What’s on in the Coromandel
Art, music, movies and markets — then Beach Hop revs up
● Miriam Saphira: From here to there, art exhibition, now until March 6 at Vessel Art Gallery, 752 Pollen St, Thames Artist and advocate for the lesbian community Dr Miriam Saphira is exhibiting her life’s work. The artworks have a feminist political edge and some of them were influenced by sexuality.
● Coromandel Farmers Market, Fridays until April 12, 8.30am at the Hike’n’bike Lawn, Coromandel Town This local farmers market will be held throughout the summer. Stalls include seasonal fruit, vegetables, eggs, bread, cakes, chocolates, preserves, plants and spices. People interested in having a stall are invited to contact Sabine at 07 866 8932.
● Free Film Friday, movie screening, Friday, 11am and 1.30pm at Thames Library Once a month, Thames Library is putting on a free movie from their DVD collection, projected on the “big screen” in the Carnegie Room. Checkin with the library to find out about this month’s film. Spaces are limited, contact the library to book.
● Whangamata¯ Weekend, community event, Saturdays, 9am, at Markesland View Reserve A market-type event bringing together small growers, makers and musicians to create a place where locals, bachgoers and tourists can come together.
● The Flaming Mudcats, concert, Saturday, 8pm Monkey House Theatre, Coghill St, Whitianga Formed in 2009 and hailing from Auckland, the Flaming Mudcats are a contemporary blues band. The band have recorded four self-produced albums of predominantly original material drawn from their life experiences. Tickets online via eventfinda or at the door.
● Botanical Distillation Workshop, Saturday and Sunday, 10.30am at Kauaeranga Hall, 437 Kauaeranga Valley Rd, Thames Learn how to distil your own artisan spirits, hydrosol and essential oil from plants. Jill Mulvaney from The Alembics Lab will help participants discover the potential of aromatic botanicals. Workshop is taught over two days, but people are welcome to attend one day. Tickets online via thealembicslab.com.
● Coroglen Farmers Market, Sundays, 9.30am at 1876 Tairua Whitianga Rd Local farmers offer their seasonal produce, including fruit, vegetables and eggs.
● Mercury Bay Art Escape, art event, March 1-3 and 9-10 The annual open studios event will allow people access to 40 studios on the east coast of the Coromandel, from Matarangi to Hikuai. Visit and chat with artists, see their work in progress, hear what inspires them and what new art they are working on and buy direct from their studio. Gala Opening on March 1, 6pm at Hot Waves Cafe, Hot Water Beach.
● Pauanui Half Marathon, March 16, 6.30am at Pauanui Surf Life Saving Club, Pauanui Boulevard The 21km course takes in some of the best sites at this popular holiday spot: the surf beach, the Pauanui airfield, the Pauanui Waterways and the offroad forest and estuary-side track of the Pauanui-tairua trail. The event also offers 10km and 4.5km courses, with the option to walk all distances, starting and finishing on the beachfront by the surf life saving club. Enter online at pauanuihalfmarathon.co.nz/enter/.
● Beach Hop, automotive and rock’n’roll event, March 23-24, Whangamata¯ Established in 2000, Beach Hop has brought together hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders for an annual rock’n’roll festival. The event will hop around the Coromandel during the week, stopping in Waih¯ı and Onemana, before culminating in the grand finale in Whangamata¯ .