2010 Event Calender

Go straight to the 2010 calendar for:
Cultural Events
Religious Events
Sailing Events
Fishing Events
Sporting Events
Billfish Bar and Restaurant
Community Events
Public Holidays
Cruise Ships
Industry Events
Note from the TVB

Cultural Events Calendar

Date	Event	Location	Description
20 Mar and 22 March	Concert by Japanese Musicians	Queen Salote Hall, Nuku'alofa Tongatapu	Saturday 20 March at 6:00pm AND Monday 22 March at 7:00pm. Mr TOSHINORI SAKAMOTO (Japanese Drummer) and Ms NORIKO TADANO (Japanese string instrument player) perform for the first time in the Kingdom of Tonga. The concert is hosted by the Embassy of Japan Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and the Kingdom of Tonga. Admission is FREE!
19 May	Queen’s Baton Relay Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games	Tongatapu	The Queen’s Baton Delhi 2010 will arrive in Tonga on Wednesday 19th May, 2010. The international sector for the Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi is a joint initiative of the Organizing Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi in partnership with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and locally with the Tonga Commonwealth Games Association (CGA).
TBC July	National Arts & Crafts Festival	TBC	-
TBC July	Miss Galaxy Beauty Pageant	Tongatapu	This is the Beauty Pageant Competition for the Fakaleitis. It is a very humorous event, so get ready to laugh your head off and admire the creativity of the Fakaleitis.
10 - 24 July	Heilala Festival	Tongatapu	Annual Tourism Festival organised this year to coincide with the Celebration of His Highness, Crown Prince Tupouto'a's birthday on the 12th July. Cultural activities, beauty pageant, parades, sports and more!
27 July - 1 Aug	'Au Mei Moana - Returning Tides: The Cultural Heritage Exhibition	Fa'onelua Convention Centre, Nuku'alofa Tongatapu	This exhibition will be a point of contact between the public, artists and museums. The stories shared through this exhibition and performances will highlight who we are as individuals within a local, national and global Tongan community. Organised by the Tongan Ministry of Education, Women’s Affairs & Culture and the Tonga Traditions Committee.
Nov	Queen Salote College Cultural Festival	Tongatapu	-
Oct TBC	Pasifiki Trade Fair	Tongatapu	Exhibition of the Kingdom of Tonga's history, culture, trade and handicrafts. Also invited are neighbouring Pacific Island countries.
Dec TBC	Tourism Cultural Festival	Tongatapu, 'Eua, Ha'apai, Vava'u	A large cultural festival featuring traditional Tongan dance, music and handicrafts.
TBC	Christmas Carol and Christmas Lightings	TBC	-

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Religious Events Calendar

Date	Event	Location	Description
10-14 May	Church of Tonga	Tongatapu	Annual church conference and social events for church member all over the world.
22-28 May	Free Church of Tonga Annual Conference	Tongatapu	Annual church conference.
21-25 May	Tonga Constitution Church Annual Conference	Tongatapu	Annual church conference.
21 June - 1 July	Free Wesleyan Church Annual Conference	Tongatapu	These conferences have become major annual events. Church leaders get together to formulate policies and plan strategies for future operations of the church. These church conferences have also become social events for local and overseas members of the church. Tongan feasting is a major part of these conferences.

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Sailing Events Calendar

Date	Event	Location	Description
April	Don McIntyre's replica of Captain Bligh's ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’	Starting in Tofua Island in Ha'apai, Kingdom of Tonga	Don McIntyre, is set to embark on an incredible nautical journey to re-create one of the most extraordinary stories of survival and determination – Captain William Bligh’s 4,000 mile open boat ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ voyage.
May - June	29th Island Cruising Association's Pacific Circuit Rally	Nationwide	Yacht Regatta to Nuku'alofa and Vava'u from New Zealand
24 June - 6 July	Blue Water Rally	Vava'u	-
3 - 9 June (intended)	World ARC Cruising Rally (World Cruising Club)	Vava'u	World ARC 2010 cruising rally visits Tonga in June 2010.
10 - 21 June	7th Kalia Yacht Rally Tonga	Vava'u	For more information on the event, visit Mariner Boating Holidays.
22 - 28 September	Regatta Vava'u	Vava'u	See more info here.

