February is New Zealand at its best as we hit the height of summer with hardly a cloud in the sky. You’ll probably be spending a fair amount of your time at the beach but in between, there are some awesome events taking place all over the country.
There are heaps to choose from but we’ve narrowed it to our favourite 7 events in New Zealand in February which you’ll find below!
1. NEW ZEALAND FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
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The cultural (and national) capital of New Zealand, Wellington, hosts the highly anticipated New Zealand Festival of the Arts this February.
For a good 3 weeks, the city embraces one of the country’s biggest celebrations of the arts with a programme of over 100+ events. Curated by 3 New Zealand icons of the arts including Academy Award winner Bret McKenzie, the events are eclectic and wide-ranging covering a variety of interests and ideas.
That pretty much means there’s something for everyone and gives visitors a great chance to experience a bit of Kiwi expression and creativity.
Event: New Zealand Festival Of The Arts
When: 21 February – 15 March 2020
Where: Wellington
2. BEN HARPER AND THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS
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Singer and songwriting legend, Ben Harper, comes to New Zealand this summer with his band The Innocent Criminals performing six great shows across the country.
The 3-time Grammy Award winner has had a career that has spanned nearly 30 years with some great hits like ‘Steal My Kisses’, ‘Better Way’ and ‘Diamonds On The Inside’. He’ll be performing many of these and more at some of the best venues in the country and will also be joined by special guest and Australian singer-songwriter, Matt Corby.
It’ll be a fantastic opportunity to see one of the great so don’t miss out!
Event: Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals
When: 21 – 29 February 2019
Where: Auckland, Christchurch, Napier, New Plymouth, The Mount, Queenstown.
3. WAITANGI DAY FESTIVAL
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An important national holiday that takes place in February in New Zealand is Waitangi Day which commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
There are many events that take place right throughout the country to celebrate this but the main one is the Waitangi Day Festival on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. The day starts off with a dawn service at Te Whare Runanga and is followed by a day of festivities with entertainment on the main stage, children’s activities, market stalls and more.
It’s a great one to experience for locals and visitors alike and an opportunity to understand an important day in our country’s history.
Event: Waitangi Day Festival
When: 6 February 2020
Where: Waitangi
4. TARAWERA ULTRAMARATHON
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For the super-fit and super-active out there, the Tarawera Ultramarathon is the epic endurance event for February that can’t be missed.
The event attracts some of the best ultra athletes from around the world with around 2,000 participants competing across the four courses from 20km – 100 miles! This one’s definitely not for the fainthearted but those that compete are rewarded with views of some of the most spectacular scenery in the country.
A great one to enter or cheer on from the sidelines!
Event: Tarawera Ultramarathon
When: 8 February 2020
Where: Rotorua
5. AUCKLAND LANTERN FESTIVAL
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February is the month of Chinese New Year celebrations and one of the most popular events to attend is the iconic Auckland Lantern Festival.
The Auckland Lantern Festival has been dazzling locals for the last 20 years now and is one that draws larger and larger crowds every year. In the setting of the beautiful Auckland Domain, hundreds of handmade lanterns light the evening sky in the most picturesque of ways. On top of this, there are also traditional entertainers and food stalls aplenty to keep your taste buds happy.
It’s a great one to attend for the family and people of all ages. It’s free to attend as well!
Event: Auckland Lantern Festival
When: 13 – 16 February 2020
Where: Auckland
6. YES POWER SPARKS 2020
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Another great family-friendly event, this time in the South Island is the ‘YES Power Sparks’ festival, held in the pleasant surrounds of North Hagley Park in Christchurch.
On a beautiful Summer’s evening, attendees get to experience the delightful music of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. They perform a range of pieces from traditional classics to a few more modern numbers too. Something for everyone basically!
At the end of it all (as you may have guessed by the title) there’s a spectacular fireworks display which is always a crowd-pleaser. This one’s free to attend as well!
Event: Sparks 2020
When: 17 February 2020
Where: Christchurch
7. SPLORE FESTIVAL
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Splore Festival is one of the most fun and exciting music festivals you can attend in New Zealand, held in the beautiful Tapapakanga Regional Park.
This 3-day extravaganza is not only a music event but an arts festival as well where everyone dresses up, creating a carnival-like atmosphere. The programme has some great names and covers a range of styles that boutique music lovers will love. This year’s lineup includes the likes of DJ EZ, The Parov Stelar Band, Kate Tempest and Brass Against.
Tickets sell quickly so don’t leave it too late or you’ll miss out!
Event: Splore Festival 2020
When: 21 – 23 February 2020
Where: Auckland
HOT EVENTS FOR A HOT MONTH!
Some great February events then, to keep you happy and buzzing during our glorious days of summer. We hope you’ll get to a few of these and look forward to our recommendations for March as well!
