For the first time ever, Canberra’s Enlighten Festival will include Pride Weekend, Friday 10 to Sunday 12 March, in honour of Australia hosting World Pride in Sydney. The celebrations are to include a range of events to commemorate the Capital’s LGBTIQA+ community. One tasty Pride-themed offering has been confirmed: Underground Spirits will be mixing, stirring, and swishing their latest collaboration with The Defence LGBTI Information (DEFGLIS), Canberra’s Tropical World Pride Gin, at Des Lumières bar. The gin will only be offered across the Saturday and Sunday, when the bar is open 5-11pm, and will be available for online purchase for a very limited time.

Started on 3 March and running until 13 March, Des Lumières is Underground’s first foray into the Festival Hub area, providing a place to stop, sit, and sip while meandering through the festival . “We’re positioned overlooking Enlighten’s city illumination from our deck [near the National Portrait Gallery entrance], just the perfect place to stop during a wander through Enlighten,” says Underground’s CEO, Claudia Roughley. Festivalgoers can enjoy themed cocktails, gin and tonic, or a mocktail for those looking for a lighter option. Other local beverages will also be on offer at Des Lumières, including beer from BentSpoke Brewing Co., and wine from Canberra Region winemakers. “There is absolutely no need to book tickets, just turn up during Enlighten and your warm welcome awaits,” says Claudia. 

On Saturday 18 March, the 16th Canberra Craft Beer & Cider Festival will see over 45 craft breweries, and – for the first time – distilleries showcasing their premium spirits. Hosted at Mercure Canberra, the Festival will run from 11am to 6pm, spilling onto the adjoining lawns of Batman and Gooreen Streets in Braddon. Up to 250 craft beers, ciders and spirits will be served up for tasting. Bentspoke Brewing Co, Capital Brewing Co, Cypher Brewing, and Ale Mary will be repping Canberra among the exhibitors. Complementing the bevs will be a range of food stalls offering barbecue dishes, pizza, nachos, burgers, and fish & chips.  The festival’s line-up of live entertainment includes sweethearts of Canberra’s live music scene, Archie, and Rubix Dudes. General admission costs $33, with on-the-day tickets for $45 plus booking fees, and includes entry plus five drink tokens. Children have free entry when accompanying parents. Festivalgoers can eat, drink and be merry knowing that the event is helping to raise funds for Rise Above Capital Region Cancer Relief, a locally based group providing support to over 950 cancer patients. 

Bookings via Moshtix; learn more at canberrabeerfest.com.au

On Tuesday 7 March, Grill’d on Bunda Street joined the burger chain’s nation-wide City Support Dinners initiative, helping them to pass the recent national milestone of 10,000+ meals served to those doing it tough in CBD areas. The initiative started in March last year as a response to the spiralling cost of living in Australian cities, and people in need turning to local businesses for a helping hand. On the first Tuesday of every month, Grill’d closes six Grill’d CBD restaurants from 5pm to create a safe space for people experiencing disadvantage in the city to enjoy a meal in dignity and in good company. Key locations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and now, Canberra. The effort is a hearty collaboration between the burger franchise and St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies).

Three iconic Fyshwick-based foodie brands, Three Mills Bakery, Capital Brewing Co, and ONA Coffee, are collaborating on an exciting line-up of goodies. The hero ingredient? Kvass beer, which is made from stale bread, reducing food waste. But don’t let that put you off. Take a look at these delicioso ganache pastries, served up with Kvass to drink, of course. Also on offer are bialy (thin, crispy mini pizzas topped with caramelised eschalots) and scrumptious poached peach danishes (juicy, ripe peaches poached in kvass, sitting on a bed of almond crémeux, in a flaky pastry shell). Snag some in-store or online while stocks last.

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