Locals and visitors are encouraged to get and enjoy the best season in Canberra this weekend, 19-21 April.
There are so many interesting events to check out you’ll be wishing for extra hours in the day. Celebrate the leafiest season with Little Burley’s Autumn Art Fair, immerse yourself in the rich African culture at the African Festival in the Park or sample the best drops of the region at the Stomp Festival.
The sensory deprivation experience Darkfield has been extended for an extra week, are you brave enough to try?
EVENTS
Cult Classics with Venus Mantrap: The Craft, when Sarah relocates to LA, a trio of outcast schoolgirls welcome her to their circle, a coven in need of their ‘fourth’. National Film and Sound Archive, Friday 19 April, 8pm; nfsa.gov.au/events
Stomp Festival: Celebrate the flavours of the region with wine releases, live music, art, lunches, tours, tastings, demonstrations and more. Various locations, 20-21 April; stompfest.com.au
Autumn Art Fair: A jam-packed lineup of art and design stalls, delicious food and drink, kid’s activities, live entertainment, workshops and more amongst the beautiful autumn leaves. The Little Burley Markets, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes, Saturday 20 April, 9am-2pm; thelittleburleymarket.com.au
African Festival in the Park: An annual event that celebrates traditional African culture with music, dance, art, fashion and food. Stage 88, Parkes, Saturday 20 April, 10am- 8pm.
Darkfield: A sensory deprivation experience that will challenge your realty, set in shipping containers choose between Flight and Séance. Canberra Theatre Centre, extended until 21 April; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Greatest Showman Brunch: Spend some time living the excitement, glitz and glamour of the travelling circus from The Greatest Showman, the live show is accompanied by a delicious brunch. Beef and Barley, Braddon, Sunday 21 April, from 11am; tixr.com
Book Club at the NFSA: Chloé Zhao’s Oscar-winning film is inspired by Jessica Bruder’s Nomadland, a study of post-Recession realities in the USA. Post-screening discussion features special guest Lech Blaine.National Film and Sound Archive, Sunday 21 April, 1pm; nfsa.gov.au/events
Canberra and Region Heritage Festival: The annual event returns with more than 120 events planned to share the rich history of our region featuring exhibitions, workshops and engaging activities. Various locations, until 28 April; environment.act.gov.au
Queanbeyan-Palerang Heritage Festival: Learn about the history of the region and get connected where you live with workshops, exhibitions and events. Various locations, until 25 May; qprc.nsw.gov.au
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Dog Man: The Musical: A dog with the body of a policeman spends his days fighting crime and chewing furniture, this fun musical was adapted from the book series by Dav Pikey. Canberra Theatre Centre, 19-20 April; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Madagascar Jr the Musical: A fun-filled family show based on the hit movie of the same name, come see all your favourite characters on stage. Canberra College Performing Arts Centre, 19-26 April; trybooking.com
RBG: Of Many, One: Brings the life and wins and dissents of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to be appointed to the US Supreme Court to the stage. Canberra Theatre Centre, until 21 April; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Seagull: A translation of the Anton Chekhov classic in which a country house plays the stage for love triangles, quarrels about theatre and egos to erupt. ACT Hub, until 21 April; acthub.com.au
Taxiride: Bring their unique harmony-rich sound to the stage as they celebrate the 25 anniversary of the band’s debut album Imaginate. Tallagandra Hill Winery, Sunday 21 April, 6:30pm; tallagandrahill.com.au
Spellbound: An incredible night of magic and grand illusion as Anthony Street takes the stage to push the boundaries of reality with his tricks and escapes. Canberra Theatre Centre, Sunday 21 April, 7:30 pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
The Shoe-Horn Sonata: Based on true events, the experiences of women imprisoned by the Japanese in WWII told through a pair that meets 50 years later. Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, until 27 April, 7:30pm; humanitix.com
Billy Elliot the Musical: Inspired by the movie of the same name, an 11-year-old boy dreams of dancing and breaking free of what life has in store for him. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, until 5 May; theq.net.au
EXHIBITIONS
Thank God It’s Friday: An exhibition from Canberra artist Collective Hall Artists, brings together works from different career stages and influences. The Link, Ginninderry, 16 April – 26 May; ginninderry.com
Places and Spaces: A group exhibition in which artists explore the places and spaces around them through installation, sculpture, painting and augmented reality. CCAS Lakeside, 20 April – 29 June; ccas.com.au
Remake Remodel: Bruce Reynolds showcases an array of paintings on linoleum wood inspired by modernist sculptures. CCAS Manuka, until 21 April; ccas.com.au
Moraig McKenna: Explores the surface effects of texture, glaze, salt and as on clay in Surfacing at Canberra Potters Gallery, Watson, until 5 May; canberrapotters.com.au
Deep Inside My Heart: Bringing together sculptures, drawings and other works from the national collection by female artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. National Gallery of Australia, until 19 May; nga.gov.au
Belconnen Arts Centre: Showcases 6 exhibitions; Lee Crisp Life Drawing; Emergence of Materials and Self by Natalie Hall; Hold III group exhibition; The Bone People by Brenda Runnegar; Place by Alexander Thatcher; Dog by Lisa Jose. Until 19 May; belcoarts.com.au
Rusten House Art Centre: Showcases three new exhibitions- Highlights of the QPRC Art Collection, A Stitch in Time- Quilt Exhibition and Community Connects- A Portrait Story. Until 25 May; qprc.nsw.gov.au
Ralph Heimans: Portraiture. Power. Influence.: Portraits on loan from private and public collections from around the world show some of the artist’s most significant works. National Portrait Gallery, until 27 May; portrait.gov.au
Tuggeranong Arts Centre: Showcases three exhibitions: Sitting Standing Turning by Robbie Karmel; Abode; and I Know My Age and I Act Like It by Louis Grant. Until 8 June; tuggeranongarts.com
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