This is a shared arts column put together by the Howick Historical Village, Te Tuhi, and Uxbridge Arts and Culture.
Events:
Thursday, 16 October, 6.30 pm: Uxbridge’s painting event – Poppies & Prosecco sip and paint. 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick. Book via uxbridge.org.nz. $78 drinks and nibbles included.
Festival of Frights returns to Howick Historical Village with four great events! Bells Road, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga. Tickets via Eventfinda.
Saturday, 25 October, 5pm-9pm: Spooky, scary fun at Fright Night. Adult $25, child $15 (under 12 months free).
Wednesday, 29 October and Thursday, 30 October, 7.30pm-9pm: Join lamplit After Dark guided tours. $35, ages 16+.
Thursday, 31 October, 4pm-8pm: Enjoy family-friendly trick-or-treating at our safe, fun Halloween. Adult $18, child $12 (under 12 months free).
Sunday, 9 November, 10am-4pm: Taste history with the foods of early Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland at Howick Historical Village’s Live Day | History in the Baking! At 2pm, mark the launch of The Howick and Districts Historical Society’s ‘Heritage Home Cookery’ book with a talk by David Veart, author of First Catch Your Weka. A Story of New Zealand Cooking. Live Day prices.
Saturday, 15 November, two shows at 11am and 2pm: Uxbridge Theatre presents The Bubble Show! Experience the magic of bubbles like never before with world-renowned and international award-winning bubble artist Eran the Bubble Man! A dazzling, family-friendly spectacle! Book via uxbridge.org.nz. Tickets from $25.
Sunday, 30 November, 2pm-4pm: Experience Polish Christmas Eve traditions like watching the first star and Wigilia supper. Create paper and wool decorations. Ages five+ (children must be accompanied by an adult). Polish Heritage Trust Museum, 125 Elliot Street, Howick. Bookings preferred via 09 533 3530 or phtmuseum@outlook.com. $10.
Ongoing:
Now until Saturday, November 1: PHOTO OP. x Malcolm Smith Gallery presents LONG COVID, an exhibition of solo and collaborative work by Matt Henry and Emil McAvoy. It explores notions of contagion between forms of art and design, mining the political and poetic potential of geometric abstraction in post-Covid Aotearoa. 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick. Free.
From 11 October: One-off workshops at Uxbridge every Saturday. Ranging from fine arts, lifestyle to personal keepsake creations. Limited spaces available. Book via www.uxbridge.org.nz. Prices vary.
Through October: Arts Out East presents a series of images by Bobo Designs from the project The Mini Print Vending Machine. Howick Frames, 61 Picton Street. Howick, Free.
Now until June, 2026, every second Thursday 11am-1pm: Arts Out East and NFACT present Turning old into gold in Ormiston, establishing a safe and welcoming space for women from refugee and migrant backgrounds, eventually creating a community-led mending and upcycling shop. Ormiston Town Centre, Free.
Established:
Arts Out East presents Neighbourhood Stories, a podcast led by Anju Desai aiming to shine a light on the contributions of East Auckland people who are making a positive impact in their community. Online. Free.
Arts Out East presents Speak Out East (Community Poetry), a project aimed at utilising unused wall spaces throughout Botany Town Centre to showcase poetry from various community groups. Botany Town Centre. Free.
