Hastings City always has something happening. To view what’s on in Hastings, check out the list of upcoming events in town below.
Upcoming Events
TAYLOR: A Tribute to the Eras of Taylor Swift
Calling all Swifties - make a ‘sweet escape’ to the world of Taylor Swift with TAYLOR: A Tribute to the Eras of Taylor Swift!
John Bishop 25 Years of Stand Up
Comedy superstar John Bishop is set to return to Australia & New Zealand with his new show John Bishop: 25, to celebrate his incredible 25-year career.
FitS in a Glass
A taste of the festival. Six short acts from - music to poetry to comedy to drag - paired with a generous splash of fine local wine from the cellar of our hosts. Sample the variety of delights Fringe in the 'Stings and Decibel have to offer.
Missy Coulée aka FitS MVP Wild and Rising Star, Eru Heke, is a lip synching, high kicking drag diva who oozes sass and attitude. Raw talent combines with effervescent energy to create a fierce and fabulous feast for the eyes!
Finding life after fifty has taken a turn for the surreal, Karen Leslie - self styled Queen of Uncool, has discovered that the best way to juggle the weirdness of reality is put it on stage and poke it with a sharp wit. And she might even dance, which is always worth a laugh!
Sorceress of Sound and Soul, Mon Shelford is a spokesperson of spirit who possesses the ability to speak fluently and directly to the soul via song. She skillfully crafts her songs eloquently, to tell stories worth listening to.
Bizarre and Charming, George Fenn is a genre bending comedy theatre maker, specialising in audience interaction. He plays with expectations, pushing the joke as far as it will go…then a little further - all without saying a word.
Hometown Heroine, Christina Gunson's gutsy original songs evoke the CHB heartland. Raw and authentic, she gives voice to her experience in a way that gives goosebumps to all those with the privilege to witness her performance.
Our artistic director and former regional Slam Poetry Champion, Rosheen FitzGerald lives art, weaves words and makes magic. Her spoken word poetry chinks splinters in the brains of devotees opening hearts, minds and legs!
Taste Hastings
Get ready for Hastings’ street party of epic proportions! Taste Hastings is back for another great evening of wine, food, and live music right in the central city.
Over 25 Hawke’s Bay wineries will be popping up along Heretaunga Street East, serving a huge variety of wines to taste and enjoy. Add in food trucks, live music, a DJ, and the laid-back vibes, and you’ve got the recipe for a perfect night out.
We’re taking over the East Block – closed to traffic so you can wander, sip, and snack your way down the street.
Entry is FREE
Pre-purchase a tasting pass on Eventfinda and get 4 tokens + a glass to keep or choose a package for additional tokens. (Tokens and glasses also available on the night.) One taste token is one 35ml taste and three taste tokens is a 105ml glass. Additional tokens may be required for premium wines.
Make a night of it – step inside one of the local restaurants or bars to round out your evening with dinner and drinks.
Location: Heretaunga Street East, between Warren Street and Karamu Road
Find out more and purchase tickets here.
The Fine Print
Entry is free and everyone is welcome. Alcohol sales are R18 only – ID will be required to purchase or redeem tokens. One taste token is one 35ml taste and three taste tokens is a 105ml glass. Additional tokens may be required for premium wines.
Bill Bailey: Vaudevillean
Legendary comic and musical maestro Bill Bailey is returning to Hastings with his brand-new show, Vaudevillian – and as a member of our mailing list, you get first access to tickets.
Cirque Bon Bon
Created by former Cirque du Soleil Creative Director Ash Jacks and choreographer Julieann Nugent, Cirque Bon Bon is a 70-minute fusion of beauty and laugh-out-loud bravery. Expect acrobatics, dance, comedy and glittering visual magic - all wrapped into a show that’s as much fun for a five-year-old as it is for a seventy-five-year-old.
Tom Sainsbury: Lessons Not Learnt
Comedy chameleon Tom Sainsbury - social media sensation and star of Taskmaster NZ, Wellington Paranormal and Snackmasters - takes the stage with a brand-new hour of outrageous storytelling. From cringeworthy life lessons to small-town drama and the quirky characters that shaped him, Tom serves up big laughs with heart, charm and just the right amount of scandal.
Hastings Blossom Parade
Get ready, Hastings – the Blossom Parade is back, and this year we’re celebrating a milestone: 75 Years of Blossom, celebrating Hastings’ Past, Present and Future.
Seventh Wonder Performs Fleetwood Mac
Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to witness the magic of Fleetwood Mac's timeless music brought to life by one of Australia's most applauded vocal talents " Bloom", and her incredible band, featuring musicians from Human Nature, 1927, Jon English, The Angels and more.
Fotofest
FOTOFEST is back for another year, celebrating all things photography with loads to see and do with or without a camera!
Hayley Sproull - The Baroness
Sky-rocketing towards 40, with a happily untenanted womb and a life of love, leisure and lingus, Hayley Sproull feels less barren, and more… Baroness.
She makes martinis, not milk. She changes her mind, not nappies. She wants durries, not diapers.
Dine Around The World
From rich Italian pastas to sizzling Thai street food, Hastings and Havelock North serve up global flavours on every corner. Dine local, spend $50 or more at a participating eatery, and you’ll go in the draw to win a $5000 House of Travel voucher to spend however you like.
