With over 23 activations and events, come along to listen to vinyl, dance to K-pop, eat ethnic, make zines, follow the Waihorotiu stream’s path, hear the history of the Strand Arcade, spin to win on the wheel of fortune, dance to live jazz under the neon lights, and find out just who was Martha?
Enjoy freebies from Italian soft serve to Japanese ramen and Korean meatballs.
Outright Outrageous
Roma Blooms
Martha's Corner, 93 Albert Street
Talks at 6.30 & 8pm
Go before the Judge
If you think the activities of the West family in Outrageous Fortune seem larger than life, meet the Lindsays ... Martha Lindsay and her family made mayhem in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Dan Windwood, Auckland Council Senior Heritage Specialist, tells the story of this notorious family.
Draw a card to see if the judge gives you a ‘Go Straight to Jail’ or ‘Get out of Jail Free’ with PRIZES.
Korean Culinary Treats
Meat Balls
41 Victoria Street
Till the treats run out
We will have tasty treats on the menu FREE for sampling. Check out three options on the night - Tteok-Galbi Ball (pork and beef meatballs), kimchi fried rice or rose sauce rice cake.
Japanese Culinary Treats
Daikoku Victoria
25 Victoria Street
Till the treats run out
We will have tasty treats on the menu FREE for sampling. Daikoku is a Japanese restaurant specialising in curry, ramen, and donburi.
Lights Out Party
Real Groovy
19 Victoria Street
Nerd out to over 75 vintage neon signs in the dark whilst listening to funky beats and browsing your favourite records. First 50 people through the door will get a goody bag and a handmade treat from Luna Bakehouse. See ya there!
KDA K-pop Dancers
6.30, 7 & 7.30pm across Elliott St
NZKDA is a K-pop dance community that encourages people of all skill levels to engage in dance. Starting in 2019, we’ve aimed to provide a safe, enjoyable, and supportive environment for K-pop fans and dancers. Our mission is to inspire fearless and limitless self-expression through dance while having a lot of fun!
Toastie
1 Elliott Street
Till the treats run out
We will have tasty treats on the menu. FREE for sampling. Come and explore the Asian-inspired flavours of Toastie and an amazing range of signature drinks that will knock your socks off.
Japanese Street Food
Yooa & Tako
1 Elliott Street
Till the treats run out
We will have tasty treats on the menu FREE for sampling. Our Korean-owned food stall specialises in authentic Takoyaki and Japanese street food.
Sounds & Sales
Recycle Boutique
9 Darby Street
6 – 7.30pm
A consignment-based fashion boutique specialising in helping you buy and sell men's and women's second-hand designer clothing. Items on special inside and DJ out on the street.
Lightbox Luminaries
Whitecliffe College
Outside 10 Darby Street
These lightboxes showcase the talent being developed at Whitecliffe College, a centre of creativity and innovation. This eclectic collection of imagery has been created by Year 1 and 3 students from the School of Design Innovation.
History of the Strand Arcade
Strand Arcade, 227 Queen Street
6-8.30pm
Join historian David Hill to explore the iconic building, enjoy the many stories of the arcade, and learn about the ambitious programme to re-purpose the building and restore it to its original prominence in the city.
Beth Britten Duo
Strand Arcade, 227 Queen Street
6.30 – 7.30pm
Beth Britten is a jazz bassist and vocalist and will be performing jazz standards, as well as some original compositions, with saxophonist Charlotte Barrand.
Kitchen Confidential
Strand Arcade, 227 Queen Street
Talks at 6.30 & 8pm
With Connie Clarkson - named by Cuisine Magazine as one of Aotearoa’s 50 most influential and inspiring women in hospitality – come and listen to her kitchen secrets and personal recipes.
The Kitchen Project
A programme managed by Connie helps budding food entrepreneurs take their next steps into full-time businesses. Taste the cuisine of the next upcoming foodie entrepreneur FREE on the night.
‘Good News For You’
Art Exhibition
Strand Arcade, 227 Queen Street
6-9pm
Join our host Ross Liew to talk art in the iconic Strand Arcade where he has curated a temporary and contemporary art pop-up exhibition ‘Good News For You.’ Artists: Ed Bats, Nicholas J Boyd, Anna Hanson, Oscar Low and Margarita Vovna.
