Five Events We're Seriously Looking Forward to During Elemental AKL Festival This Month
Fill your diary with a heap of gigs, exhibitions, interactive installations and foodie festivals this July.
Five Events We're Seriously Looking Forward to During Elemental AKL Festival This Month
Fill your diary with a heap of gigs, exhibitions, interactive installations and foodie festivals this July.
Auckland's annual winter celebration of arts, eats and beats Elemental AKL makes its long-awaited return to the city next week, with over 30 free and ticketed events between eateries, bars, theatres, stadiums and public spaces across Tāmaki Makaurau.
This year, Aucklanders will be able to attend a silent disco city walk, attend a riddle-filled secret party quest, stroll an East Auckland art trail take part in a five-course Pasifika dining ritual... and that's only the beginning. With a lineup of gigs, interactive exhibitions and foodie festivals, it's extremely hard to pick a favourite — but there are definitely a few key contenders we'll be noting down in our diaries.
From the annual crispy goodness of the Fried Chicken Fest to a stunning after-dark light show, here are the five events we're most looking forward to at Elemental AKL this year.
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The only Elemental AKL event happening on the shore, this free, family-friendly festival of light sculptures, art, music and performance returns for another year — and organisers say it’s going to be even more jaw-dropping (and giant) than last year’s. Rug up warm, head over the bridge and prepare to be dazzled by larger-than-life light installations by acclaimed light artist Angus Muir.
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4
These heavily Instagrammable winter dining igloos have returned to Aotea Square after last year’s sell-out season. Turning even Auckand’s comparably mild mid-year temperatures into a picturesque winter wonderland, these domes are kitted out with everything to keep you cosily warm, fed and watered, including comfy chairs, soft cushions and twinkling fairy lights. Scoff snacks, sip drinks and take in the views of the annual Elemental AKL ice rink outside.
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Ok, so this one is more a series of events than a one-off, but with a lineup this stacked, we can’t pick a favourite. This year, the festival’s much-loved music program, Elemental Nights, is back and covering all your favourite genres including neo-soul, funk, hip hop, folk, electronica and beyond. Some tickets remain so don’t miss your chance to see some huge international acts and local legends perform in the Auckland Town Hall’s stunning surroundings.
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2
Auckland’s finest food trucks and chicken restaurants will bring their best chicken-inspired menus to the upper and lower decks of Shed 10 this month, so fried chicken fans can get their greasy mitts on wings, chicken-topped waffles, burgers, baos and other delights. The best part? No dish will cost over $10. Live music will be pumping throughout the night, and there will be plenty of bevvy options to wash all that chicken down.
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Hop between three venues during this progressive dining experience. You won’t know where you’re headed until you get there, but if the lineup is anything to go by, we can pretty much guarantee it’s going to be yum. The list includes Oneghunga’s favourite pay-as-you-feel restaurant Everybody Eats, newcomer Slabs Pizza which specialises in Detroit deep square pizza, and Onehunga’s only cocktail bar (and best-kept secret) The Bramble.
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