Auckland's social calendar has gone into overdrive, with everything from a free sculpture trail to a night of ocean-liner glamour packed into a single weekend. If you're in Tāmaki Makaurau over the next few days, here's what's worth building your plans around.

Art lovers get the pick of the litter. Sculpture in the Gardens is back at Auckland Botanic Gardens for its 10th outing, free to wander, with 15 artists from the very first exhibition reuniting as The Growth Industry Group to present The Welcoming Wave — colourful works on black plinths from sculptors including Richard Mathieson, David McCracken, Bill Hayes and Marté Szirmay. The Indigenous Clay Artists' Collective adds Wai Ora, a sound-and-water installation in the Threatened Native Gardens' ponds, and an indoor show sells hundreds of smaller pieces at various prices. Meanwhile, Art in the Park is taking over Eden Park for its final two days, with 140-plus artists and more than 3,000 original works you can buy straight from the makers — a rare chance to browse serious art inside a national stadium.

If you'd rather laugh than browse, Takapuna's Bruce Mason Theatre hosts the boldly titled Best Comedy Show on Earth tonight, with Ben Hurley leading Hayley Sproull, Angella Dravid, Guy Williams, Justine Smith and James Mustapic. It doubles as a fundraiser for the New Zealand Comedy Trust, so the silliness serves a good cause.

Classical fans have the strongest ticket in town: Sir Stephen Hough — pianist, composer and one of The Economist's 20 named living polymaths — performs with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at the Town Hall, in a programme pairing Elgar's Enigma Variations with the world premiere of Ross Harris's Concerto for Orchestra. He's also giving a masterclass for young musicians the following day.

For something with more sequins, the Art Deco Society of Auckland is throwing its ball at Villa Dalmacija on Saturday night, themed around the great ocean liners of the era — dressing gown-to-gangway glamour is encouraged, and tickets are still available.

A few quirkier options round things out. Wildcraft is running The Wild Table at Studio230 on Ponsonby Rd: five free immersive tasting worlds (meadow, berry patch, seaside and more) with pairings by chef Tushar Grover of Rhu, plus loaves and recipe cards to take home — book a session via Eventfinda. Mount Eden Village's Craft Market runs 9.30am to 3pm at the Methodist Church Hall, strictly 100% handmade and free to enter. And just over an hour south, the Tinsel Trail on Thursday winds through seven festively decorated homes in Tamahere, Hamilton and Matangi for Kidney Kids NZ — $40 a head including goodie bags, nibbles and raffles.

Looking further ahead, the diary is filling fast: Mary Beard at Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre on November 19, Cat Power at Bruce Mason on November 26, the Cross Street Music Festival on November 28, A Christmas Carol at The Civic from December 1, and Love Actually in Concert on December 14.

Why it matters: whether you're a visitor squeezing culture into a short stay or a local looking for an excuse to dress up, this weekend shows Auckland at its most sociable — and much of it, including the sculpture trail and craft market, won't cost you a cent.

Via NZ Herald Travel