Auckland Zinefest Zine Zone
Zinemaking, zine reading & badge making
Strand Arcade, 227 Queen Street, Elliott St end
6-9pm
Experience a slice of Tāmaki Makaurau’s zine scene with our Late Night Zine Zone. Read and buy zines from Aotearoa’s best zinemakers, get inspired, make a badge or two and contribute to our collaborative zine! All materials and tools will be provided for free along with our friendly team to guide you. Our space is kid and introvert friendly.
Spin to Win
Avachi & Hulucat
239 Queen Street
Till the prizes run out
Come and SPIN TO WIN instant prizes on the night with MC Rhiannon McCall, actor, and comedian. Win gift vouchers from businesses across the midtown shopping and dining district, from clothing, services, music, flowers to dining vouchers. Look out for our panda giving out vouchers in the line.
Soft Serve Symphony
Luna Bakehouse
39 Elliott Street
6-9pm
Enjoy FREE samples of Luna Bakehouse's latest creation: Soft Serve. Get ready to experience a symphony of flavours that will transport you straight to the heart of the finest dessert traditions.
Little Tasty Band
Outside Luna Bakehouse
39 Elliott Street
6-9pm
Live jazz and experimental funk music on the street. We call the smaller renditions of Big Tasty, Little Tasty. Fresh funky jazz and fun times! The band will bring the city alight with upbeat musical sets, original and covers.
Cabaret Chanteuse
Elliott Stables, 39 Elliott Street
6-8.30pm
The French Toast trio features Linn Lorkin, chanteuse, Hershal Herscher, accordéoniste and Pierre Scott, bassiste. With a large repertoire of well-known French chansons they have been delighting audiences for years, taking them on a magic musical carpet ride to intimate French cafés and cabarets.
Rumble in the Jungle
Jungle 8
Elliott Stables, 39 Elliott Street
6-8pm
The legends behind Lucky 8 and Mr Hao are opening especially for the Midtown Party. FREE Tastings and a sneak peek of their new neon party palace ahead of their official launch.
Celebrating 500 Years as an Eat Street
Taurima - Neon Artworks
Suspended above Elliott Street
Till 20 October
You will see pātaka kai (food storehouse) symbolism suspended above the street in quirky fluoro-neon art created by Lissy Robinson-Cole (Ngāti Kahu and Ngāti Hine), Rudi Robinson-Cole (Waikato, Ngaruahine, Ngāti Pāoa, Te Arawa), Ataahua Papa (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta), and Angus Muir Design.
Taurima marks the street’s origins in hospitality. In 1987, archaeologists found evidence in Elliott Street indicating people had harvested and provided food there since the 1500s.
Howlin’ Wolf Collective
Suite 1, Reslau House,
39-41 Elliott Street
6pm - 9pm
DJ Grits and Grease will play in-store. Inspired by the classic, the vintage and the bold we have a combined 10 years of barbering experience. Get the shave, cut and coffee you need to get you through the day.
FREE Guided Hikoi
6.30 to 7.30pm or 8.00 – 9.00pm
Bookings Essential - Places are Limited. Booking link.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei guides will welcome you and walk you through the last millennium of the life of the Waihorotiu valley (Queen Street) and how these histories and ecologies of place are recognised and live on in the midtown area of our contemporary city centre.
Gift Vouchers
Scarecrow
33 Victoria Street East
Win $500 worth of Scarecrow vouchers to dine or buy gifts – ON THE WHEEL at 239 Queen Street. Scarecrow is a warm and welcoming oasis in Auckland’s city centre combining café, artisan grocer and gifts.
Win an Exclusive Underground Tour
5 Elliott Street
Want to win an underground tour of Te Waihorotiu Station for you and a friend?
To enter, come visit our Midtown information tent, fill in the entry slip and drop it into the entry box on the night.
Prize will be drawn on Friday 29 September 2023. Winners will be contacted via the details supplied on the entry form.
Terms and conditions apply. Good luck!
We’re shining a light on midtown as a site of unique and diverse hospitality and business with incredible Māori and European history.
Auckland Council’s Midtown Regeneration programme is getting the area ready for Te Hā Noa and Te Waihorotiu Station. We know there has been construction disruption for the people of midtown, so as our new street design takes shape in Victoria Street, let the party begin!
Thanks to our partner ArtNow.NZ.
ArtNow.NZ is an online platform showcasing the best contemporary art exhibitions, events, galleries, news, books, and art writing from across Aotearoa.
Midtown Street Party is delivered by Auckland Council and supported by the city centre targeted rate.