From 14 July, ELEMENTAL AKL will take over Aotea Square, transforming it into the ELEMENTAL AKL HUB - the pulsing heart of the festival’s programme of art, eats and beats in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Get ready for food, music, art installations and a line-up that includes ice skating drag queens, feel-good DJs, cyberpunk felines, a mushroom forest and more.
Here’s a taste of what to expect:
Aotea Square Ice Rink and Ice Slide, 24 June – 31 July | $11 - $23
This year the ice rink features a stunning lighting installation designed by Jonny Cross that will leave you feeling like you’re skating into another dimension.
The Snugs, 24 June - 31 July | Minimum spend on food and beverage required
The most Insta-worthy dining experience in Tāmaki Makaurau returns for Elemental AKL! These magical domes are kitted out with all things comfy and cosy to keep you warm while enjoying the sparkling atmosphere in Aotea Square. Perfect for up to six people, the 2022 offering – with a menu designed exclusively for Elemental AKL by Yokeswaran Subramanian - includes DIY tacos, and platters-a-plenty, with options for all tastes and dietary requirements.
Shrooms, 14 - 31 July | Free
Sure to delight art lovers of all ages! A large-scale, inflatable mushroom forest will take root across Aotea Square’s grassy terraces for an installation that will transport you into another world. The brainchild of Amigo & Amigo, these shrooms are quite literally larger-than-life. Looming large over the Square, you’re sure to be tempted to stop for a snap or two.
Metronome, 15 - 31 July | Free
Prepare to be entranced by Metronome - a performance installation that combines object manipulation and sculptural movement for a truly mesmerising show. Performers will guide eight towering pendulums, each measuring over four metres and weighing over 100 kilograms. The rhythmic movement inspired by these pendulums is sure to add another out-of-this-world experience to the ELEMENTAL AKL HUB.
Neon Cats, 15 - 31 July | Free
Creeping through the mushroom forest and across the Square are the Neon Cats! These cyberpunk felines will intrigue and astound with their neon face masks and mysterious, elegant movements. Using infrared cameras, audiences will see themselves reflected in the cats’ LCD screen eyes, with music playing from within.
Drag Disco on Ice, 14 July | Free
ELEMENTAL AKL goes camp on Thursday 14 July for Drag Disco on Ice! Drag Kings, Queens, and everyone in between are invited to glam up and inject a little glitter and sparkle onto the ice. Featuring a line-up of local Queens Yuri Guaii, Margarita Blades and Shavorn Aborealis, the event is free for all to watch – or join in the fun for the cost of entry to the rink!
DJ’s in the Container, 14 – 30 July | Free
Auckland Live’s Container in the Square Café, situated in the heart of Aotea Square, will host a curated line-up of local DJs to keep the beats and vibes pumping on crisp mid–winter nights. With drinks available at the Container and free DJ sessions, this is a perfect pre-show watering hole for Live Nation’s Elemental Nights concerts, or an ELEMENTAL AKL HUB destination. The line-up of DJ's includes Stinky Jim, Samuel Harmony, Murray Cammick, Matthew Crawley, Uncle Barnie & more.
$2 per hour to a max of $12 on weekends and a $12 flat rate for weekday evenings at The Civic car park. Find out more.