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Fishing Events Calendar

Date	Event	Location	Description
7-14 February	Pacific Blue Vava'u Festival	Vava'u	-
27 March	Heineken Fishing Tournament	Faua Harbour, Nuku'alofa	Nuku’alofa Fishing Club have chartered a large comfortable boat. Participants must register for the tournament by Friday night at the club. Cost is $5 for children and $10 for adults. Start time is midday and finish time is 4pm. Call Dene Vete for more info on +676 8712949.
17 - 23 September	19th Tonga International Billfish Tournament	Vava'u	-
21 - 26 October	New Zealand Fishing News Tournament	Vava'u	-
27 November and 3 - 4 December	Tonga National Tournament	Nuku'alofa & Vava'u fish on the same days	-

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Sporting Events Calendar

Rugby Union

Date	Event	Location	Description
March	27th Digicel Cup (Tongatapu Club Competition)	Tongatapu	-
April	Pacific Rugby Cup	Tongatapu	-
June	College Rugby Championship	Tongatapu/Vava'u	-
July	Finals Digicel Rugby Cup	Tongatapu	-
September	National 7 Series (Rugby)	Tongatapu/'Eua/Ha'apai/Vava'u	-
October	National 7 Series Tonga International Sevens	Tongatapu	-

Rugby League

Date	Event	Location	Description
12-26 March	Inter-College League Competition	Tongatapu	Annual sports competition between colleges in Tongatapu
27 March	Tonga Club Rugby Opens	Tongatapu	-
TBC April	Pacific Rugby Cup	TBC	-
13 May	Senior League Competition	Tongatapu	-
27 May	Final Inter-College League Competition	Tongatapu	-
TBC	Inter-College Sports Competition	Tongatapu	Athletic sports competition between colleges held annually at Teufaiva Stadium
6,8,10 July	Tonga Vs Australia Rugby League Competition	Tongatapu	Under 19s & under 16s visiting team arrive on the 5th, depart 12th. 1st game on the 6th, 8th & 10th. Visiting teams are looking to play 3 games each.
25 September	Rugby League Finals	Tongatapu	Senior finals for both divisions, prize presentation and after match

Soccer

Date	Event	Location	Description
2 April - 3 July	Major League	Vava'u	Club competition for both youth and seniors.
16 July - 10 September	Tongatapu High School Competition U13/15/17/19	Tongatapu	A now highly contested tournament to find the best football school at various age levels.
11 September 2010 - April 2011	Major League	Tongatapu	Tongatapu Club competition for both youth and seniors.
21 November - 3 December	Districts Football Competition	Tongatapu	A competition between teams representing each district of the Kingdom.

AFL

Date	Event	Location	Description
26 January	Australia Day "Island of Origin" Tournament	Tongatapu	The best AFL players compete for the "Island of Origin Trophy" from all of the outer Islands, Representatives from Eua, Tongatapu, Ha'apai, Va'vau.
20 February	AFL TONGA Senior Competition begins	Nationwide	The best of Tonga's Open players compete in a 10 week season.
March - June	Primary School Clinics	Nationwide	AFL TONGA visits most of Tonga's Primaryschool to run clinics and skills based sessions. Carnival Days will highlight this program.
March - June	Auskick	Nationwide	AFL TONGA reaches out to Juniors from ages 5-9 in our Auskick Program. Parent and Community Participation highlights this program.
May	Seniors Grand Final	Tongatapu	The top 2 teams compete in AFL TONGA Senior Competition Play off.
November	Senior AFL Oceania Cup	New Zealand	AFL TONGA Seniors tour New Zealand for the Senior AFL OCEANIA CUP, Pacific Nations to compete in the top AFL Tournament in Oceania. This is an AFL OCEANIA Governed Event.
December	Junior AFL Oceania Cup	Tongatapu	AFL TONGA hosts 2010 Junior AFL OCEANIA CUP, 6 Countries competing to win the Oceania Cup of which Tonga are Defending Champions. The best U16 AFL Players from the Pacific will partake in this AFL OCEANIA Governed Event.

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Billfish Bar and Restaurant

Located on Vuna Road, Ma’ufanga.

