Immerse yourself in the culture and community around Canberra this weekend, 20-22 January.
Lunar New Year festivities continue in Dickson this Saturday to celebrate Chinese New Year. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese community invites locals to Sakyamuni Buddhist Temple in Lyneham for their evening of Lunar New Year celebrations.
Gamers unite at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) across three days for the country’s biggest collection of tabletop and role-playing games at CANCON.
EVENTS
CANCON: Canberra Games Society presents the 43rd edition of the biggest gaming convention in the southern hemisphere, with players and retailers from around the country coming to join the weekend of fun. Exhibition Park, 21-23 January; cgs.asn.au
Open Air PlayUP: A great day of school holiday fun, soak up some sun while playing giant lawn games or chill in the shade for story time in the stunning Senate Courtyard at Old Parliament House, until 20 January; moadoph.gov.au
Little Faces: A special program for babies, toddlers and their carers full of singing, play and discovery, National Portrait Gallery, 18-20 January; portrait.gov.au
Dragon Boat ACT: Locals are invited to come and try their hand at Dragon boating with a free come and try day, everyone over age 12 welcome. Grevillea Park, near The Boathouse, Barton,21 January, 10:00am.
Folk Dance Canberra: Test your dance skills with energetic and easy dances from cultures around the world in the community dance organisations free come-and-try day. Folk Dance Canberra Hall, Hackett, 21 January 2:30pm; folkdancecanberra.org.au
Dickson Lunar Celebration: Welcome in the Lunar New Year with food and goods stalls, a stage jampacked with talented artists, roving performers, lion dances, and the unveiling of the Zodiac Rabbit sculpture. Woolley St, Dickson, 21 January from 1pm.
Lunar New Year: Celebrate the Lunar New Year of The Water Cat with delicious vegetarian stalls, dinner, folk games, cultural performances, and New Year gifts at the community and family festival at Sakyamuni Buddhist Centre, Lyneham, 21 January from 6pm.
Sunset Cinema: Continues to the ANBG with their signature mix of new release blockbusters, classics and family favourites; Wednesday-Sunday until 25 February 2023; sunsetcinema.com.au/canberra
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Burnt Out: Created and performed by Penny Chivas, the solo dance theatre work explores the changing climate around us. QL2 Dance, 20 & 21 January 7.30pm; events.humanitix.com
Yotam Ottolenghi: The chef restauranteur and much-loved author brings his Flavour of Life tour to Canberra Theatre Centre, 21 January 3pm & 7pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Twist & Shout: The Williams Brothers bring the Rock n Roll hits of the ‘50s & ‘60s to The Q, Queanbeyan, 21 January 8pm; theq.net.au
MARKETS
Night Markets: The community-run event runs every Friday 4-8pm at Anketell Street, Tuggeranong.
Capital Region Farmers Market: Fresh seasonal produce and gourmet goods at EPIC, Saturdays 7-11.30am; capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au
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.
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.
EXHIBITIONS
This Vessel of Mine: Artist Jemima Campey highlights the consumerist nature present within the wellness industry in her exhibition at ANCA, 18-29 January; anca.net.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
Creatively Ageing: Residents from the Calvary Haydon aged care home showcase work in their first public exhibition, Belconnen Arts Centre, until 5 February; belcoarts.com.au
Pictures of You: Empowering and representing people with disabilities through art, Belconnen Arts Centre, until 5 February; belcoarts.com.au
Jingo Was Born in The Slum: Matthew Thorne presents a powerful exhibition reflecting on Ned Kelly and his gang, Canberra Museum + Gallery, until 4 March; cmag.com.au
Viewfinder: Photography from the 1970s to now exhibition at the National Library of Australia, until 13 March; nla.gov.au
Cressida Campbell: The National Gallery of Australia’s summer blockbuster exhibition of works by one of Australia’s finest living female artists continues until 19 February; Grazing by the Garden lunch open every Friday, Saturday Sunday 11am-2.30pm; nga.gov.au
Feared + Revered: Astonishing collection of artefacts on loan from the British Museum that explore female spiritual power through the ages is on display at the National Museum of Australia until 27 August; nma.gov.au
Behind the Lines: This compelling exhibition of Australia’s best political cartoons of 2022 continues at the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) at Old Parliament House until late November. Admission to MoAD is free; behindthelines.moadoph.gov.au/2022
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