Events

HANRAD Gallery is delighted to present From Thought to Form – Materiality Speaking, a solo exhibition by acclaimed Swedish–New Zealand artist Sylvia Sinel. The exhibition opens on 6 November 2025 and runs until 18 January 2026, inviting viewers into a deeply sensory and contemplative experience of material, intuition, and transformation.

From Thought to Form is an interdisciplinary body of work that encourages audiences to connect with the mystical space where thought, surface, and soul intertwine. Sinel’s deeply rooted curiosity for materials and her continuous exploration of form have evolved into a distinctive artistic vocabulary and voice.

Through sculptural works, experimental surfaces, and poetic abstraction, the exhibition explores themes of transformation and transcendence. Each work acts as a vessel—holding memories, intuition, and knowing—extending an invitation to consider how matter might carry intention, and how viewers might engage not only with what is seen, but also with what is sensed.

Sylvia Sinel’s interdisciplinary practice spans over 35 years, with works held in private collections worldwide. Her creative drive is guided by a profound curiosity for materials and techniques, spirituality, and ancient wisdom traditions. The idea dictates the medium, and each piece is granted agency to find its own voice through an intuitive, responsive process.

Her unique form language draws inspiration from her Scandinavian heritage and evokes a sense of both familiarity and otherness.

Originally from Sweden, Sylvia emigrated to New Zealand in 2013 and settled in Hamilton, where she became an active contributor to the local art community. In 2025, she relocated to Auckland’s North Shore, where she is establishing a new studio and continues to teach at several local art centres.

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Session Times: 10am - 11am

15 November - Grand Debut with the Frozen Princesses

29 November - Superhero Saturday with Spidey and Friends

Jan 17th: Fairy Fun with Tinker Bell and Blossom the Unicorn Fairy

Jan 31st: DC Superhero Saturday with Batman and Wonder Woman

Feb 14th: Valentines Day with Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder

Feb 28th: Princess Day with Snow White and Sleeping Beauty

14 & 28 March - Characters TBC

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Please note characters can change based on availability. In the event of rain Stories will be held in the central city library. This event is brought to you by Love the Centre, Enchanted Entertainment and Hamilton City Libraries.

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Think you know it all? Prove it at Patrons Quiz Night!

Join us every Thursday from 7 pm for a fun night of trivia, laughter, and great prizes!

Bring your friends, test your brainpower, and enjoy delicious food and drinks while you play.

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Every Thursday | From 7 pm

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It’s time to grab the mic and let your voice shine!

Every Friday from 7 pm till late for Karaoke Night at Patrons Bar & Restaurant!

Whether you’re a shower singer or a superstar, everyone’s welcome — come sing your heart out, enjoy great food and drinks, and start your weekend with good vibes!

29a Hood Street, Hamilton

Every Friday | 7 pm – Late

Drinks | Food | Karaoke

Free Entry!

Tag your singing crew and get ready for a night full of laughs, music, and fun!

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Summer Live Music in Garden Place!

Time: 12.30pm - 1.30pm

Grab your lunch and head down to Garden Place for live music by great local musicians!

All live music sessions are weather dependent.

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Summer Line Up :

27th November - Teresa Michels - @soulti_

4th December - Sean Lurman - @sean_lurman

11th December - DJ KUDZ - @_djkudz

18th December - DJ TAZ - @tazy_hayward

15th January - Darze Keefe - @darz_music * * Postponed to 16 January*  

22nd January - DJ DEGEN - @dj.degen

29th January -Sean Lurman - @sean_lurman

5th February - DJ JAE - @jaenzdj

12th February - Jess Ruck Nu'u - @jess_rucknuu

19th February - DJ GETMELO - @djgetmelo

26th February - Darz Keefe - @darz_music

5th March - DJ TW3AK - @__tw3ak

12th March - Jess Ruck Nu'u - @jess_rucknuu

19th March - DJ CYPHR - @cola_breaks

26th March - Dillon Makata

View a list of exciting events happening over summer in Hamilton!

The GLOtron! pop-up show opens in December and will run over summer. It can be found near the Fun Zone on Level 1 at Centre Place, and was made possible with the help of Hamilton City Council.

GLOtron! brings together eight years of fabulously successful Glow Shows into one wild and whimsical adventure. It is a magical maze of glow-in-the-dark stories, which create an utterly original world for children to explore. It invites children to wander through its mysterious interactive stories and discover multi-sensory glow-tastic creatures and characters.

Each twist and turn through GLOtron!’s mysterious maze brings extraordinary sensations for the senses, from knife and fork lightning glowing in the sky, to being eyeballed by enormous giants or feeling the tickles of huge fluffy cylinders.

As children and adults alike enjoy this extraordinary storytelling, they also learn; playing number and word challenges as they move through this whimsical world.

