Frosty mornings, chilly evenings and flashes of warmth throughout the day, it must be July in Canberra!
As the city transforms into a winter wonderland, CD has compiled a list of the best events to keep you warm and occupied throughout the coldest month of the year.
Moving Targets: Professor Nicholas Terpstra presents his talk Finding Young People in the Early Modern World at the National Library of Australia on Tuesday 2 July 6pm; nla.gov.au
Paradigm Shift: Double bassist Kyle Ramsay-Daniel performs works by Giovanni Bottesini accompanied by pianist Ella Luhtasaari. Wesley Music Centre, Wednesday 3 July 12.40pm; wesleymusiccanberra.org
Snatch Game Live on Tour: The game Ru Paul’s Drag Race fans know and love hits the stage with some of the most iconic drag stars around. Canberra Theatre Centre, 3 July 7.30pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Photo Access: Presents two new exhibitions – Ngulagambilanha (On Returning) by Jessika Spencer, and Kooragang Island by James Rhodes. Photo Access, Griffith, 4 July-3 August; photoaccess.org.au
Dr Jo Langdon: Presents her 2024 Creative Arts Fellowship Research lecture in Tracing aviatrix archives. National Library of Australia, Thursday 4 July 12.30pm; nla.gov.au
Roller Disco: Pick from skate and skate dance classes, themed rink sessions and roller discos in this nostalgic fun-filled day out. The Vault, Fyshwick, 5-6 July; thevault.place
Glo-topia: A fun time for the whole family featuring over 60 giant illuminated decorations and installations, rides, live performances, competitions, food, markets and more. Exhibition Park, 5-6 July; trybooking.com
Craft + Design Canberra: Showcases three exhibitions – The Edge Between by Sue Peachey, Light Ripples by Hannah Gason, and Sequence of Variables by Estelle Briedis. Craft + Design Canberra, Canberra City, until 6 July; craftanddesigncanberra.org
Winter in the City: The Canberra winter event returns with the theme Fire and Ice and features ice skating in the city, fire performances and the return of wonder in the park. Canberra City, 6-21 July, full program; winter.inthecity.com.au
Christmas in July: Celebrate the second most wonderful time of year with market stalls, scrumptious food, a caroloke competition and much more. Queanbeyan Showground, Saturday 6 July from 9am; queanbeyanpalerang.com.au
Wonder: Enjoy the magic of winter with real snow, toboggan slides, ice skating, food, market stalls and more. Glebe Park, 6-21 July; feverup.com
Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis: Canberra Choral Society (CCS) and The National Capital Orchestra are joined by choristers from The Llewellyn Choir in this performance of Beethoven’s magnificent Missa Solemnis. Featuring soloists Sarah Darnley-Stuart (Soprano), Emma Mauch (Alto), Ryan O’Donnell (Tenor) and Sitiveni Talei (Bass), all under the baton of Louis Sharpe. Llewellyn Hall, The ANU, Saturday 6 July 3pm; ticketek.com.au
Greece Lightning: Garry Starr returns with his hit show featuring the story of a performer trying to cover all of Greek Mythology in a quest to save his homeland. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 6 July 7pm; theq.net.au
Belconnen Arts Centre: Presents five exhibitions – Almost Always by Isobel Rayson & Nick Stranks, Light and Substance by Robyn Campbell & Kirstin Guenther, Gold to Blue by Sarah Earle, YazElations: Upcycling Industrial Waste by Yasmin Idriss, and Awaken by Elizabeth Ficken. Until 7 July; belcoarts.com.au
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
The Woman in Black: A lawyer obsessed with a curse on his family engages a young actor to help exorcise the fear that grips his soul in Britain’s second longest-running play. Canberra Theatre Centre, 9-14 July; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Jinbo Huang Piano Studio: Talented young students from the Jinbo Huang’s studio are set to perform a delightful selection of music on the piano. Wesley Music Centre, 10 July; wesleymusiccanberra.org
Collections: A group ceramics, print, and paint exhibition by talented artists Sue Cant, Julie Roberts, Lynne Thomson and Jo Townsend. Canberra Potters Gallery, 11 July–4 August; canberrapotters.com.au
Macy Gray: With an unforgettable sultry voice, Macy Gray has been wowing crowds for decades, now she returns with the On How Life Is 25th Anniversary Tour. Canberra Theatre Centre, Thursday 11 July 8pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
In Tails: Comedian Colin Lane and long-time friend and well-known opera singer David Hobson come together in this not-to-be-missed production. Canberra Theatre Centre, Friday 12 July 8pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
