The town is showing off its proud heritage for the weekend of October 4th and 5th, 2025. We’re joining the Auckland Heritage Festival and this year’s Heritage Festival is themed Auckland at play.
” inā kei te mohio koe ko wai koe, i anga mai koe i hea, kei te mohio koe, kei te anga atu ki hea” “if you know who you are and where you are from, then you will know where you are going”
“You don’t stumble upon your heritage. It’s there, just waiting to be explored and shared.” – Robbie Robertson
Come and explore your heritage! Your ticket will give you access to the shuttles moving you around the town, allowing you to keep your car in one place. It will also give you entry to:
Te Awaroa Museum, 98 Mill Road
Nau mai Haere mai to Te Awaroa Museum Helensville. Your ticket will give you free entry into the museum. If you’ve parked at the other end of Helensville, use your ticket to catch a shuttle down. Or if you park near us, use a shuttle to go uptown or over to the Railway Museum.
Come and see a selection of the famous Barbie collection that appeared at The Wellington Museum recently. Did you know that there were inclusive Barbies – shapes, ethnicities, and disabilities? Or that there were movie themed Barbies?
See a live blacksmith demonstration on Saturday the 4th. See spinners and knitters working their crafts.
For an extra $5 you can take a guided tour on the minibus with the lovely Toni explaining the history of the area.
Maybe take a peek into the past of Kaipatiki (Parakai) with its beautiful gardens, baths, bowling green and tennis courts.
We have highlighted sports from the past as well as Guides, Brownies, Cubs and Scouts. Discover Te Awaroa’s famous rugby players, or learn about our horse racing history.
Take part in a sack race, or try tossing a horseshoe.
Helensville Railway Museum
Your kids will love this one!
Yes! We have a working railway model. The train goes around an earlier view of Helensville.
- Working model train
- Sammy the engine – free rides for the kids
- A history of rail in the district – 150 years of rail to Helensville!
Come and see for yourself.
Other things to do – Sports Clubs, Cemetery Tour, View old buildings, A vintage market
Do you want to try some new sports? It is “Auckland at Play” afterall. Visit our Clubs Page to see who is participating.
Cemetery Tour – a free ticket to hear about those amazing people of the past may be added to your ticket – but get in quick on this one, as it will be limited numbers.
We’re designated as a Heritage Town – come and see some of our Heritage Buildings.
What’s a heritage festival without a vintage market and a Lions’ Bookstall?
Drop in to the Art Centre on Saturday 4th October open 10-2, from 11-1 there will be a free drop in workshop run by manager Yvonne Abercrombie, drawing still life of JeffThomson’s art installation of model trains. On Sunday 5th October open 10-2, from 11-1 drop in for a free workshop with Jeff Thomson, making paper boats for the Labour Weekend ‘Kaipara Cup’ race for Arts in the Ville.