Predicted showers won’t put a dampener on the fun to be had around Canberra this weekend, 16-18 September.

The middle of the first month of spring can only mean one thing, Floriade is back! Returning to Commonwealth Park in its full glory for the first time since 2019, the flower festival kicks off this weekend bursting with flowers, fun and food.

If flowers aren’t your thing, there are plenty of activities happening around the capital to keep you entertained. Remember the golden days of travel with a trip to Bungendore on a heritage train, or check out the model ships at the Canberra Model Shipwrights Society Expo.

Soak up the culture at the Irish & Celtic Music Festival in nearby Yass, head to the Royal Thai Embassy in Yarralumla on Sunday for the Thai Food and Cultural Festival, or learn to read and play classical music at the Understanding Music Seminar at ANU.

Or stay dry indoors while exploring two brand new galleries at the National Museum of Australia – Great Southern Land, and The Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre.

Canberra really is bringing the goods for all tastes this weekend.

EVENTS

Understanding Music Seminar: Learn to read and play music in just three days with Duncan Lorien, ANU School of Music, 16-18 September; understandingmusicseminar.com.au

Irish & Celtic Music Festival: Music, poetry, dancing, food and drink celebrating the region’s rich Irish and Celtic cultural heritage, Yass, 16-18 September; irishcelticmusicfestival.com

Floriade: Australia’s biggest spring festival returns with the ‘Sounds of Spring’, Commonwealth Park, 17 September-16 October; floriadeaustralia.com

Sailing Club Race: The Y Canberra Region Sailing Club celebrates it 60th anniversary with up to 30 sailing boats, season prizes and a sausage sizzle, YMCA Jetty, Yarralumla, 17 September 12.30pm.

Canberra Model Shipwrights Society Expo: Returning after three long years, the expo features museum quality models of all kinds of ships, Mt Rogers Primary School, Melba, 17-18 September 10am-3pm each day.

Heritage Train: Take a trip on a fully restored 1961 heritage train with multiple return trips to Bungendore across the weekend, some with a lunch stop, 17-18 September; 123tix.com.au

Ancestral Dance Party: A night of improvised music and movement by Praksis x Mobius, Ainslie Arts Centre, Saturday 17 September 7pm; events.humanitix.com

Thai Food & Cultural Festival: The 18th annual event features traditional cultural performances, food and more at the Royal Thai Embassy, Yarralumla, Sunday 18 September 10am-4pm.

LIVE PERFORMANCES

Barber of Seville: Rossini’s classic opera gets a contemporary twist in this new production from director Priscilla Jackman, Canberra Theatre, 15-17 September; opera.org.au

Great Expectations: Budding Entertainment presents an adaptation of Charles Dickens’s novel starring a youth and adult cast, Belconnen Theatre, 9-17 September; buddingentertainment.com

My Fair Lady: Free-Rain Theatre presents one of the most beloved musicals of all time at The Q, Queanbeyan, until 25 September; theq.net.au

Serenading in Spring: Musica da Camera returns with a program of lesser-known gems with two shows: Holy Covenant Anglican Church, Cook, 17 September 2.30pm; and Soldiers Memorial Hall, Gundaroo NSW, 18 September 2.30pm; trybooking.com

Attune: Canberra Choral Society celebrates its 70th anniversary with a concert featuring new and renowned works, Canberra Girls Grammar School Hall, 17 September 7.30pm; trybooking.com

Weavers of Song: Miriam Allan and Erin Helyard perform songs and piano works, Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, 17 September 7.30pm; wesleycanberra.org.au

Swan Lake: Performed by The Royal Czech Ballet at Canberra Theatre, 18-19 September; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Disenchanted: A solo cabaret of twisted fairy tales features disgruntled characters keen to tell their side of the story, The Street, City West, 18 September 4pm; thestreet.org.au

Jazz Down Under: Presented by The Fringe of Squaredom in a concert of exclusively Australian jazz, at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 18 September 4pm; tuggeranongarts.com

EXHIBITIONS

National Museum of Australia: Two new galleries showcase the Museum’s largest redevelopment since opening its doors in 2001: Great Southern Land is an environmental history gallery that explores our deep and complex relationship to the land, environment and people; The Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre is a ground-breaking educational play space for children aged 6 and up.

Waterhouse Art Prize: Winner and finalists from Australia’s most prestigious natural art competition come to the National Archives of Australia, until 13 November; naa.gov.au

Viewfinder- Photography from the 1970s to now: the exhibition shows Australia through time. National Library of Australia, until 13 March; nla.gov.au

GOST: Presents The Originals, a revisit of the artists who opened the gallery five years ago, Gallery of Small Things, Watson, 15 September-2 October; galleryofsmallthings.com

Safe Scenes: Run by the ANU BIPOC Department as a response to racism on campus as seen in the Racism Report 2021, Gorman Arts Centre, 15-20 September; ainslieandgorman.com.au

SEEN: Three artists utilise different mediums to bring to light what would otherwise remain unseen, at Tributary Projects, Gorman Arts Centre, 15 September-9 October; tributaryprojects.xyz

Beaver Galleries: The Deakin gallery hosts two exhibitions: Julian Laffan’s The Familiar Road, and Agneta Ekholm’s Continuum,  until 17 September; beavergalleries.com.au

Moon in a Dew Drop: Artist Lindy Lee’s travelling survey exhibition comes to Canberra Museum + Gallery, 17 September-3 December; cmag.com.au

Tuggeranong Arts Centre: Three new exhibitions: Danny Jarrat’s Neo Glitch City; Jemma Campey’s Watching Me, Watching You; and Gorgeous Shadow, Bent Dream, 17 September-29 October; tuggeranongarts.com

Nothing More Delightful: An exhibition of drawings by Tim Hardy, Strathnairn Arts, Wed-Sun, until 18 September; strathnairn.com.au

A Moment in Time: A selection of works by seven artists, Kyeema Gallery, Capital Wines, until 18 September; capitalwines.com.au

MARKETS

Night Markets: The community-run event runs every Friday 4-8pm at Anketell Street, Tuggeranong.

Kippax Marketplace: Indoor market to run 3rd Saturday of every month 8am-12pm, at Kippax Uniting Church Community Centre; free entry.

Community Market: The monthly markets come to Calwell shopping centre on the 3rd Saturday of the month 9am-3pm and Queanbeyan Park on the 3rd Sunday 9am-2pm.

Village Markets: Beautiful blooms, farm-fresh honey and eggs and more from local stallholders at Haig Park, every Sunday 8.30am-2pm; haigparkvillagemarkets.com.au

Old Bus Depot Markets: Over 200 stalls of exceptional quality, featured items handcrafted by local and regional people, 9.30am-2.30pm every Sunday at Kingston Foreshore; obdm.com.au