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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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!

New Caledonia Film Festival 

3 October 2026

7pm

Globe Theatre

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The New Caledonia Film Festival returns to Palmerston North! Join us for a one-off screening of New Caledonian award winning short movies at The Globe Theatre on Saturday 3 October at 7pm.
Tickets include New Caledonian food sampling and a complimentary glass of wine.

Walls Alive

5 October 2026 - 10 October 2026

7.30-10pm

Palmerston North Central Library (George Street) or Te Marae o Hine – The Square

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Follow Ōrea, an elder longfin tuna from Te Awa o Manawatū, as she travels around the world carrying a call for conservation and meeting species whose habitats and futures are under threat.

Along the way, you'll meet species including the Māui dolphin, kākāpō, Amur leopard and African savanna elephant.

The artwork has been created by students from Te Kura Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu and local artist Belle Chadwick, then brought to life through animation and projection by UCOL Creative Industries students.

Walls Alive brings creativity, technology and storytelling together to share an important message about some of the world's threatened species.

Round up the whānau, head into town after dark and watch central Palmy come to life.

Palmy Play Festival 2026

17 October 2026

11am-2pm

Te Marae o Hine - The Square, Te Manawa and Palmerston North Central Library

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Play your way around central Palmy with free games, activities and challenges for the whole whānau.

Palmy Play Festival is taking over the city centre for a day of play, bringing Palmy's many cultures together through something we all have in common – having fun.

There'll also be a free sausage sizzle and fruit stand.

There'll be heaps to try along the way, including traditional and cultural games, crafts, sensory play, physical challenges, music, board games and more.

Pick up a Play Passport and collect stamps as you explore the different activities, with small prizes up for grabs.

French Film Night

30 October 2026

7pm

Globe Theatre

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About the event

Join us for our monthly French Film Night on Friday 30 October at the Globe Theatre

1948. Clément Mathieu, an unemployed music teacher, finds a job as proctor in a correctional boarding school for minors. Although particularly harsh, the educational policies of the school's director, Rachin, are proving ineffectual. Clément sets out to change the pupils' lives by acquainting them with the magic and power of music.

Licensed bar/cafe open from 7 pm, movie starts at 7.30pm.

Free event, donations welcome

Beatlemania on Tour

31 October 2026

8pm

Regent on Broadway

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The sound of a generation, and the music that has influenced every generation since – that’s The Beatles. And now you can relive the heyday of The Beatles with Beatlemania On Tour!
Hear the greatest Pop and Rock songs ever written, performed live with exquisite attention to detail and in their original key, and brought to life on stage with authentic costumes, replica instruments and theatrical lighting.
With a setlist you’ll know – and sing-along to! - from start to finish, this is a show you’re guaranteed to love!

Remembrance Day 2026

11 November 2026

11am

Te Marae o Hine - The Square

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On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the guns fell silent.
Each year on 11 November, Palmerston North commemorates Remembrance Day – marking the anniversary of the armistice signed between the Allied Forces and Germany to end the fighting in World War I

Diwali Mela

14 November 2026

5-10.30pm

Te Marae o Hine - The Square

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Get ready to light up the night. Join us in the heart of city for the annual Diwali Mela – a free, family-friendly celebration for all!

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is the Festival of Light – a time to celebrate light over darkness and good over evil. Around the world, families mark this event by lighting lamps, sharing food, and coming together with music and dance.

Bring your friends, whānau and a picnic chair or blanket – and be part of this vibrant celebration of Palmy’s diversity.

The Sweet Caroline Tour: A Tribute to Neil Diamond

19 November 2026

7.30pm

Regent on Broadway

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The Sweet Caroline Tour: A Tribute to Neil Diamond is a celebration of one of the most enduring songbooks in popular music history - an era when songs were written with heart, soul and honesty, and melodies stayed with you for a lifetime.

This outstanding live production recreates that feeling in the most authentic way possible, with a full live band, powerful backing vocalists and a frontman whose voice and presence capture the unmistakable spirit of Neil Diamond. From iconic stadium anthems to deeply loved classics, every performance is delivered with energy, respect and a deep love for the music.

Heath Franklin’s Chopper – Gold

21 November 2026

7pm

Regent on Broadway

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AS SEEN ON 7 DAYS

Aussie comedy legend and icon Heath Franklin's Chopper is celebrating his 20th anniversary of making us laugh.

Catch two decades of Chopper's funniest bits and hardest hits, from The Ronnie Johns Half Hour to today, including Harden the F*** Up, The Weather sketch, Shopping at Bunnings, and all your favourite jokes.

This isn’t just another show – it’s a comedy heist!

There's no room for silver or bronze on this podium. It's all comedy GOLD!

Last Song, Actually!!!

14 November 2026 - 12 December 2026

6.30pm

Centrepoint Theatre

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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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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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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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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!