Open Late | Love the Centre

Music To Make Things To

Where:

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery

When:

October 29, 2025 5:29 PM

October 29, 2025 3:00 PM

Jeremy Mayall will bring the music, you bring the craft. Bring a project from home to work on or enjoy a drink and soak in the vibes of our latest exhibitions.

29 October onwards

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Make a night of it

We're very excited to extend our hours for these monthly Open Late sessions.

Instead of closing at 5pm, Te Whare Taonga will be open until 9pm so that you can enjoy the exhibitions after-hours.

With drinks and nibbles available to purchase from our bar, you can get in the groove with a DJ or live music. Each month we'll have a new floor talk or panel discussion to get ideas sparking as you check out the galleries.

For our October session, we'll enjoy a performance by Dr. Jeremy Mayall, composer/performer/innovator and CEO of Creative Waikato. While he performs, you are encouraged to sketch or write or craft to relax. Bring a project to work on from home or enjoy a drink and explore our latest exhibitions.

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October What's On Guide

Mark you calendar - Hamilton Central is the place to be this October!

Halloween: Exscite After Dark

Tickets from $20

Step into Exscite after dark for a Halloween adventure like no other. Hear ghost stories around the campfire, follow the trick-or-treat trail, and enjoy free face painting for all ages.

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Activity for the whole family!

We'll have activity stations for the whole family, including code-cracking and treat-bag making.

Follow the trick-or-treat trail and collect stamps to unlock a bag full of treats to take home.

Get into the Halloween spirit with free face painting from our friends at Enchanted Entertainment.

Gather around the campfire in Exscite to hear local ghost stories that will send a shiver down your spine.

Make your own treat bag at our creepy craft station.

Look out for a special guest roaming Exscite for photos.

Come along in costume whether you're a kid or a grown up!

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Poetry in the Galleries

Held on the second Friday of every month (excluding December).

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Take a creative lunch break to explore art through poetry.

These free drop-in poetry sessions are the perfect way for beginners and poetry lovers alike to explore their creativity.

With a focus on ekphrasis (poetry written in response to art), this is a fun and creative experience that is about expression, not perfection.

Be inspired by our exhibitions and explore new ways to look at art and language.

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What to expect

Educator and poet Cassandra Barnett will introduce easy poetry techniques and prompts, help you see and connect with works of art, and encourage you to find your own creative voice.

Wander the galleries with pencil and paper, and support on hand, and poem what you see.

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Poetry prompts

If you can’t join the lunchtime session, drop in at any time on the day of Poetry in the Galleries and pick up a poetry prompt. Let the galleries guide your words and enjoy writing at your own pace.

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Waikato Home & Garden Show

On a mission to create your dream home, renovate to sell, or ramp up the value of investment? Don’t miss the annual Waikato Home & Garden Show, where you’ll find everything you need to renovate, build, decorate and landscape your home under one roof.

As well as some great show-only deals, hundreds of exhibitors will be on hand to present exciting new products, stylish trends, innovative ideas and top quality service to help make your project a reality.

That’s not all – you’ll find something for the whole family including live cooking demos, seminars, demonstrations, food and drink, a kids zone and so much more!

10am - 5pm (4pm finish on last day of the show)

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