Date	Event	Description
3-7 May	Billfish's 15th Birthday	Celebrating 15 years of business in the Kingdom (with our anniversary on 4 May). 3-7 May is Jazz with Edwina Thorne from 6.00pm to 10.00pm. Join us, dine with us and celebrate with us.
10 - 24 July	Heilala Week Specials	Visiting muscians include DJ, Devol, Friscoe, DJ Shane and more.
25 August	Mr Steinlager Charity Event	The 4th Annual Mr Steinlager Charity Event will be held on 25 August at the Billfish Bar and Restaurant, Vuna Rd, Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu. "Miss Ribena", the hostess with the mostess, will entertain and oversee the competition, fun, music and games. Doors open at 730pm. All proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Society! Buy tickets now at the Billfish Bar and Restaurant for TOP$10. Tickets are limited. Don't miss out!

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Community Events Calendar

Date	Event	Location	Description
29, 30 & 31 Mar	World Class Stand Up Comedy	Shooters Sports, Nuku'alofa	Shooters Sports are bringing Vaughan King, Ben Hurley and Steve Wrigley to Tonga for three shows only. Proceeds to the Woman and Childrens Crisis Centre. Phone Lynnie at Air New Zealand on 23-192 for your tickets. Be quick as sales are limited!
7 April	World Health Day	TBC	World Health Day 2010 focuses on urbanisation and health. With the campaign "1000 cities - 1000 lives", events will be organized worldwide calling on countries to open up streets for healthy activities.
10 April	Ride for Health	Start and finish at Pangai Lahi, Nuku'alofa	Pasikala Nuku'alofa 7.5 km bike ride around Nuku'alofa starts at 7am. See here for more info about the event, sponsors and freebies.
24 April	Children's Fun Fair 2010	10am - 3pm at Mala ‘e Akoteu, Kolomotu’a (Vaha’akolo Road / next to FWC Centenary Church)	The Rotary Club of Nuku’alofa will hold its Annual Children’s Fun Fair on Saturday 24th April 2010. Funds made from the Rotary Fun Fairs have been used to finance community projects, such as the National Centre for Women & Children and new equipment for the Children’s Playground at Fa’onelua Garden Park. This year the Rotary Fun Fair will again be the fund raiser for maintaining the playground equipment at Fa’onelua Park and also for supporting other Rotary community projects with a focus on Children. For more info, please contact Frank Schaper on +676 771-4657 or via rotaryclub.nukualofa@gmail.com
31 May	World No-Tobacco Day	TBC	World No-Tobacco Day looks at the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to its negative health effects.
5 June	World Environment Day	Tongatapu	Tonga celebrates World Environment Day via a float parade and running clean up campaigns and awareness programs.
12 August	International Youth Day	TBC	The United Nations’ (UN) International Youth Day is celebrated each year to recognise efforts of the world’s youth in enhancing global society. It also aims to promote ways to engage them in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities.
26 August	Mr Steinlager Charity Event	Billfish Bar and Restaurant	Tickets $20. All ticket funds go to the Make a Wish Cancer Foundation. Hosted at Billfish and by the dymantic duo from NZ - Miss Ribina and Miss Ford. If you missed last year, make sure you don't miss out this time as tickets are limited.
27 September	World Tourism Day	Nationwide	Raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.
TBC	National Sports Week	TBC	Encourages Tongans to get active.

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Public Holidays

Date	Holiday	Location
1 January	News Years Day	Nationwide
2 April	Good Friday	Nationwide
5 April	Easter Monday	Nationwide
25 April	ANZAC Day	Nationwide
4 June	Emancipation Day	Nationwide
12 July	Crown Prince Tupouto’a Lavaka’s Birthday	Nationwide
1 August	His Majesty King George Tupou V Official Birthday	Nationwide
4 November	Tonga Day	Nationwide
4 December	King George Tupou 1 Commemoration Day	Nationwide
25 December	Christmas Day	Nationwide
26 December	Boxing Day	Nationwide

