If you’re planning an outing to the Festival of Lights at Pukekura Park, there’s a huge line-up over multiple stages to choose from, including visual spectacles and live music.
Tonight (Friday), the big drawcard is Dream Garden on the Fred Parker Lawn. Starting at 9:30 pm, it’s a surreal mix of aerial circus, projection art, and physical comedy.
Over on the Hatchery Lawn, hip-hop artist Mazbou Q takes the stage at 9:15pm, following Taranaki’s own Kwyze who kicks off at 8:30pm.
For a more mellow start to your Friday, Hamish Cameron & Friends will be playing on the Fred Parker Lawn from 8pm, warming up the crowd before the circus gig takes over.
Saturday shifts gears completely. If the New Year celebrations have left you feeling a bit worse for wear, the Full Moon Gong Journey at 8pm (Fred Parker Lawn) is exactly what the doctor ordered. It’s a sound healing session designed to reset your system.
However, if you’re ready to keep the party going, indie-rockers Retro Valley are playing the Hatchery Lawn at the same time (8pm).
They’ll be followed by the high-energy funk and reggae sounds of Otium at 9:15pm, which promises to get the crowd moving.
Dream Garden performs its second and final show on Saturday night at 9:30pm.
Sunday winds things down with a mix of brain power and soul. The popular festival quiz, Quiz Me If You Can, takes over the Fred Parker Lawn at 7:30pm. It’s usually a battle for the best spot, so get there early.
Alternatively, check out the Talkbox Session with Ny Oh at 7pm for an intimate musical finish to the week.
The free festival bus runs from the CBD (Ariki Street, outside Centre City) starting at 7:30pm every night, on a continuous loop to the park and back. There’s also two hours of free parking at Centre City. Given the crowds we’ve seen on Fillis Street lately, it’s your best bet for a stress-free arrival.
Friday, January 2
- Hamish Cameron & Friends (8:00 pm – 9:15 pm | Fred Parker Lawn): A relaxed start to the night with local acoustic vibes.
- Kwyze (8:30pm–9:10pm: Hatchery Lawn): Taranaki rapper and producer bringing poetic, grounding hip-hop and lofi beats.
- Mazbou Q (9:15 pm – 10:15 pm | Hatchery Lawn): UK-born, NZ-based hip-hop artist known for high-energy delivery and rapid-fire flows.
- Dream Garden (9:30 pm – 10:15 pm | Fred Parker Lawn): Special Event. A surreal performance combining aerial circus, projection art, and physical comedy.
Saturday, January 3
- Full Moon Gong Journey (8:00 pm – 9:15 pm | Fred Parker Lawn): Special Event. A restorative sound healing session using gongs and vibration to help you relax and reset.
- Retro Valley (8:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Hatchery Lawn): Five-piece indie-pop/rock band from Hamilton bringing a summery, high-energy set.
- Otium (9:15 pm – 10:15 pm | Hatchery Lawn): A funk-reggae powerhouse from Whangārei, guaranteed to get the crowd dancing.
- Dream Garden (9:30 pm – 10:15 pm | Fred Parker Lawn): Special Event. Your second chance to catch this aerial circus show if you missed it Friday.
Sunday, January 4
- Talkbox Session with Ny Oh (7:00 pm – 7:45 pm | Hatchery Lawn): An intimate musical session to wind down the weekend.
- Quiz Me If You Can (7:30 pm – 9:30 pm | Fred Parker Lawn): Special Event. The classic Festival trivia night. Gather your team and test your knowledge under the trees.
