What's on in Nelson on a budget?
55 upcoming events
We've rounded up 55 upcoming events in Nelson on a budget — concerts, parties, theatre, exhibitions, family outings — sorted by hand. Pick a theme or just scroll.
Events in Nelson on a budget
Fri18
Today
Sat19
Tomorrow
Tomorrow · 10 AMFree
✂️Workshop🌳Outdoors
Whakanui Te Ao Māori
Victory Community Centre
Tomorrow · 1 PMFree
✂️Workshop🌱Ecology
Healthy Homes and Sustainable Living
1 Crathie Place
Tomorrow · 6 PMFree
💿DJ set🌳Outdoors
Fundraising Fashion Show - Magenta Creative Space
Magenta Creative Space
Tomorrow · 9 PMNZ$20
🎉Club🏠House
OUR HOUSE! King B | Sinbad | Will GT
Kismet
Sun 20 · 9:30 AMFree
✂️Workshop
Slow Fashion Pattern Drafting (1-Day Workshop Sunday)
The Suter Art Gallery
Sun20
Sunday 20 September
Wed23
Wednesday 23 September
Later
Fri 25 · 12 PMFree
✂️Workshop🌳Outdoors
Leadership Conversations for Climate and Taiao
Nelson Marina - Westend of F pier (This is the one directly in front of the marina office, a few hundred metres past Ruby's cafe)
Fri 25 · 3:30 PMFree
🗣️Talk💼Career
Climate Careers: Discover jobs for the future
48 Van Diemen Street
Fri 25 · 5:30 PMFree
🗣️Talk🔬Science
Fairfield House Talk: A Slender Path To A Thriving Future
48 Van Diemen Street
Fri 25 · 6 PMNZ$0
🎸Jam / Open mic📜Poetry
Come As You Are: Open Mic Night
Project 100
Fri 25 · 6 PMNZ$10
🎪Street party
Legendary Locals and Boathouse Fundraising Evening
The Boathouse
Sat 26 · 10 AMFree
✂️Workshop🌳Outdoors
Permaculture Possibilities: Discover, Design and Transform Your Space
Elma Turner Library
Sat 26 · 1 PMNZ$0
🗣️Talk
Friendship and Networking For Creatives
Project 100
Sat 26 · 1 PMFree
✂️Workshop☀️Open air
Make Noise for Nature Workshop: A Joyful Revolution for Papatūānuku through Music, Climate Activism and Celebration
Waa! Club
Sat 26 · 2 PMFree
🗣️Talk🔬Science
Sizzling Solar Solutions - Nelson
Elma Turner Library
Sat 26 · 6 PMFree
🎬Cinema
Film Screening: The Lorax
State Cinemas Nelson
Sat 26 · 9:30 AMCA$0
💼Career🤝Volunteering
Innovate for Impact: Social Hackathon - Nelson
Early Care and Learning Centre
Sun 27 · 10:30 AMFree
🌱Ecology🤝Volunteering
Community Litter Pick with Grassroots Recycling
2 Totara Street
Sun 27 · 2 PMFree
🌳Outdoors
The Gathering Place
Chercher
Sun 27 · 3 PMNZ$0
🏷️Other
How to Raise Your Spiritual IQ!
Nightingale Library Memorial
Sun 27 · 3 PMFree
🤝Volunteering
Adults living with Type 1 Diabetes - Nelson/Tasman Support Group (September 2026)
The Honest Lawyer Country Pub, Hotel & Venue Hire
Sun 27 · 5:15 PMFree
🎬Cinema
Festival Finale: How to Live on Earth
The Suter Art Gallery
Thu 1 · 9 AMFree
🗣️Talk
Parkinson's NZ One Day Conference
The Tides Bar and Eatery
Thu 1 · 5:30 PMFree
✂️Workshop🌳Outdoors
Yarn and Yatter Knitting Group
Good Yarn
Fri 2 · 7 PMNZ$18
🎬Cinema
Top Of The South Film Festival 2026 session 1
The Suter Art Gallery
Sat 3 · 6 PMNZ$18
🎬Cinema
Top Of The South Film Festival 2026 session 2
The Suter Art Gallery
Sat 3 · 8:15 PMNZ$18
🎬Cinema
Top Of The South Film Festival 2026 — session 3
The Suter Art Gallery
Tue 6 · 5:30 PMFree
🧗Climbing🌳Outdoors
Social Bouldering @ The Gravity Well
The Gravity Well
Wed 7 · 8 AMNZ$0
