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Events
Hamilton Gig Guide
Waikato Times Food, Wine & Jazz Festival
The 2011 Waikato Times “Food, Wine & Jazz Festival” will again be fabulous a two day feast of food, wine and entertainment nestled amongst the magical rose gardens at the Hamilton Gardens.
Over 5,100 people enjoyed the inaugural event and we expect even more for year two. At its heart the festival is an epicurean village featuring stall holders offering the very best of gourmet food, beverages and wines, with a particular focus on produce from the Waikato. This banquet of taste sensations is a wonderful addition to the Waikato Times Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival. Visitors stroll through the roses, sample the various gourmet delights, visit the ‘Kitchen Things Cooking Theatre’, featuring cooking demonstrations by well known chefs and of course, one of our most popular events, the finals of the Great Waikato Food Challenge and Home Cook Challenge
New in 2011! The introduction of the festival 'Trade Display' Area. This is a designated area for display of non consumable items such as outdoor furniture, cookware, BBQ's, kitchenware etc.
What's On Hamilton
Check out what's on in Hamilton -
Events & Festivals, Sports & Leisure, Theatre Dance & Music, Activities and Clubs & Interests.
– Hamilton
The Hamilton Christmas Parade is a popular event for the young and young at heart. Featuring colourful floats that represent the diverse communities with the Hamilton & Waikato region, see popular characters such as SpongeBob Square Pants and Patrick, Giant Buzzy Bee, The Cat in the Hat and Dora the Explorer along with live marching bands, character balloons and of course Santa Claus.
The Parachute Music Festival has become an icon of the kiwi summer, now drawing crowds of over 25,000 to Hamilton. Over 100 local and international acts gather to perform across six stages, offering everything from hip hop and pop to electronic and alternative-country.
The drug and alcohol-free event promotes Christian values, with performers challenging and inspiring audiences through their music.
The festival hosts a giant tent-city in a fun and welcoming environment and also offers a wide variety of off-stage entertainment, from amusement rides, a skate park, markets and seminars.
Some of the eagerly awaited artists in the line-up include Relient K, The Chariot, Parachute Band and Showbread.
Avalanche City is sure to be a crowd favourite with the number one hit Love Love Love. The brain child of Dave Baxter, Avalanche City has gone on to debut their first album Our New Life Above Ground at number one on the iTunes album chart.
With over 400 cars in 10 race classes consisting of Historic Touring Car Challenge, BMW E30 class, BMW open class, Formula 5000’s, Pre 1978 Saloons and GT’s, motorcycles and more, motorsport fans will be in for a treat.
Both weekend events will be held at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park in North Waikato. The 2.8km race circuit at Hampton Downs along with the purpose built skid pad and the onsite facilities provides the perfect venue for spectator viewing.
Spectators can watch the lunchtime parades of classic and modern BMW cars and motorcycles, browse the exhibitions in the trade show, as well as enjoy a possible air display and evening functions including a ‘Beerfest’ and meet and greets with drivers.
Kiwi pop sweetheart Annabel Fay joins the line-up this year off the back of a successful stint in the US. Performing hits of her latest album will bring a local flavour to the international line-up while Aussie group John Butler Trio will return to New Zealand shores after releasing their limited edition box set album and the release of their 5th album and 12 month tour last year. A crowd favourite with Kiwis, the band has also gained rave reviews from fans and media around the world.
Two new acts have also been announced, including New Zealand’s own musical maestro and multi-platinum award winning artist, Tiki Taane, who will join the line-up for an acoustic set. Local DJ favourites the Sweet Mix Kids will also be entertaining vineyard audiences between acts to ensure there is never a dull moment.
Aloe Blacc and his band The Grand Scheme will bring smooth soul to the tour off the back of his sell-out New Zealand show. Aloe Blacc’s worldwide hits ‘I Need A Dollar’ and ‘Loving You Is Killing Me” have rocketed Aloe into fast becoming the spearhead of modern 21st century soul.
Bringing together exciting entertainment and fine wine and food, the More FM Summer Vineyards tour will no doubt be an event to remember and the perfect way to spend a summer evening with family and friends.
Early bird tickets are on sale from Wednesday 12 October.
The Tour also will travel to Piha, Sandy Bay and Mount Maunganui before wrapping up in Port Waikato in early March, but Raglan is set to be one of the top destinations as it is the only point break on the Tour.
With seven divisions contested on the Tour – Open Men, Open Women, Junior Men, Over 40, Over 50, Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) and the SUP Race, the Tour organisers will also be on the hunt for the best surfing family in NZ. The family division promotes the family atmosphere of the Tour and all family entries will go in the draw to win a Santa Fe station wagon for a year.
RAGLAN
When: 7 – 8 January 2012
Where: Raglan
Rating: SNZ Longboard 4 Star
Raglan will see the opening event of the 2012 Hyundai Tour Surfing Competition. Raglan offers some of the best surfing spots in New Zealand and is a great venue to watch surfing with surfers only a few metre’s off the rocks. With summer swells and plenty of beach goers to cheer them on, competitors will have ample opportunity to start the tour with a good result. Hyundai will be running a gold coin donation BBQ and refreshments as well as having the Hyundai girls out selling raffle tickets during the event to raise money for the Point Boardriders Club of Raglan. International surfers include Josh Constable, Mischa Davis, Nic Jones, Brian Young and Viv Treacy, along with local Raglan surfer Daniel Kereopa and many more that will compete in the Open Men, Women, Under 18 Men, Over 40, Over 50, SUP and SUP Race divisions for a chance to claim the $3,050 prize money.
PORT WAIKATO
When: 2-3 March 2012
Where: Sunset Beach, Port Waikato
Rating: SNZ Longboard 6 Star
The final stop in the Tour is Port Waikato in the North Waikato, where the Hyundai Tour Champions for 2012 will be determined. An often suspense filled event, Port Waikato has been known to turn out some spectacular swells, and with big points and prize money on the line as well as bragging rights, spectators are in for some great heats. Once again a coin donation BBQ and refreshments as well as a raffle will be running with proceeds going to the local fire brigade. International surfers include Taylor Jensen, Georgia Young, Nic Jones, Dave Craddock, Grant Cochrane and Raglan boys Daniel Kereopa and Armie Armstong plus many more competing in the Open Men, Women, Under 18 men, Over 40, Over 50, SUP and SUP Race divisions for prize money of $6,100.
Red, Yellow, (All) Black takes a local look at our national game of rugby. The exciting and lively exhibition delves into the three themes of the ‘People, Passion and Play’ of Waikato Rugby.
There will be a great mix of players represented, from juniors to superstars, interactive displays, fantastic historic highlights and a focus on our staunch and passionate supporters.
Visitors can relive some of the defining moments in our dynamic rugby history, such as Waikato’s 14-10 victory over South Africa in 1956 which is still considered one of our greatest rugby moments. Waikato was the first provincial Union to beat a touring South African team post WWII and the streets were packed with buzzing Mooloo fans.
Rugby buffs will enjoy exploring the Waikato Legends Wall, while younger visitors will enjoy the opportunity to get to know some of their rugby heroes a little better. Find out just how much the Waikato players eat, compare your thighs to some of the mooloo boys and discover the smells of rugby!
There will also be plenty of elements that will appeal to those visitors who might not know anything about rugby before they come in the doors. The exhibition will be fun, full of energy and something that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