The Boss - Bruce Springsteen Experience
The Bruce Springsteen Experience is an international-level show dedicated to honouring the timeless music of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Featuring a full nine-piece lineup, this captivating performance delivers an electrifying blend of visual and audio excitement. Audiences are consistently wowed, with standing ovations being the norm.
The 2025 Hawke's Bay Muscle & Model Championships
ICompete Natural NZ (ICN) and Nutrition Warehouse NZ present the 2025 Hawke's Bay Muscle and Model Championships.
Support your friends and family as they showcase their hard work on the best natural bodybuilding stage in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Children under 5 years of age can enter for free with the expectation they will sit on a caregiver's knee.
The Cocktail Party 2025
Join us for an unforgettable evening at the 33rd Annual Cocktail Party, proudly presented by the Hastings Karamu Rotary Club and our esteemed Premier Sponsor, Advanced Plumbing and Gas. This year, we are rallying for a cause close to our hearts: the construction of a new facility for Cranford Hospice right here in Hawkes Bay.
Gruffalo
Toitoi Hawke's Bay Arts and Events Centre presents CDP with Tall Stories' production of THE GRUFFALO based on the award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
A mouse took a stroll through the deep, dark wood...
Toastie Takeover
More than 200 eateries from all over Aotearoa New Zealand will compete in The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover this year.
The nationwide celebration of the tastiest, cheesiest, most inventive and outrageous toasted sandwiches in the nation, which kicks off 25 June, has attracted 208 participants this year, the largest number ever.
HNIS - Shrek Jr
The Big Sing is an annual Choral Showcase featuring 18 student choirs from East Coast Secondary Schools.
The Big Sing 2025
The Big Sing is an annual Choral Showcase featuring 18 student choirs from East Coast Secondary Schools.
Focus on Business with Brad Olsen
Hastings District Council, in partnership with the Hastings City Business Association, invite you to hear from Brad Olsen, Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Infometrics.
The Third Space - Listening Bar
Join us for an intimate evening at the ‘Listening Bar’ as Hastings Distillers’ tasting room transforms into a Japanese-style ongaku kissaten — a space where music is experienced with quiet focus and deep appreciation.
The Michael Jackson HIStory Show
Celebrate Jackson’s creative genius and unsurpassed talent with riveting live performances evoking his early days as a member of the Jackson 5, his groundbreaking theatrics in the 80s and his continued domination of Pop culture into the 21st century.
Paint & Sip
Painting and Wine Tasting at Decibel Central!
We’ve teamed up with Seasons Art Class for an evening that blends colour, creativity, and a generous pour of Decibel.
Heretaunga Hastings Music Trail
Music meets coffee, cocktails and shopping.
A curated journey through cafes, boutiques, and local hotspots where original music takes centre stage this May. Think of it as an art trail, but for your ears: a way to explore the city, discover new talent, and enjoy Hastings hospitality – all to the soundtrack of homegrown sound.
Burlesque at Common Room
Let us take you on an adventure as you dip your toes into the world of burlesque. We’re bringing some burlesque back to Hastings. Join Boomb Entertainment at Common Room this May for a night of tease, dance, and maybe a few laughs. We’re ready to bring some shimmies and sparkle to the stage and show you what Boomb is all about!
Delirium
ARTEMIS pole arts presents Delirium, a student showcase.
A display of different skills and styles, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
Featuring Hawkes Bays best pole dancers, come along and support our students as they showcase their incredible abilities.
MADE for A Cause 2025, featuring 'Wairua Paani'
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Hawke’s Bay Indian Cultural Centre with the spectacular event, "MADE for A Cause 2025," featuring the dance drama "Wairua Paani"
Following the highly popular, bi-cultural shows like “Shakuntala,” “Sita Unsung,” and “Takshaka - King of Snakes,” Krishni Production, and Hawke's Bay Flying Trapeze collaborating this time with the Wahanui Production to bring you another dramatic masterpiece.
Hop! Hop! Hop! Easter Scavenger Hunt
Hop into Hastings City over Easter weekend and see if you can find all 8 Easter eggs!
UNBORING School Holidays
School holidays are totally UNBORING!
Join us for 2 weeks of awesome school holiday fun. From scavenger hunts to dragon drawing, storytimes and creative writing workshops - Hastings City Library has got you covered.
View the full schedule or find out more on the website.
Elton John vs Billy Joel *NZ Tribute*
NZ’s Award-winning hit tribute show “Elton John vs. Billy Joel” are coming to Toitoi Opera House Hastings, Saturday12th April as part of their NZ-wide tour!
After wildly successful sell-out shows across New Zealand, join Cam and Sam for an intimate night out as they wow audiences both young and old performing the greatest hits of Elton John and Billy Joel live! Piano man, Rocket man, Uptown girl, Goodbye yellow brick road, We didn’t start the fire, Bennie and the jets, She’s always a woman, Crocodile rock and many many more.
Your favourite Elton and Billy songs are in safe hands with Cam and Sam, these professional touring NZ musicians have performed on live national television, commercial radio and featured in the NZ music charts in careers spanning two decades. this amazing piano man extravaganza features astonishing costumes, two grand pianos in black and white, a lighting show plus plenty of banter and all the songs you love.
Let's face it, Elton John and Billy Joel require little introduction, their music has provided a soundtrack for generations of loving fans. Englishman Sir Elton John has sold over 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He has more than fifty top 40 hits on the uk singles chart and us billboard hot 100, including seven number-ones in the UK and nine in the US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US.