The countdown to Christmas begins this weekend, 16-18 December.
Finish up your present shopping at one of the great markets happening around town like The Little Burley Market on Saturday or the Haig Park Christmas Market on Sunday.
Head to Commonwealth Place beside Lake Burley Griffin on Saturday evening for the Traditional Boat Squadron display; we hear there may even be some Christmas lights on the vessels!
Feeling a bit grinchy and looking for an escape from all the Christmas cheer? Check out one of the great exhibitions on around town like the newly opened Feared and Revered: Feminine Power through the Ages at the National Museum of Australia or Disrupt, Persist, Invent at the National Archives of Australia.
EVENTS
Christmas in the City: Free merry-go-round rides until 24 December, music and roving entertainment until 18 December; christmas.inthecity.com.au/events
Canberra Christmas Park: Raising funds for St Anthony’s Bread to help families in need, enjoy an evening of Christmas cheer and a forest of Christmas trees, at Hall Pony Club, until 24 December; christmaspark.com.au
Photobrick Art Workshop: Join the adult workshop of Photobrick Art at Canberra Centre, Saturday 17 December 1-2pm; canberracentre.com.au
Traditional Boat Display: Members of the Traditional Boat Squadron will be displaying their boats at Commonwealth Place, Lake Burley Griffin from 6pm Saturday 17 December.
Family Space: Free creative activities for families inspired by the Who Are You: Australian Portraiture exhibition, National Portrait Gallery, 17 December-29 January;portrait.gov.au
The Wizards Den: An immersive magical cocktail experience at Zoo Bar, until 18 December; explorehidden.co
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Goldilocks & The Three Bears: The children’s classic comes to life on stage at The Q, Queanbeyan 15-18 December; theq.net.au
A Luminous Christmas: Ring in the festive season with some of Canberra’s finest music from the Luminescence Chamber Singers, Wesley Uniting Church, 16-18 December;luminescence.org.au
Darren Hanlon: The singer-songwriter brings his intimate Xmas show to Ainslie Arts Centre, 16 December 7pm; ainslieandgorman.com.au
Alex Lloyd: The ARIA award-winning musician performs a mix of his classics and some beloved covers, at The Street, City West, 16 December 7.30pm; thestreet.org.au
ACT Hub: Presents Oscar Wilde’s hilarious comedy The Importance of Being Earnest, until 17 December 7.30pm, 14 Spinifex Street, Kingston; acthub.com.au
Mr Fezziwig’s Ball: Sing while you dance to carols at Folk Dance Hall Hackett, Saturday 17 December 2-6pm; monarofolk.org.au
EXHIBITIONS
Who Are You: Australian Portraiture brings together pieces from the National Gallery of Victoria and Canberra in a rich study, National Portrait Gallery, until 29 January;portrait.gov.au
Cloud Country: Canberra’s Caroline Reid showcases paintings of the rich water resources from the ACT to the Victorian border, Raglan Art Gallery, Cooma, until 21 January; raglangallerycooma.com
Tuggeranong Arts Centre: Final exhibitions for the year – Swoon! We are Dizzy with JOY! And All That Glitters, at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, until 17 December; tuggeranongarts.com
Drill Hall Gallery: Presents Still in my mind: Gurindji location, experience and visuality, ANU, until 18 December; dhg.anu.edu.au
MoAD: Home to a host of exhibitions, such as Behind the Lines 2022 and Statement: Jack Green’s Paintings at Old Parliament House. Free entry; bookings encouraged.
Disrupt, Persist, Invent: Discover the stories of the many ways Australians have achieved social change in this new exhibition at the National Archives of Australia, until 12 June; naa.gov.au
Feared and Revered: Explore feminine spiritual power through the ages in this exhibition on loan from the British Museum, at the National Museum of Australia, until 27 August; nma.gov.au
MARKETS
The Little Burley Market: Lakeside Christmas markets at Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes, on Saturdays 17 and 24 December 9.30am-1.30pm; thelittleburleymarket.com.au
Christmas Fair: The Canberra Potters festive market gives you the opportunity to purchase gifts made with love, Canberra Potters, Watson, until 18 December; canberrapotters.com.au
Haig Park Christmas Markets: Haig Park Village Markets get into the festive spirit on Sunday 18 December 8.30am-2pm; haigparkvillagemarkets.com.au
Old Bus Depot Markets: The much-loved markets continue at the Old Bus Depot in Kingston, Sundays 9.30am-2.30pm; obdm.com.au
Bric-a-Brac Rummage: Hunt for second-hand treasure in front of South.Point, Tuggeranong, Sundays 9am-3pm.
Kippax Marketplace: Indoor market at Kippax Uniting Church Community Centre on the 3rd Saturday of the month 8am-12pm; free entry.
Community Market: Monthly market at Calwell shopping centre on the 3rd Saturday of the month 9am-3pm and Queanbeyan Park on the 3rd Sunday 9am-2pm.
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