Critical Conversations with Site Safe CE, Brett Murray
The Hotel Nelson
Thu 8 · 5:30 PMFree
🌳Outdoors
Aarn Packs Party
MD Outdoors
Fri 9 · 8 PMNZ$10–20
Nelson Jazz Club Big Band at The Boathouse
The Boathouse
Tue 13 · 1 PMFree
Syringe Driver Workshop for ARC RN's/EN's/ DN's: Tuesday 13 October 2026
Nelson Tasman Hospice
Thu 15 · 9:30 AMFree
Bolstering Your Balance Sheet
Mahitahi Colab
Fri 16 · 12:30 PMA$0
SafeTALK Suicide Alertness Training (Nelson)
Nelson CFA
Fri 16 · 7:15 PM£14.30
🎤Stand-up
Comedy Night Live
Nelson Golf Club
Sat 17 Oct · 8 PMNZ$15–25
Strange Behaviour: Nathan Haines
DeVille
Fri 23 Oct · 9 PMNZ$20
Cumbia Blazera at the Boathouse
The Boathouse
Wed 28 Oct · 1 PMFree
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora RN's & EN's Syringe Driver Workshop
Nelson Hospital Medical Unit Seminar Room
Wed 28 Oct · 7:30 PMNZ$5–25
🌐World music🎫Concert
Where Conversation Speaks and Music Flows
Waa! Club
Thu 29 Oct · 8:30 AMFree
Fundamentals of Palliative Care Online Modules
Nelson Tasman Hospice
Fri 30 Oct · 9 AMFree
Nelson FASD conference
Multicultural Nelson Tasman
Fri 30 Oct · 6:30 PMNZ$10–20
🪗Folk dance🎊Socials
Nelson College Cricket Ceilidh Dance Fundraiser
2 Totara Street
Tue 3 Nov · 10 AMFree
Palliative Care for Caregivers starts Tuesday 3 November 2026 (for 4 weeks)
Nelson Tasman Hospice
Fri 6 Nov · 8 PMNZ$20
🎸Rock🎫Concert
The Music Of Pink Floyd
The Boathouse
Sat 7 Nov · 8 PMNZ$20
🎸Rock🎫Concert
The Music Of The Eagles
The Boathouse
Sun 8 Nov · 12 PMNZ$10
Nelson Central Crank 2026
Nelson Central School
Fri 13 Nov · 8 PMNZ$15
🎹Blues🎫Concert
Rich and The Poor Boys at The Boathouse
The Boathouse
Thu 26 Nov · 5:30 PMNZ$10
✂️Workshop🌳Outdoors
Hiking & Running Pole Workshop
MD Outdoors
Sat 12 Dec · 6:30 PMNZ$20–25
🌀Ecstatic dance💿DJ set
Sunset 5 Elements Ecstatic Dance
Trafalgar Street Hall
Sun 14 Feb · 4:30 PMNZ$20
Jazz Embassy at Fairfield House
48 Van Diemen Street
See also in Nelson on a budget
Sat 26 · 2 PMNZ$40
☀️Open air🪕Folk / Acoustic
Spring To Life '26
48 Van Diemen Street, Nelson
Tomorrow · 6:30 PMNZ$24
🪕Folk / Acoustic🎫Concert
Amalgo at The WAA! Club
Waa! Club, Nelson
Thu 24 · 6 PM
🪕Folk / Acoustic📚Literature
I WAS COYOTE: Young Moon
Project 100, Nelson
Sat 26 · 7:30 PM
🎫Concert
Extra Lives - The Interactive Video Game Concert
Theatre Royal, Nelson
Sat 10 · 8 PM
🎸Rock🎫Concert
Che Fu & The Kratez - 25 years of Navigator
Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
Sun 18 Oct · 7 PM
✨Pop🎸Rock
Beatlemania On Tour
Theatre Royal, Nelson
Thu 24 · 7 PMNZ$65
🍽️Food
Cheese Club - September Italian Night
Kismet, Nelson
Tue 22 · 6 PMFree
🎬Cinema📽️Documentary
Film screening and panel discussion - Think Like a Forest
Champion Road Community Hub Whakatū Presbyterian Church, Richmond
Tomorrow · 11 AMFree
🗣️Talk
Sizzling Solar Solutions - Richmond
Richmond Library - Bandicott room
Mon 21 · 7 PMFree
🗣️Talk🌱Ecology
Climate Fiction Book Exchange and chat
Riverside Community, Lower Moutere
Thu 1 · 6 PMNZ$50–65
🍽️Food🤝Volunteering
Voices Served Dinner
48 Van Diemen Street, Nelson
Your passions nearby
Tap what you're into — we'll find the outings around you.
