House of Travel Expo

20 August 2026

4-7pm

Distinction Hotel Palmerston North

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About the event

The House of Travel Expo is coming to Palmerston North! Dream. Plan. Be inspired.
Ready to be inspired for your next big holiday? Whether it’s a bucket-list adventure, a romantic getaway, an unforgettable family holiday, an incredible cruise or tour, a thrill-filled escape or a relaxing break, this is the event for you.

Join us for an afternoon of travel inspiration where you can:
🎥 Be inspired by destination and travel presentations
🌐 Get insider tips from experienced travel experts
🗺️ Discover destinations you may never have considered
💼 Explore cruises, tours, packages and tailor-made holidays
💰 Take advantage of exclusive event-only offers
🎁 Go in the draw to win amazing prizes
✨ FREE ENTRY – everyone welcome! ✨

Whether you already know where you’re heading next or you’re just starting to dream, come along and let’s start planning your next holiday together.

Night at the Museum- Night Market

20 August 2026

6-9pm

Te Manawa Museum

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About the event

Come enjoy a fun night out, supporting our community and youth with their small businesses.
Business stalls, live music and food trucks will all be on site!
CASH only, BANK TRANSFER vendor dependent
Proudly brought to you by PNCC, YES, CEDA and Te Manawa

Afternoon Painting in Palmy

26 August 2026

11.30am-1.30pm

Little Savanna

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About the event

Join us for a relaxed afternoon of painting in the heart of Palmerston North. This is a fun, guided painting session designed for anyone—no previous painting experience needed. We’ll walk you through the artwork step by step while you unwind, sip, and get those creative juices flowing.
Whether you’re here to try something new, catch up with friends, or sneak a little creativity into your workday, this session is all about connection, creativity, and zero pressure.
Why an afternoon session?
✨ Perfect for shift workers – enjoy a creative break before or after work
✨ Ideal for mums – fit it in around school hours
✨ Great for part-time workers – make the most of your free afternoons
✨ Team bonding during work hours – a fun, relaxed alternative to traditional team building
✨ Friends catching up – paint, sip, chat, and laugh together without the late night
What’s included
🎨 All painting materials provided
🖌️ Step-by-step guidance from a friendly instructor
🖼️ Your own finished artwork to take home
😄 A relaxed, social atmosphere
No drinks are included in the ticket price, but drinks are available for purchase at the venue.
Come solo, bring a friend, or book as a group—this is your excuse to slow down, get creative, and enjoy a fun afternoon out. Spots are limited, so grab your ticket and join us for an afternoon of painting and good vibes.

Sound with Abi Symes

29 August 2026

9am-4pm

Centrepoint Theatre

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About the event

In 2026, thanks to our generous funder Mercury, the course is FREE to Manawatu students aged 14 to 18. Limited spots, express your interest: https://www.centrepoint.co.nz/basement-co-labs

Get hands-on with the essentials of live sound! This workshop covers the basics of setting up a PA system — from plugging in and signal flow to EQ and gain structure. Learn how to choose and position microphones for vocals, instruments, and drums to get the best sound possible. Perfect for beginners, bands wanting to level up their live shows, or anyone curious about how it all works behind the desk.

The Stomach is a community music hub in Palmerston North, offering affordable rehearsal spaces, an accessible recording studio, and an all-ages venue. We support artists of all genres and stages, from first-time jammers to seasoned performers. Our focus is on creativity, connection, and keeping live music thriving in the Manawatū. The Stomach is operated by Creative Sounds Society Inc — a not-for-profit proudly run by musicians, for musicians.

Lights with Talya Pilcher

30 August 2026

9am-4pm

Centrepoint Theatre, Palmerston North

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About the event

In 2026, thanks to our generous funder Mercury, the course is FREE to Manawatu students aged 14 to 18. Limited spots, express your interest: https://www.centrepoint.co.nz/basement-co-labs

Focusing on the basics of light rigging, learn about lighting systems and their uses.

Talya is a graduate from Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School’s technical production course. She has since worked in the entertainment industry doing lighting, staging, pyrotechnics, and event management for over 20 years. She has designed the lighting for many of Centrepoint Theatre’s productions including That Bloody Woman, Shortland Street – The Musical and Misery. Recent credits include: Act Three's production of Come From Away, the touring production of Two Guitars, and Monument at Circa Theatre. When she's not working on theatre lighting design projects, she can be found working behind the scenes on Trackside broadcasts around the lower North Island and tutoring lighting at Feilding High School.

Collage & Cake Workshop

5 September 2026

1pm-5pm

Square Edge Community Centre

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About the event

ome and spend a few relaxed hours cutting, gluing and playing with paper - with coffee and cake on the side.
This is a low-pressure, welcoming collage session where you can experiment, make something small or big, start something new, or just enjoy the process. No rules, no expectations! Just time and space to create.
Magazines, books, scissors and glue will be provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own materials or works-in-progress too.
Whether you’re brand new to collage or already slightly obsessed, this is a space to unwind, connect, and make something with your hands.

To register email [email protected]

Coffee, tea, and cake included.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

21 August 2026 - 5 September 2026

7-9.30pm

Regent on Broadway

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About the event

Based on the famous novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features an original score composed by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray) and a book by David Greig. The score also pays homage to the Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley score from the 1971 film with songs from the motion picture including "The Candy Man," "I've Got a Golden Ticket," "Oompa Loompa Song," and "Pure Imagination."

The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory…but only to a lucky few. Young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination including chocolate waterfalls, nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka's army of curious Oompa-Loompas.

