Events

Check out the Events Calendar on Hawkes Bay Tourism website.  You can search by date, month and type of events.

Check out upcoming wine events and calendar, and sign up for the event email alerts and information.

The New Zealand Optimist Association invites all countries to come 'down under' and experience the Optimist World Championships from 30 December 2011 - 10 January 2012 in one of the world's great sailing nations: New Zealand.  Over 40 countries have entered; most countries have 5 young sailors -up to 15 years of age. You can be part of this international event and practice your language skills at the International Village.

The Opti Worlds itself has the Official Arrival on 30 December 2011, the Opening Ceremony on New Year’s Eve and the first Championship Race starts on 1 January 2012.

The following events are scheduled for this period: + 20 – 23 December: Pre-Worlds Clinic + 28-29 Invitation Regatta for International and New Zealand sailors (top 100) + 31 December: Opening Ceremony + 1 January – 9 January 2012: World Regatta

There will be Optimist yachts available on Pandora Pond, so come along and have a go yourself! Sailing is a great sport for the whole family. Entry is free!

Blues, Brews & BBQ's is one of the most popular events on the summer calendar - a family fun day of barbecue fare, fine ales and great music.

The festival is a celebration of everything that is unique about the traditional Kiwi summer lifestyle; our love of outdoor cooking, great music and enjoying an ale or two with good friends and family.

Blues, Brews & BBQ's pays homage to the craft of brewing enabling small and large brewers alike to present their premier beers to a large and appreciative audience. For the public it really does represent a unique opportunity to sample a range of different styles and flavours. We also have a good selection of Hawkes Bay wines along with some cider.

The day is all about fun - come dressed up or play dodgeball to win great prizes.

Be entertained by 6 bands playing during the day.

Entertainment for the kids too!

The Gypsy Travellers Fair features: art, crafts, intuitive tarot readings, crystals, incense, ethnic fabrics, henna tattoos, leadlight, paintball, hot food and cold drinks, incense burners, black T-shirts, rasta gear, wonderful moonstone, jewellery, ornaments, natural massage oils, hair braids, sarongs, bouncy castle, dolls, pet wear, poi, t-shirts, giftware, wokka fires, friendship bracelets, fabulous ladies' wear and much more. So come and enjoy the atmosphere.

Come and have a browse and have a look at a group of true road folk who run the fair as a co-operative.

A Day on the Green brings rock 'n' soul duo Daryl Hall and John Oates to Church Road Winery in Napier, on Saturday, January 28.

It is the first time the pair have visited New Zealand in 30 years. Church Road will be their first stop, with just one other concert at Villa Maria Estate, in Auckland.

The American duo were at the height of their fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s with number one hits Rich Girl, Kiss On My List, Private Eyes, Maneater and Out Of Touch.

They will be joined by Australian group Icehouse and New Zealand act Goodshirt.

This is the second A Day on the Green concert to be announced for Church Road, after the line-up of Steely Dan and British vocalist Steve Winwood was revealed in May. Tickets to both concerts are available from www.ticketmaster.co.nz or by calling 0800 111999.

The sassy and supremely talented Gin Wigmore will headline the 2012 Classic Hits Winery Tour, along with reformed legends The Mutton Birds & talented newcomers, Avalanche City, who round out the three band bill.

Now in its sixth year, and with a brand new presenting sponsor, the Classic Hits Winery Tour (formerly the More FM Winery Tour) is a firmly established and much loved national touring event showcasing the best of Kiwi music. In 2012 it will include 16 shows in 14 venues nationwide including Auckland, Matakana Tutukaka, Tauranga, Gisborne, Havelock North, Martinborough, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Upper Motuere (Nelson) Waipara (Christchurch) Dunedin and Cromwell.

Gin, recently back from the USA where she recorded her sophomore album, Gravel & Wine (released 7 November), has enjoyed massive success since the release of her EP Extended Play, followed by the multi-platinum debut album Holy Smoke, scooping four Tui Awards in last year’s NZ Music Awards and massive airplay success with I Do, Oh My, Under My Skin and the just released Black Sheep.

The Mutton Birds join the Winery Tour celebrating not one, but two milestones; 2012 marks 20 years since the release of the band’s self titled debut album and 10 years since their last show. With timeless Kiwi anthems that transcend generations like Anchor Me, Dominion Road and Nature, Don McGlashan, Ross Burge, David Long and Alan Gregg are reuniting just for the Winery Tour.

Avalanche City completes the 100% Kiwi bill as the new kids on the block. Winners of the coveted APRA Silver Scroll Award this year for hit single Love Love Love and fresh from showcase tours of Japan, Australia, USA and London, the band is rocking up the charts and winning hearts all over the globe.

The Winery Tour kicks off with its 78th show at Ascension Wine Estate in Matakana on Friday 3rd February and concludes at Villa Maria Estate in Auckland on Saturday 3rd March.

Tickets (and bus/ticket packages) go on sale on Monday 07 November with an Early Bird offer of $59 plus booking fee (ticket only) for the month of November, increasing to $69 plus booking fee from 01 December.

Tickets can be purchased via the Winery Tour website www.winerytour.co.nz and Ticketmaster.

One child under the age of 12 will be given free admittance when accompanied by one adult ticket holder.

On the third weekend in February, the Art Deco Trust stages its annual Geon Brebner Print Art Deco Weekend...'a not-too-serious celebration of the Art Deco style'.

Napier city gleams with classic cars and aircrafts of the Deco era. People dressed in Deco style bring glamour and elegance to this unique festival which attracts people from many overseas countries.

Entertainment, great food, auction, art, crafts, classic car show and more.

Site application forms available from Lara Zidich: 8700207 or email myles@barnesmossman.co.nz.  Sites: 4m x 5m - $40.00 per site ($45.00 if power is required).

Classic car show - gold coin donation per car at the gate.

He’s a superstar of the music world, having sold over 250 million albums and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in two continents. He also has the distinction of being the fastest selling artist to headline The Mission Estate Concert. Just 22 minutes was all it took to sell out his concert seven years ago.

Rod Stewart – a Grammy Award-winning artist who continues to dominate pop charts after five decades – returns to the Mission Estate Concert next year in what promoters describe as a coup for his fans.

With his distinctive raspy singing and audacious stage persona, backed by a stellar band, Rod will belt out all the hits we know and love him for. mega hits including “Maggie May”, "Tonight’s the Night" and the notorious "Do Ya Think I’m Sexy" will set the tone for one exclusive night of entertainment for New Zealanders to enjoy. Other hits such as “You Wear It Well”, “Sailing”, “The First Cut is the Deepest”, “Sailing”, ”Baby Jane” make Rod one of New Zealand’s most favourite international artists.

The soccer-mad Englishman has enjoyed unprecedented success over the years with 62 hit singles including 31 that reached the top 10, six of which gained the number one position. He has had 16 top ten singles in the USA, with four of these reaching number one. He was voted at #33 in Q Magazine's list of the top 100 Greatest Singers of all time.

“Bar none, he's the best singer I've heard in rock ‘n’ roll. He's also the greatest white soul singer." —Elton John

Mission Estate Chief Executive Peter Holley says “His legions of Kiwi fans have told us how much they enjoyed his concert back in 2005 and we are in no doubt that they will continue their love affair with Rod next year.”

SEL Chairman, James Erskine said “we are privileged that Rod has agreed to return. He loves the New Zealand audience as much as they love him.  Nearly every song in the show has been, and some on more than one occasion, a hit. This concert is going to be a great night of entertainment for his many, many fans. Everyone will sing along ... and more!”