.

* Take a light-hearted look at island life at Waiheke Untamed, a variety show featuring original songs and comedy. The show starts at 7.30pm today and next Saturday in the Artworks Theatre, Korora St, Oneroa. Book at the theatre office on 372-2941.

* Paint the town yellow at Tirau's Sunflower Festival today in the main street. Come dressed as a sunflower to win a prize, enter the sunflower competitions and enjoy all the fun on offer.

* The Ranui Market is on again today from 9am to noon in the Ranui Community Centre on the corner of Swanson and Ranui Station Rds. As well as the regular attractions, today heralds the start of the Stomp the Stomp walking group, a community health initiative. If you would like to join the group, be at the centre carpark at 7.30am.

* The Devonport Village Craft Market opens at 9.30am in Harmony Hall, Wynyard St, Devonport.

Sunday

* And if you missed Saturday's Village craft market, the Devonport Handcraft Market opens at 10am today in the community house at the end of Clarence St.

* An urban safari today takes you to Waikowhai Park in Waikowhai, near Hillsborough. There are two walks, at 10am and at midday, and they are a must for plant and wildlife lovers. Meet at the carpark on Waikowhai Rd. Places are limited so bookings are essential, on 379-1341.

* The 95bFM summer music series hits Albert Park in the city from noon until 7pm. Be there and rock.

* Starbucks Music in Parks has Latin jazz and funk in the band rotunda in Auckland Domain from 2pm to 4pm. At 5pm you can wander over to the Winter Gardens to relax to music from the Auckland String Quartet.

* North Shore City's Families in Parks event today at 3pm is at Tui Park in Beach Haven. Pack up the family and a picnic and enjoy the games or take a stroll on the beach.

Monday

* Find yourself a nice viewpoint to watch the New Zealand Herald Auckland Anniversary Day yachting regatta, the world's largest one-day regatta. The racing begins at 10am.

For a complete rundown of events, visit the Regatta website or phone 0800 REGATTA (0800 734 2882).

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