Wellington winds up for a winning weekend of WOW and Wallabies

This weekend is one of the capital’s busiest of the year when the opening weekend of this year’s World of WearableArt Show: DREAM AWAKE coincides with an All Blacks v Australia Bledisloe Cup rugby game at Sky Stadium.

Both Saturday night events have sold out meaning an influx of visitors into the city, an anticipated crowd surge for hospitality outlets and a busy time for the capital’s hotels.

WellingtonNZ events and experience general manager Heidi Morton estimates more than 60,000 people will attend events in the city from Thursday through to Monday.

“That means it will be super busy with lots of locals and visitors out and about — we advise booking restaurants in advance and getting to venues early or just coming into town to experience the city buzz.”

The mega weekend includes:

• 2024 World of WearableArt Show: DREAM AWAKE at TSB Arena — Saturday sold out, Friday and Sunday selling fast
• All Blacks v Australia Bledisloe Cup, Saturday at Sky Stadium (ticket holders travel free on public transport)
• Bledisloe Cup Trophy and Player Signing Activation Friday, 10:15am to 11:45am at Queens Wharf
• Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder at Tākina
• Michael Jackson — The Legacy Tour at The Opera House
• Orchestra Wellington at Michael Fowler Centre
• World Press Photo Exhibition at Asteron Centre on the ground floor.

In addition, the city is dressed to impress with Light Pou on the waterfront celebrating te reo Māori, buildings lit up in WOW Show: DREAM AWAKE theme colours and matched by the WOW sign near Te Papa.

The WOW HUB is also operating again in Queen’s Wharf Square including garment displays, merchandise, selfie moments, and themed lighting and projection.

WOW is on for three weeks until 13 October. Last year the season provided a gross benefit of $30.3 million with almost 30,000 out-of-town visitors spending more than $19 million.

Heidi says WOW’s world-class status makes it a huge boost for the capital, cementing the city’s reputation as a vibrant cultural hub.

“And the good times are set to continue right through to Christmas with a huge variety of events on that we would love to see as many people as possible supporting.”

Coming up are: 

• Wellington Jazz Festival 
• Netball tests between Silver Ferns and Australia Diamonds 
• Black Caps v England 
• White Ferns v Australia 
• Royal New Zealand Ballet performing ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ 
• Crowded House
• UK comedians including Stephen Fry, Romesh Ranganathan, and John Bishop.

On the exhibition front Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder continues until 28 October and The Art of Banksy opens on 28 November.

Date published: 25 September 2024

 

Garments pictured:

The Lady Warrior, Rinaldy Yunardi, Indonesia

Sen no hida (1000 Folds), Carolyn Gibson & Joelle March, New Zealand

Metamorphosis, Juliet Dodson, United Kingdom