The Grandparents Club: A comedy musical that’s full of fun and witty tunes and celebrates the gift of being a grandparent. Canberra Theatre Centre, 13-14 July; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
The Nutcracker in July: Community ballet for all ages group, 6th position, presents a performance of the beloved festive time ballet. Canberra College Performing Arts Centre, 13-14 July; 6thposition.au
Dave O’Neil: The beloved funny man is on a mission to entertain audiences in his new show Overweight, Lightweight. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, Saturday 13 July 7.30pm; theq.net.au
Gurnam Bhullar: One of the leading figures in Punjabi entertainment, the talented singer, songwriter and actor comes to town in The Diamond Star. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, Sunday 14 July 6pm; theq.net.au
Straight from the Strait: Join Aunty Ruth Ghee, Uncle Luke Captain, Georgia Corowa and Rhianna Patrick in a discussion about this upcoming production. National Library of Australia, Wednesday 16 July 6pm; nla.gov.au
Bombshells: Combining joy, drama, crisis, fear, revelation, a whole bunch of singing, dancing and laughter, Joanna Murray-Smith’s beloved play returns to the local stage. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 18-27 July; theq.net.au
44 Sex Acts in One Week: Four actors take on the classic radio play which follows a lifestyle journalist trying to work her way through her latest project – testing out a new book of sex acts before the week is out. Canberra Theatre Centre, 18-20 July; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Horizon: An incredible double bill of dance; Kulka by Bangarra allum Sani Townson opens for The Light Inside by alum Deborah Brown and Māori choreographer and Arts Laureate Moss Te Ururangi Patterson. Canberra Theatre Centre, 18-20 July; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Wonderful World: An immersive concert show from the mind of French cellist Christian-Pierre La Marca on cello accompanied by Itamar Golan on piano. Snow Concert Hall, Saturday 20 July 7pm; snowconcerthall.com
Abbalanche: The Australian ABBA Tribute show is bringing the ultimate ABBA party to town and everyone is invited to relive their favourite tunes. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, Saturday 20 July 7.30pm; theq.net.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
2024 Saxo Scandinavian Film Festival: Presenting the best new cinema from the Nordic region, a lineup set to warm the hearts and minds of cinemagoers this winter. Palace Electric Cinemas, 23 July–14 August; scandinavianfilmfestival.com
Oh What A Night!: A family-friendly musical tribute featuring hits from the Jersey Boys. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, Tuesday 23 July 8pm; theq.net.au
Mary Stuart: Two powerful women – one on a throne, the other in a prison. This adaptation of the Friedrich Schiller story explores the rivalry of two queens – Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart. ACT Hub, 24 July-4 August; acthub.com.au
Secret Screening: Your chance to see Beau Miles’ quirky films before they are finalised and uploaded to YouTube. Canberra Theatre Centre, Wednesday 24 July 7.30pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Joep Beving: The classical pianist brings his beautiful compositions to the stage at Canberra Theatre Centre, Wednesday 24 July 8pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Lord of the Flies: Faithful to the classic novel, a group of schoolboys are the only survivors of a plane crash on a deserted island and their struggle to survive. Rep Theatre, 25 July-10 August; canberrarep.org.au
Grug: The children’s classic comes to the stage to tell the story of the creature who is fascinated by the world that surrounds him. Canberra Theatre Centre, 25-27 July; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Meeting Miriam: Celia Craig presents her 2024 Creative Arts Fellowship research on the early life of teenage musical virtuoso Dr Miriam Hyde. National Library of Australia, Thursday 25 July 5.30pm; nla.gov.au
Hannah Gadsby: The comedian explores the world with anxiety taking the front seat in the new show Woof!. Canberra Theatre Centre, 25 July 7.30pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Djaadjawan (Sand): An exhibition of paintings by Walbanja-Yuin artist Natalie Bateman. COX Gallery in Kingston, until 26 July; coxarchitecture.com.au
San Cisco: The Aussie Indie pop icons are bringing the regional celebration tour of the Under The Light album to UC Refectory, University of Canberra. Friday 26 July 8pm; moshtix.com.au
Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of the Dubliners: Making its Australian debut, this fun and engaging jukebox musical tells the story of a career spanning 50 years. Canberra Theatre Centre, Saturday 27 July 7.30pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Jordan Wolfson: Body Sculpture: A commissioned piece that evokes emotional and physical responses from the viewer through the movements of an animatronic sculpture, contains mature themes. National Gallery of Australia, until 28 July; nga.gov.au
Julia: A compelling insight into the person behind the mask, this incredible production showcases the lead-up to Julia Gillard’s iconic Misogyny Speech. Canberra Theatre Centre, 31 July-11 August; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
The Sunshine Club: Aboriginal soldier Frank Doyle returns home after serving in WWII to find the prejudices have stayed the same. In a bid to change things, he sets up a fun-loving club. The Q -Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 31 July-1 August; theq.net.au
CONTINUING
Tuggeranong Arts Centre: Presents three exhibitions – Sisters Interwoven by Megan Daley and Rechelle Turner; All Guns Blazing by Jamie-Lee Trindall; and Breaking Ground by Heidi Smith and Michelle England, until 10 August; tuggeranongarts.com
Change: Stories from your pocket: The Royal Australian Mint curates an exhibition exploring the stories our coins tell about our history. Canberra Museum and Gallery, until 31 August; cmag.com.au
Discovering Ancient Egypt: On loan from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities is a deep dive into the culture of ancient Egyptian society with more than 220 objects, spanning more than 3,000 years. National Museum of Australia, until 8 September; nma.gov.au
Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize 2024: The 12 finalists for the Little Darlings competition that saw students from kindergarten to year 12 respond to the theme My Story through different mediums. National Portrait Gallery, until 15 September; portrait.gov.au
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, until 7 October; nga.gov.au
Napier Waller Art Prize 2024: Featuring 17 highly commended entries by Australian Defence Force veterans, this powerful exhibition is open to the public at Australian Parliament House until 13 October. The public can vote in the People’s Choice Award via the online exhibition, featuring the works of 29 finalists, at awm.gov.au until 13 October. More info: awm.gov.au/napier-waller-art-prize-hub
Materiality…but not as we know it: Ten artists and designers with Canberra connections explore the ideas around truth to materials and functionality and design. Canberra Museum and Gallery, until 20 October; cmag.com.au
Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize: Artists from around the country present natural themed works in this renowned competition. National Archives of Australia, until 27 October; naa.gov.au
MoAD: Home to a host of exhibitions, such as Behind the Lines 2023, Blueprint and Statement: Jack Green’s Paintings at Old Parliament House. Free entry, bookings encouraged; moadoph.gov.au
Canberra/Kamberri, Place & People: Discover the story of Canberra as the place where nationhood found a home – the people, places and history that make up this city and region. Canberra Museum and Gallery, ongoing; cmag.com.au
RECURRING
Lunchulele: Every Monday 12.30-1.30pm, ukulele players perform at Smith’s Alternative; smithsalternative.com
Behind-the-Scenes History Tour: Go behind the scenes of Canberra’s oldest public building and see its evolution. Canberra Glassworks, Kingston, every Wednesday and Friday 10.30am-2pm; canberraglassworks.com
Mt Ainslie Music Club: The community ensemble meets for improvisation every first Thursday of the month 8-10pm, Ainslie Arts Centre; ainslieandgorman.com.au
Sing Australia: Weekly sessions at: Belconnen, Thursday 9:30am; Duntroon, Monday 7:30pm; Greenway, Monday 1pm. Costs apply; singaustralia.com.au
Smith’s Alternative: Irish Jam each Friday from 4pm; Comedy Open Mic, first Sunday of the month 7pm; smithsalternative.com
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
The Little Burley Market: Bringing gourmet food and artisan handicrafts lakeside each week. Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes, Saturday 9am-1.30pm; thelittleburleymarket.com.au
Trash and Treasure: Hunt for second-hand goods, fresh produce and homewares every Sunday at the Jamison Centre, 7am-12.30pm; trashandtreasuremarketjamison.com.au
Bric-a-Brac Rummage: Hunt for second-hand treasure in front of South. Point, Tuggeranong, Sundays 9am-3pm.
Old Bus Depot Markets: The much-loved markets continue at the Old Bus Depot in Kingston, Sundays 9.30am-2.30pm; obdm.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.
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