The Glow Show’s mashup of science, education art, storytelling and puppetry has charmed more than 120,000 children throughout Aotearoa since it was created in 2017.

Suitable for whole family, ideal for 3- 12-year-olds

Experience lasts approx 40 minutes.

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NZ’s most epic 5km inflatable obstacle run!

14 epic inflatables. Music. Food. 13m Samurai waterslide. Outdoor games. An unforgettable summer adventure for all ages.

How to play

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Choose your format: Family + Friends + Whānau / Fast & Fierce / Fusion Team Relay

Choose your distance: 2.5km, 5km (most popular), 10km

Choose your day and time

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The formats

Family + Friends + Whānau

All ages from 5+

Untimed

Finisher’s Medal + photo opportunity on the podium

Fast & Fierce

Timed 5km race format over 26 obstacles

Race-tag tracking + live times

Prizes awarded to Legends of the Leaderboard

Finisher’s Medal + photo opportunity on the podium

Fusion Team Relay

Four team categories (ages 13+)

Timed - pass the timing baton and attack the leaderboard

$8,000+ in prizes for each category

Finisher’s Medal + photo opportunity on the podium

Details

Claudelands Oval, Hamilton

Jan 10 - Feb 1

Book online at TheNinjaRun.co.nz

All tickets include a 50% discount code for Ninja Valley (valid during February-March 2026)

Earlybird offer - First 1,000 tickets go in to win a free The Ninja Run t-shirt!

George is going BIG this year ..

Hyoketsu Presents: George FM Summer Tour XL.

XL Venues, XL Lineups, XL Production.

Everyone’s favourite Summer Tour returns this year, but with a twist, just 6 key events but XL.

HAMILTON
Saturday 17th January 2026
The Factory, Hamilton
10pm - 3am
2 Stages

FEATURING:
GRAY (UK)
DUX N BASS (UK)
Beccie B
Danni
Kenzo
Big Ben b2b Bax from the Office, Calx b2b K-SHAE, Disco Biscuit
TKDET, Spin Ciggie

Cheers to Hyoketsu, #1 RTD in Japan, available in Mandarin, Green Apple, Pineapple, Peach & Lemon."

Looking for something exciting to keep the kids busy next week? Week 2 of our school holiday programme brings science and art together for a creative, hands-on experience at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery. The perfect way to learn, play, and create during the holidays.
⚫ 19 - 23 January 2026, 9am - 3pm
⚫ $50 per child per day, or $225 per child for a full week (use the code SUMMER26 at check out).
⚫ Spaces are limited, so book now: https://bit.ly/3LdjGBj

Super Smash at Seddon Park | Tuesday 20 January, Seddon Park, Hamilton



Super Smash is back for the final home double-header at Seddon Park!

Watch the Northern Brave Men and Women take on the Central Hinds and Central Stags.



Bring your friends and whānau for a fun-filled afternoon/evening of big hits, cricket excitement, and summer vibes!



Double-Header

2.10pm - Northern Brave (W) v Central Hinds

5.55pm - Northern Brave (M) v Central Stags



Ticket Pricing:

Adult $10

Child (5-14 years) - one free child with every paying adult; additional child $5

Under 5 - free

Sat 24 Jan 2026, 10:00am–12:00pm
Sat 31 Jan 2026, 1:30pm–3:30pm
Sat 7 Feb 2026, 10:00am–12:00pm
Sat 14 Feb 2026, 1:30pm–3:30pm
Sat 7 Mar 2026, 10:00am–12:00pm

Circus in the Centre is back for summer 2026!

We’re turning the lawn at Garden Place into a lively circus zone, offering free family-friendly sessions where kids and families can explore circus skills in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

What to Expect:
Circus tutors who can teach you juggling, hula hooping, spinning plates, and more!
-A drop-in experience—stay for 5 minutes or the full 2 hours.
-Activities for all ages and skill levels.

Where: Lawn section, Garden Place, Hamilton
When: Starting Saturday, 24th January, 10AM – 12:00PM

Why come along?

It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s a great way to get active, connect with the community, and try something new.

No tickets, no pressure—just plenty of circus fun!

This event is hosted by the talented team at Black Sheep Circus Entertainment and has been made possible thanks to Sport New Zealand's Tū Manawa Fund, supported by Sport Waikato, Love the Centre and the Hamilton Creative Communities Scheme.

Slàinte Mhath!

Our next fundraiser night celebrates the national bard of Scotland, Robbie Burns!

A full Burns supper of Haggis (or vegetarian option), neeps and tatties, and cranachan for afters is available for our catered ticket: $65

If you want to join us just for the Ceilidh dancing, tickets are $25

We’d love you to join us for a night of fun, bagpipes, dancing, and celebrating all the great things about arts in the community!

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6pm arrival for Dinner

6:30pm Dinner begins

7:30pm Dance begins