We are well and truly in a Canberra winter this weekend, 28-30 June.

Get a taste for festivity at the Xmas in July Festival, a luxe market with decadent food and Christmas-themed goods.

Find your newest read or entertainment activity at the Lifeline Bookfair as the beloved event returns to its Southside location to raise funds for the crisis support service.

EVENTS

Xmas in July Festival: Free entry to this traditional French-European winter Christmas experience in Canberra; wood hut artisan market, live performances, mouthwatering food, and plenty of festive cheer. Parkes Place Lawns, 27-30 June; christmasinjuly.com.au

Lifeline Bookfair: Canberra’s favourite book event returns with books, games and much more to keep you entertained with all sales going towards supporting the crisis support line. Tuggeranong Southern Cross Stadium, 28-30 June; lifelinecanberra.org.au

Monster Fest Weekender: Lovers of slashers rejoice, Dendy is calling all ghouls to its mini horror festival featuring some cult classics including the Sleepaway Camp Slash-A-Thon (all three movies). Dendy Cinemas Canberra, 28-30 June; canberra.dendy.com.au

The Handmade Market: Crafty Australian designers and producers make up over 260 stalls where you can get everything from artworks, ceramics, and jewellery to children’s clothes, toys, and furniture. Exhibition Park in Canberra, 29-30 June; exhibitionparkincanberra.com.au

Canberra Vintage Computer Exhibition: The opportunity for the public to get up close and interact with a great display of vintage technology including games, music programs and much more. Radford College, Saturday 29 June 10am-3pm.

Newsfront: $8 Collection, the newsreel camera operators of the 1940s & ‘50s who documented a changing Australia. National Film and Sound Archive, Sunday 30 June 1pm; nfsa.gov.au/events

LIVE PERFORMANCES

The Dataset: The Australian Dance Party premieres new bold contemporary dance work exploring the complex relationship between humanity and data. The Vault, 27-29 June; thevault.place

Fully Committed: Mockingbird Theatre’s production of the hilarious one-man show by Becky Mode premieres in Canberra. Belconnen Arts Centre, 27-29 June; belcoarts.sales.ticketsearch.com

Grand Kyiv Ballet: Forest Song and Don Quixote: The Grand Kyiv Ballet of Ukraine perform a double bill filled with both romance and comedy. Canberra Theatre Centre, 28-30 June; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

James and the Giant Peach: A theatrical adaptation of the beloved children’s book by author Roald Dahl, join James on his giant adventure. Canberra Theatre Centre, until 29 June; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

American Idiot: A dark, foggy, energetic, rock opera fuelled by Green Day lyrics. The Q, until 29 June; theq.net.au

A Streetcar Named Desire: This prominent play by Tennessee Williams is being performed a ACT Hub, until 29 June; acthub.com.au

Warm Soup & Cool Jazz: Returning for the first time since 2019 warm up your insides while listening to the cool sounds of the Key Grip Jazz Trio. Mercure Canberra, 29 June 5:30pm; mercurecanberra.com.au

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow 2024: Jokes, Laughs at Australia’s largest comedy festival. Canberra Theatre Centre, 29 June; canberratheatrecentre.com.a

Crime and Punishment: Dostoyevsky’s famous work adapted by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus into a captivating performance. The Street Theatre, until 7 July; thestreet.org.au

EXHIBITIONS

Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize: Artists from around the country present natural-themed works in this renowned competition. National Archives of Australia, 28 June-27 October; naa.gov.au

International Scarf Exchange 2024: Celebrate the Winter Solstice at Canberra Spinners and Weavers in the International Scarf 2024 exhibition. Canberra Textile Works, until 29 June; canberraspinnersandweavers.org.au

Canberra Contemporary Photographic Prize: The exhibition/competition celebrating both emerging and established talents in photo media will be officially opened by the ACT Minister for the Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy. Photo Access, Manuka Arts Centre, until 29 June; photoaccess.org.au

Places and Spaces: A group exhibition in which artists explore the places and spaces around them through installation, sculpture, painting and augmented reality. CCAS Lakeside, until 29 June; ccas.com.au

Tanya Myshkin: The local artist showcases solo works of figurative engravings and intaglio prints in Wood Engravings and Drypoints. Megalo Print Studio, until 29 June; megalo.org

Gauguin’s World: Tōna Iho, Tōna Ao: Experience the enduring art of the French Post-Impressionist Paul Gaugin through some his most recognised works. National Gallery of Australia, 29 June-7 October; nga.gov.au

A Sense Of Fragility: In this exhibition, Kamberri-based artist Allison Barnes aims to convey her personal response to the existential threat of climate change. Canberra Contemporary Art Space Manuka, until 30 June; ccas.com.au

Robert Fielding: Nyaru: Contemporary artist Robert Fielding showcases strong cultural roots and views of community life and global concerns. Canberra Glassworks, until 21 July; canberraglassworks.com

Vincent Namatjira: Australia in colour: The first survey exhibition of the Western Aranda artist, showcasing paintings, works on paper and moving images from worldwide collections. National Gallery of Australia, until 21 July; nga.gov.au