What’s On in Hastings

Thu 8 – Sun 18 Oct · Civic Square, Hastings

Twelve towering light columns, a shifting soundscape and an interactive instrument you can play, free for all ages.

Wed 7 – Sat 10 Oct · Aubyn Live Theatre, Hastings

The junior stage musical version of Madagascar runs for four days at Aubyn Live Theatre.

Thu 8 Oct · The Blyth Performing Arts Centre, Havelock North

Project Prima Volta stages Monteverdi's opera L'Orfeo at The Blyth.

Fri 9 – Sat 10 Oct · Toitoi – Functions on Hastings

HaBYT Theatre performs Shakespeare's Julius Caesar over two nights at Toitoi.

Sat 10 Oct · Toitoi – Opera House, Hastings

Indian Ink Theatre Company brings Balloon Dog to the Toitoi Opera House stage.

Until Thu 22 Oct · Hastings Arts Centre

Free photography exhibitions at Hastings Arts Centre, including a music photography show from Murray Cammick.

Fri 9 – Sun 18 Oct · Havelock North Function Centre

The Keirunga Artists' free spring exhibition opens on Friday in Havelock North.

Wed 7 Oct · Hastings Art Gallery

A free youth-led takeover event at Hastings Art Gallery.

Sat 10 Oct · Havelock North Function Centre

Author Witi Ihimaera headlines a Hawke's Bay Readers & Writers Festival session on rediscovering te reo.

Sat 10 Oct, 6pm · Havelock North Function Centre

Ivy Cliffwater and Nalini Singh talk romantasy at the Readers & Writers Festival.

Fri 9 Oct · Havelock North Function Centre

A Readers & Writers Festival session on a career spent in forensics.

Sat 10 Oct · Woodford House School, Havelock North

A writing workshop led by Jo Randerson as part of the Readers & Writers Festival.

Sun 11 Oct · Havelock North Library

A hands-on zine-making workshop at Havelock North Library.

Sat 10 Oct · Hastings Art Gallery

A free talk with artists Miria Pohatu and Leanne Morrison at Hastings Art Gallery.

Until Sun 11 Oct · Tōmoana Showgrounds, Hastings

Final week to skate at the pop-up ice rink before it closes on Sunday.

Until Sat 10 – Sun 11 Oct · Hastings, Havelock North & Flaxmere libraries

Free school-holiday activities across the district's libraries, including Animals of Aotearoa, Giant Sudoku and a marble-run take-and-make kit.

Tue 6 & Thu 8 Oct · Hastings Art Gallery

Free drop-in art activities for whānau of all ages, 10am to 3pm.

Thu 8 Oct · Hastings War Memorial Library

A free school-holiday building session at the Hastings library.

Until Fri 9 Oct · The Lawn Equestrian, Hastings

School-holiday horse riding programme at The Lawn Equestrian.

Sat 10 Oct · Hastings War Memorial Library

A free family board-game session hosted by the Geeks Guild.

Thu 8 – Sun 18 Oct · Toitoi and venues across Hawke's Bay

Ten days of circus, theatre, music, dance and family events, opening on Thursday.

Fri 9 – Sun 11 Oct · Havelock North

A weekend of author sessions and workshops in Havelock North, with the festival poetry slam following on 15 October.

Fri 9 Oct · Civic Square, Hastings

A free afternoon of creativity, music and hands-on fun in the city centre.

Sun 11 Oct, 2pm · St Matthew's Church, Hastings

Hastings Music Society concert featuring Four's Company.

Wed 7 Oct (Napier) & Thu 8 Oct (Hastings) · Equippers Church

A 60s dance party, with one night in Napier and one in Hastings.

From Sat 10 Oct · Abbey Winery & Brewery, Hastings

The free Summer Sessions season kicks off at Abbey Winery & Brewery.

Thu 8 Oct · Toitoi – Assembly Ballroom, Hastings

Hoani Hotene brings his comedy show to Toitoi's Assembly Ballroom.

Thu 8 Oct · The Cabana, Napier

The October edition of the Good Laughs comedy show at The Cabana.

Fri 9 – Sat 10 Oct · CHB A&P Showgrounds, Waipukurau

An R18 live show from The Bitches Box at the Central Hawke's Bay A&P Showgrounds.

Sat 10 Oct · Farmhouse Kitchen Cooking School, Havelock North

A hands-on fermentation workshop at Farmhouse Kitchen Cooking School.

Sat 10 Oct · Herschell Street, Napier

Free Saturday farmers' market in central Napier.

Sun 11 Oct · The Mahoe Guide Hall, Taradale

Free Sunday market at The Mahoe Guide Hall in Taradale.

Sun 11 – Sun 18 Oct · Gwavas Garden Homestead, Tikokino

Tours of the Gwavas homestead, garden and bush in Central Hawke's Bay.

Sun 11 Oct · Woodland Hills, Ōtāne

A spring day out at Woodland Hills near Ōtāne.

Sun 11 Oct · Wallingford Homestead, Waipukurau

An R18 spring event at the historic Wallingford Homestead.

Sat 10 Oct · Nelly Jull Park, Waipawa

A free community day as part of the Waipawa Spring Festival.

Sat 10 Oct · Taradale Anglican Church, Napier

A free market for pre-loved kids' gear in Taradale.

Sun 11 Oct · Havelock North Function Centre

A one-day Wool on Wheels pop-up in Havelock North.

Sat 10 Oct · Hastings Racecourse

The Group 1 Livamol Classic headlines this Spring Racing Carnival race day at Hastings Racecourse.

Wed 14 Oct · Napier Municipal Theatre

Che Fu and the Kratez play the Napier Municipal Theatre.

Thu 15 Oct · Arts Inc. Hawke's Bay, Hastings

The Readers & Writers Festival's regional poetry slam.

Thu 15 Oct · Elwood Function Centre, Hastings

A community quiz night at the Elwood Function Centre.

Fri 16 – Sun 18 Oct · Toitoi – Opera House, Hastings

Québec circus company Machine de Cirque performs at the Toitoi Opera House.

Sun 18 Oct · Mitre 10 Sports Park, Hastings

Women's triathlon based at Mitre 10 Sports Park.

Mon 19 – Sun 25 Oct · Hastings War Memorial Library

Free heritage activities including a discovery trail, historical selfies and old-school games.

Thu 22 Oct · The Boneshed, Havelock North

Italian band OvO plays The Boneshed in Havelock North.

Sun 25 Oct · Mitre 10 Park, Hastings

A free Diwali celebration at Mitre 10 Park.

From Thu 29 Oct · Flaxmere Park

Free summer events at Flaxmere Park begin, running through to March.

Fri 30 – Sat 31 Oct · Splash Planet, Hastings

Halloween-themed nights at Splash Planet.

Sat 31 Oct · Toitoi – Opera House, Hastings

A Halloween sing-along screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.