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2010 Cruise Ship Timetable

	Cruise Ship	Arrival Date	Destination	Shipping Agent	Operator
1	Europa	27 January	Vava'u	Dateline Transam Shipping
2	Amadeus	4 March	Vava'u	Dateline Transam Shipping	Rising Sun
3	Dawn Princess	8 April	Nuku'alofa	Dateline Transam Shipping	Jones Travel
4	Dawn Princess	9 April	Vava'u	Dateline Transam Shipping	Jones Travel
5	Pacific Sun	6 May	Nuku'alofa	Forum Shipping	Jones Travel
6	Pacific Sun	7 May	Niua Fo'ou	Forum Shipping
7	Pacific Sun	7 May	Vava'u	Forum Shipping	Jones Travel
8	Paul Gauguin	17 May	Vava'u
10	Paul Gauguin	26 May	Vava'u
11	Pacific Jewel	14 September	Bounty (ie visits Kao and Tofua volcanic islands)	Forum Shipping
12	Pacific Jewel	15 September	Nuku'alofa	Forum Shipping
13	Pacific Jewel	16 September	Vava'u	Forum Shipping
14	Clipper Oddyssey	25 September	Niua Fo'ou	Forum Shipping	Jones Travel
15	Clipper Oddyssey	27 September	Vava'u	Forum Shipping	Jones Travel
16	Spirit of Oceanus	17 October	Niuatoputapu
17	Spirit of Oceanus	17 October	Niuatoputapu	Forum Shipping
18	Paul Gauguin	15 November	Nuku'alofa
19	Hanseatic	15 November	Nuku'alofa
20	Hanseatic	16 November	Vava'u
21	Cruise West (Spirit of Oceanus)	29 November	Vava'u	Forum Shipping	Jones Travel
22	Paul Gauguin	20 November	Nuku'alofa

2011 Cruise Ship Timetable

	Cruise Ship	Arrival Date	Destination
1	Columbus	15 February	Vava'u
2	Columbus	16 February	Nuku'alofa
3	Dawn Princess	6 May	Vava'u
4	Dawn Princess	7 May	Nuku'alofa
5	Bremen	4 June	Niuatoputapu
6	Bremen	4 July	Vava'u
7	Bremen	4 August	Nuku'alofa

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Industry Events

Travel Trade Expos

Date	Travel Trade Show	Country
30 Jan	Flight Centre Travel Expo, Christchurch	NZ
7 Feb	Flight Centre Travel Expo, Wellington	NZ
13-14 Feb	Flight Centre Travel Expo, Auckland	NZ
13-14 Feb	LA Times Travel Show Convention Centre	USA
20-21 Feb	Adventure Travel & Backpacker Show, Melbourne	AU
27-28 Feb	Sunday Mail Escape Holiday & Snow Expo, Brisbane	AU
6-7 Mar	Sydney Travel Expo	AU
8-13 Mar	Pasifika Festival 2010	NZ
10-14 Mar	ITB, Berlin	DE
11-14 Mar	Auckland International Boat Show	NZ
1 May - 31 Oct	World Expo, Shanghai	CN
18-21 May	'BULA' BFTE Port Denarau Nadi	FJ
14-17 Sep	PATA Travel Mart Macau	MC
6-7 Nov	Adventure Travel & Backpacker Expo Sydney	AU
17-20 Nov	DEMA Las Vegas	USA
TBC	House of Travel Expo Auckland	NZ

Tourism Forums and Conferences

Date	Name	Location	Description
17 - 19 February	TIDES	Samoa	The TIDES program is to raise awareness of the region’s investment potential; allow attendees to develop or strengthen international partnership opportunities, and engage stakeholders in unique dialogue concerning critical aspects of future tourism in the region.
1 - 6 March	‘Eva Mai Tourism Exchange, Nuku'alofa	Tongatapu	We've invited trade (ie tour wholesalers, travel agents, media) from key markets such as New Zealand, Australia and the US. During the Exchange, the agents will be able to experience and see what the Kingdom of Tonga has to offer as a desirable tourist destination.
13 - 23 March	Emerging Pacific Leaders Dialogue	Tongatapu	EPLD’s theme is ‘Navigating our Future Together’ and the conference will focus on the significance of leadership in the context of economic growth, regional co-operation and infrastructure, good governance, security, stability and strengthening communities, and environment, industry, education and health.
10 - 11 June	Tourism Forum	Tongatapu	Forum for all stakeholders to discuss the tourism industry in the Kingdom of Tonga.

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Note from the TVB

Please contact the Tonga Visitors Bureau if you know of a tourism related event that should be posted here.

All dates are correct at the time of publication, but may be subject to change. The Tonga Visitors Bureau makes every effort to keep these dates up to date. However, please contact the Tonga Visitors Bureau to verify dates before booking your travel.

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