The Canberra and Region Heritage Festival will return in April for its 39th year, celebrating the historic, natural, diverse cultural heritage of all peoples of the ACT and region.
The Festival was launched today, opened by Aunty Violet Sheridan, followed by the entertaining Tim the Yowie Man and Gary Kent from Heritage Trust. Tim attended his first festival in 1995 and encouraged everyone to be curious about our past.
“The beauty of living within the Canberra community is that you do not need to venture far to explore the history that is spread across our region,” said Rebecca Vassarotti, ACT Minister for Heritage.
“With this year’s theme of ‘curiosity’, the varied and diverse program of more than 150 events on offer helps us do just that, with something for everyone from all walks of life.”
The Festival runs from 9 April to 1 May.
For the first time, Kids Week, running through the school holidays, features family-friendly, fun events where children will learn about Canberra’s heritage.
There are three times as many First Nation heritage events, with 21 opportunities to explore the ACT’s rich Ngunnawal history. Join the Winanggaay Ngunnawal Language Aboriginal Corporation to learn Ngunnawal greetings and children’s songs; learn how to make and throw spears and boomerangs with Aboriginal rangers; or visit the oldest heritage site in the ACT, the Birrigai Rock Shelter.
The Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre will feature an exhibition on the Brooklands Story, tracing almost 150 years of continuous farming by the Southwell family. They will also host a cryptic clue treasure hunt during Kids Week requiring good snooping skills to find several unusual artefacts in our heritage collection.
“The festival offers us an opportunity to share our enthusiasm with the general public and offer an insight into the absorbing history of the Hall-Ginninderra District,” said co-ordinator Mardie Troth.
Ms Vassarotti thanked new and returning event holders for contributing to the festival and “shining a bright spotlight” on heritage in Canberra.
Tickets to the 2022 Canberra and Region Heritage Festival events are available now. View the full program of events and register online now so you don’t miss out.
