New Zealand Post Family Weekend is a fun-filled two days of events for kids and their adults, many of which will be free. Wolves, puppets, a giant unfolding truck and tall tales... check out the events below!
Lunchtime Music
Relax and enjoy free contemporary sounds from New Zealand musicians Tama Waipara, Iva Lamkum and Tui Mamaki. With a special appearance from The Kiwileles, a 100 strong orchestra of ukenik kids from schools around Auckland, strumming old favourites on the ukulele! MC’ed by rising star from Mt Albert Grammar, Daniel Nisbet.
When: Sat 14 March, 11.30am – 1.30pm, Tama Waipara, Iva Lamkum and Tui Mamaki – Circus Songs
Sun 15 March, 12pm – 1pm, The Kiwileles
FREE
Spiegeltent Story Time
Rediscover the joy of listening as New Zealand children’s writers bring their work, and the picture book
of your imagination, to life in the magical surroundings of The Famous Spiegeltent.
When:
Sat 14 March
10 – 11am: Peter Millett Moa’s Ark, Humpty Rugby, The Anzac Biscuit Man
11.30 – 12.30pm: Paula Green Macaroni Moon, Flamingo Bendalingo
2.30 – 3.30pm: Brian Falkner The Tomorrow Code
Sun 15 March
10am –11am: Mark Sommerset Cork and the Ocean, Cork and the Bottle
11.30 – 12.30pm: Tessa Duder Jellybean
2.30 – 3.30pm: Lorraine Orman Haunted
Where: The Famous Spiegeltent, Aotea Square
FREE
Real Art Roadshow
Getting real art in front of people to inspire tomorrow’s artists today: that’s what the Real Art Roadshow is all about. This mobile art gallery in a giant unfolding truck that travels throughout New Zealand. It will be stationed in Red Square so families can experience more than 60 original works by some of New Zealand’s leading artists, including Shane Cotton, Gretchen Albrecht, Dick Frizzell, Michael Parekowhai and Michael Smither.
When: Sat 14 – Sun 15 March, 10am – 4pm
Where: Aotea Centre, THE EDGE®
FREE
Kids as Critics
Candid as kids can be, we are fostering a new generation of arts critics! Over the weekend, artist Judy Darragh works with kids to write and draw their responses to the arts onto the surface of ping pong balls. These critiques will be suspended on string to create a mobile of words and images on display for all to see.
When: Sat 14 – Sun 15 March, 10am – 4pm
Where: Aotea Centre, THE EDGE®
FREE
HOP-SQUASH
Hop -Squash wants to be squashed by you! It’s a crazy 3d frenzy.
Forget numbers — this soundscape of squares has mad objects that shout action-packed comic sounds. Obliterate a delicate tea party, stomp on some snakes, or rumble some storm clouds in this whacky remake of an old favourite.
When: Sat 14 – Sun 15 March, 10am – 4pm
Where: Aotea Centre, THE EDGE®
FREE
The Arrival Shadow Puppetry Workshop- FULLY BOOKED
Kate Parker, creator and performer from The Arrival, will facilitate a shadow puppetry workshop. Learn to play with scale and perspective, build and animate your own cardboard creature or object with the magic of light and shadow.
FREE
Fluff Workshop
The offbeat Gingham family invite children to bring their favourite or strangest toy into the magical
world of their home for lost toys. Through music, sound and movement children will delve into
the secret world of the imagination as they explore the unique personality of their toy.
When: Sat 14 March, 2pm – 3pm
Where: Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE®
Tickets: $10
Bookings essential. Contact workshops@aucklandfestival.co.nz
age-o-meter 5 – 8 years
Small Feet, Tall Tales
Join Finn Ferrier, BFM Kids show host, for fun in The Famous Spiegeltent. Finn will ignite the limitless imaginations of the little ones to create a spontaneous Festival Tale. It begins with the spark of one imagination, it twists, it turns, and together kids will create a whale of a tale.
When: Sat 14 and Sun 15 March, 1 – 2pm
Where: The Famous Spiegeltent, Red Square
FREE
PLUS…Kids face painting by award winning artists from NZ Body Art
Sat 14 & Sun 15 Mar // From midday
Aotea Aquare
Koha
... and stilt walkers and clowns!
New Zealand Post Family Weekend happens on Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 March
Watch this site for more to come and check out Peter and the Wolf and Fluff!