The happiest time of the (mid) year is here! Christmas in July festivities are happening across the month, starting with the Christmas in July Festival at Parkes West Lawns this weekend.

Sunday also marks the beginning of this year’s NAIDOC Week. Why not spend your day at one of the many exhibitions or events dedicated to the culture of our First Nations People.

Events

Christmas in July: Experience the festivities of Christmas in a cold climate right here in Canberra for four joyous days, Place West Lawns, 30 June-3 July; christmasinjuly.com.au

Whine and Weave:  First Nations artist Rechelle Turner instructs attendees how to weave, while you enjoy a glass of wine and listen to the beautiful live vocals of Tahalianna Soward-Mahanga, Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Friday 1 July 6pm; humanitix.com

Disconnected: An evolving NFT makes it way to Canberra for one weekend. As more people are connected to the internet the more it grows, shining light on the fact that many people still lack the education, access to medical information and social connection that comes from being online. Commonwealth Place, 1-3 July; disconnectednft.xyz

Skate in the City: Winter wonderland comes to life in Civic Square with an open-air ice-skating rink for all ages, enjoy a hot drink at the café and take in the wonderful ice sculptures. Civic Square, 1-17 July; winter.inthecity.com.au

Winter Village: The Swiss Alps vibe comes to the Canberra Centre. Indulge in Swiss cheese tasting and schnapps, build gingerbread houses in one of the many workshops, or witness the falling ‘snow’. City Walk entrance, 1-17 July; canberracentre.qicre.com

MEGAfauna: Myths and legends: Travel back to the time of Megafauna, follow trails and discover creatures of years gone by at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, 1-31 July; anbg.gov.au

MEGAfauna afterdark: Spend the evening hunting for Megafauna, hear tales of Bunyips and enjoy a light dinner at Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2-9 July. Costs apply; anbg.gov.au

Dilly Purse Weaving: Wiradjuri, Yorta Yorta artist Angela Jane Pisciotta Firebrace teaches attendees how to create their own dilly purse. Gungahlin Library, Saturday 2 July 2pm; belcoarts.com.au

Paste Your Place: Witness a street art installation come together across the weekend and have your say on what you would like to see in public spaces of the future in this photographic mural. Old Bus Depot Markets, Kingston, 2-3 July; register allevents.in/canberra/paste-your-place 

NAIDOC in the North: Belco Arts hosts a collection of activities across the week; try bushland delicacies, learn to weave, or listen to storytelling, at a number of locations in the Capital’s north, 2-9 July; belcoarts.com.au

Pialligo Estate: Come and experience a delicious brunch made from the finest ingredients, including meats from the estate’s own smokehouse. Sunday 3 July 10am; thepialligoestate.com.au

Markets

Dairy Road Markets: Cellar door wine tasting, local produce, handmade goods and arts and crafts are just some of the things on offer at the monthly market, Sunday 3July 11am-3pm; free tickets via humanitix.com

Hartley Hall Markets: The rural markets offer fresh produce, baked good, plants, furniture and so much more. Hall Showground, Sunday 3 July 10am-3pm; hartley.org.au

Old Bus Depot Markets: One of Canberra’s favourite markets for fresh produce and quality handmade goods. Old Bus Depot, Kingston, every Sunday 9.30am-2.30pm; obdm.com.au

Trash and Treasure: Rotary Club of Belconnen presents the community-run market full of secondhand delights and fresh produce every Sunday 7am-12.30pm; trashandtreasuremarketjamison.com.au

Exhibitions

Rusten House: Two new exhibitions open this weekend:Paul Martin’s oil paintings show what it is like outside of our world inThe Exploration of Space; a group showcase using stone, bronze, and clay to create pieces in natural forms and figurative works in Exploring Sculpture. Rusten House Art Centre, Queanbeyan, 2-23 July; qprc.nsw.gov.au 

Craft ACT: Final weekend to catch Collide + Divide and Fire Country at Craft ACT Gallery, Civic until 2 July.

Belco Arts: Four exhibitions come to an end – Vessel; Upending\Mending; Entwined; and Circles of Nature, until 3 July;belcoarts.com.au

Aarwun: Three exhibitions come to an end – Millie Black’s In Wilderness, Malcom Pettigrove’s Tree, Stone and Lovespoon, and Raewyn Carboni’sThree Passions – Colour, Movement, Light, atAarwun Gallery, Nicholls, until 3 July; aarwungallery.com

Tuggeranong Arts Centre: Three exhibitions celebrating First Nation Artists continue – Rechelle Turner, Aidan Hartshorn and Jessika Spencer at Tuggeranong Arts Centre until 16 July; tuggeranongarts.com.

The 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Featuring 35 artists from across Australia, the exhibition, titled Ceremony, continues at the National Gallery of Australia until 31 July; nga.gov.au

Live performances

Ash Grunwald: Brings his acclaimed blues and roots styling in his Shout Into the Noise tour to The Street, City West, Friday 1 July 8pm; thestreet.org.au

Decadence & Debauchery: A night of Burlesque striptease, circus acts, and comedy to make you blush and laugh, presented by Jazida Productions. Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Saturday 2 July 8pm; events.humanitix.com

Live at the Polo: Experience a night of Latin-gypsy-disco-swing music with Las Chavos and Decideds at the Polish White Eagle Club, Turner, Saturday 2 July 7.30pm;trybooking.com

Hannah Acfield: Melbourne folk singer-songwriter brings her No Light Without Shade tour to Smith’s Alternative, City West, 2 July 7pm; smithsalternative.com

Hand on Earth: A stunning Australian Art Orchestra performance featuring vocals from Yolnju songman Daniel Wilfred and jazz vocalist Sunny Kim. National Museum of Australia, Sunday 3 July 6pm; nma.gov.au

Canberra REP: Final performances of the Joseph Kesselring’s timeless classic Arsenic and Old Lace, at Canberra REP Theatre, until 2 July; canberrarep.org.au

The Sound of Music: Final performances of the encore run of Queanbeyan Players’ production of this much-loved musical, at The Q Theatre, Queanbeyan, until 3 July; theq.net.au

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