February in Wellington means, summer, festivals, picnics and a sneaky long weekend for Waitangi Day. This month you can be classically suave with Polo and Opera outings or play it chill with street and musical celebrations. February is your month to explore. Read on for our top picks.

Eat & Drink

The Summer of Pinot (27 January – 12 February)
Celebrate the meeting of minds and clinking of glasses at Pinot 2017. Grab a “Pinot Passport” from 40 particiapting restaurants and bars, and simply drink a glass of pinot noir to collect a stamp. Collect at least three stamps to go into the draw to the ultimate wine cellar starter package of 115 bottles of different Pinots and a sommelier to talk you through your collection.

Superoma Pop Up Restaurant  (All of February)
Dine like a king in beautiful surrounds. Superoma brings authentic fresh Italian cuisine to the city for a limited time only.

Gourmet Food Truck Picnic in the Dell (5 February)
Foodies, picnic lovers and romantic rejoice. The perfect way to spend your Sunday afternoon is here. Delicious food, beautiful surrounds and afternoon sun. Who could ask for more?

Wellington Night Market Lantern Festival  (11 February)
Once a year, the Wellington Night Market on Lower Cuba Street is transformed into a wonderland lined with lanterns. More than 600 handmade lantern displays will light up the iconic street, including artistic installations of beautifully sculpted life-size lanterns designed in the form of majestic animals, and abstract lantern designs in all shapes, colours, and sizes. Entertainment will be in the form of talented musicians and performers rocking the main stage as well as various activities, including the famous lantern riddles and draw a love fortune stick.

Something Different

Salsa at Sunset with Cuba Fusion (every Thursday 2 – 23 February)
Kick up your heels after work and dance to hot Latin music on the waterfront.  A free fun follow-me class kicks off at 6 pm followed by live music and more dancing until the sun goes down. All ages, all experience levels welcome.

Tuesday Talks at Space Place (7 & 21 February)
Billed as everything you want to ask about the universe but was afraid to ask, These talks cover a huge variety of topics regarding space and earth. This month focus on the impact of global warming and environmental changes. Get clued up from scientists who know what’s what.

Bike Ravers Ride to the Galaxy. Full Moon Ride (11 Feb)
This is going to be mysterious, fantastical and illuminating. Bring your bike decorated with fairy lights and see where this adventure takes you.

Festivals

NZ Fringe (10 February – 5 March)
The Fringe is the craziest, most vibrant and bizarre time in Wellington. The NZ Fringe team encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and see at least three shows. One you know you’ll love, one that’s going to be the “Next Big Thing” and one that you will talk about FOREVER.

Island Bay Festival (11 – 19 February)
9 days of celebration in the bay with garage sales, morning yoga, the annual blessing of the boats and an all-day fair. The best part is grabbing a dip in the sea between all the excitement.

Chinese New Year Festival  (12 February)
Celebrate Chinese New Year with all the trimmings. Chinese lions, dragons, delicious Asian food and crafts, dance and cultural entertainment, a street parade plus a huge fireworks display. Happy Roostering!

Kilbirnie Festival (24 – 26 February)
This festival has it all – markets, music, food, lots of free creative activities, sports, a 1000 person band, outdoor films, and heaps of music, performance and talent competitions. Things kick off on the Friday evening and run all weekend, with the enormous outdoor Kilbirnie Festival fair day on the main road on Sunday.

Coastella (25 February)
Set in the rolling grounds of the Southwards Car Museum this festival is bringing the best of local and international music for one sweltering day of hot tunes. With food, entertainment and buses from the central city, it couldn’t be easier to get yourself entertained.

Performances and Shows

Wellington Pun battle  (3 February)
Come along to see Wellington’s smartest alecks, wordiest nerds and biggest pun-ks, punslingers and pun-dits battle it out in an intense and hilarious head-to-head pun-off. With over $400 cash prize money on the line, you could say that the stakes are pun-ishing.

Day’s Bay Opera (11 – 19 February)
Pack a picnic and head to the sunnier side of the harbour. Enjoy an afternoon on lush lawns. Then head inside heritage Canna House to enjoy international-level artists with chamber orchestra accompaniment.  Refined and divine.

Summer Shakespeare (17 February – 3 March)
An annual outdoor celebration of the Bard’s work. This year we are treated to comic romp, All’s Well That Ends Well.  Playing in Civic Square this is yet another opportunity to pack a picnic and enjoy the late summer evenings.

WTF – Women’s Theatre Festival (25 February – 25 March)
A smorgasbord of performances, play readings, monologues, talks, forums and workshops that will celebrate the achievement of women and promote theatrical equality in Aotearoa.

Something Sporty

Go By Bike Day 2017 (8 February)
Liven up your morning commute with a celebration of all that is bicycle. With free breakfast, smoothies, games and prizes who couldn’t be convinced to enjoy pedal power.

Heineken Urban Polo (11 Feb)
For the first time ever, Wellington hosts urban Polo. With VIP lounges, tents and fashion in the field, you know you want to be seen at this event.

-Hilaire and Team TPO Wellington
The entire team at The Plus Ones helps put together the monthly guide. We hope you like it.

Image credit: Events’ Facebook pages and Amandala Photography for the NZ Fringe