Shakespeare with Peter Hambleton

20 September 2026

9am-4pm

Centrepoint Theatre

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About the event

In 2026, thanks to our generous funder Mercury, the course is FREE to Manawatu students aged 14 to 18. Limited spots, express your interest: https://www.centrepoint.co.nz/basement-co-labs

Who are you talking to? An intensive, fun-filled session exploring what we can learn from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London, and the Pop-up Globe. We’ll delve into practical skills that will improve your focus, connection and confidence on stage. Great fun for newcomers who want to decode Shakespeare’s mystery, for those wanting to enhance their skills before 2027 SGCNZ Festivals, and for theatre-lovers!

Well-known Wellington Actor/Director Peter Hambleton (of THE HOBBIT movies, and local TV comedy HAPPINESS) has directed many of Shakespeare’s plays, including ALL's WELL THAT ENDS WELL, and THE COMEDY OF ERRORS for Manawatu Summer Shakespeare. He also appeared at Centrepoint Theatre in HUDSON AND HALLS LIVE.

Palmy Drag Fest 2026

3 October 2026

8pm

Regent on Broadway

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About the event

Step right up! The curtain is about to rise on the most spectacular, dazzling, high-camp event of the year.

Prepare for extraordinary talent, outrageous looks, and jaw-dropping performances as Palmy Drag Fest returns - bigger, bolder, and more fabulous than ever before. This is drag at its most iconic.

Hosted by Rhubarb Rouge & RubyDax alongside a powerhouse lineup of local and national performers, each bringing their own unique style, energy, and artistry to the stage, expect a night packed with unforgettable moments, high-impact numbers, and pure queer excellence.

From high glamour to high chaos, this is a full-scale spectacle celebrating the very best of drag.

Trust us, you won’t want to miss what we have in store.
Secure your tickets now and be part of the biggest show on earth.

Rainbow Fair

3 October 2026

10am

Palmy Conference + Function Centre

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About the event

Join us on Saturday 3 October from 10AM – 2PM at the Palmerston North Conference and Function Centre for a colourful celebration of community, creativity, pride, and fabulousness before the big main show that night!

Expect:
✨ Local stalls & makers
✨ Community groups
✨ Performances & entertainment
✨ Food, fun & fabulous vibes
✨ A safe and welcoming space for everyone
And thanks to our amazing sponsors Local Health — entry is once again completely FREE OF CHARGE!
Want to be part of the fun?
🌟 Stall applications are now OPEN at palmydrag.com
🌟 Performer applications are also OPEN — and yes, this is a paid opportunity!

Come celebrate diversity, support local talent, and kick off the biggest day of the festival with us. Whether you’re shopping, performing, connecting, or just soaking up the atmosphere — the Rainbow Fair is the place to be!

Last Song, Actually!!!

14 November 2026 - 12 December 2026

6.30pm

Centrepoint Theatre

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About the event

Step into the whirlwind two years after the beloved China Inn changed hands.

The community is buzzing: tragedy, mystery, and mayhem collide as wedding bells threaten to ring. But who’s the real bride? Where’s the elusive groom? Why is everyone glued to their phones?

Continuing with the lovable characters we met in Last Song, Last Song, Actually is a comedic rollercoaster that is a love letter to the magic of karaoke, the warmth of the Palmy community and the haziness of late-night shenanigans.

NOTE: You do not have to see Last Song to understand Last Song Actually – no one really understood that one anyway, but it was fun though!

Royal New Zealand Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

16 December 2026

7.30pm

Regent on Broadway

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About the event

In summer, we return to a much-loved Royal NZ Ballet production from 2011: Greg Horsman’s fairytale version of The Sleeping Beauty.
The age-old story of the princess who pricks her finger and falls into an enchanted sleep, only to be wakened by true love, is brought to life in picture-perfect designs by Gary Harris, classical choreography and Tchaikovsky’s music. A touch of wizardry from Wellington’s W?t? Workshop adds to the joy and wonder, making this a pre-Christmas treat for audiences of all ages.
2011 saw the premiere of this production, enjoyed by more than 42,000 people around New Zealand. Choreographer Greg Horsman left the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2012 to take up a new role at Queensland Ballet, and this production has now been staged there several times to great acclaim. 15 years after its creation, we are proud to bring it home to where it all began.

Munch Thursday Quiz Nights

26 February 2026 - 17 December 2026

6-8pm

Munch - Broadway Ave

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About the event

Come join us for the fortnightly ritual on a Thursday night at Munch on Broadway, where you and your crew will negotiate five rounds of amazing trivia with Gee Quiz.

Your team's street cred, life smarts and common sense will go a long way to ensuring success on the night.

Add to the mix delicious food and an incredible vibe, it's the place to be on a Tuesday night with plenty of time for laughter, banter and merrymaking!

The quiz kicks off at 6pm and runs for roughly 2 hours. So, grab your buddies and come on down and join us for one of Palmy's best quiz nights – Munch style!

Neighbourhood Wednesday Quiz Nights

25 February 2026 - 23 December 2026

7pm

Neighbourhood Palmy

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About the event

Every Wednesday is quiz night with Quiz Master Brad at one of Palmy's best venues - Neighbourhood Bar & Restaurant!
Make sure to check out their Facebook page, as quiz nights book out EARLY!

Kicking off at 7pm, the quiz offers five rounds of big-screen trivia that's not too hard, not too easy, but includes content that relates to you and your crew! So if you've got some street smarts, a good attitude, and a dash of luck, you'll be a good chance on the night.

Add to the mix some bonus games, great food & drink, a stack of prizes, great banter and laughs aplenty, it's the place to be on a Wednesday for a rollicking good time!