There are so many fun events you won’t be left wondering what to do around the Canberra region this weekend, 23-25 February.
It’s back! Head out to Exhibition Park from Friday to Sunday and experience the wonder of the Royal Canberra Show. With petting zoos, high-speed thrill rides and agriculture on display, there is something for every age.
Performance highlights include the last opening of Canberra Rep’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers, the last chance to see Queanbeyan Player’s Next to Normal, and Mill Theatre at Dairy Road’s BLANK.
EVENTS
Royal Canberra Show: The entertainment spectacular returns with rides, show bags, live animals, shows of human endurance and so much more. Exhibition Park, 23-25 February; canberrashow.org.au
Friday Night Drinks: Soak up the last of the warm summer nights with live music, beverages from Capital Brewing Co, and great friends. Old Parliament House, 23 February 5pm; moadoph.gov.au
Sunset Cinema: Watch a new release, classic or family favourite film outdoors with this summer classic, gran a bucket of bottomless popcorn and some food and drink while you sit back and relax. The Australian National Botanic Gardens, until 24 February; visitcanberra.com.au
Australian Plants as Bonsai: The Canberra Bonsai Society and the Australian National Botanic Gardens present a showcase of the art of miniature trees. Australian National Botanic Gardens, 24-25 February; parksaustralia.gov.au/botanic-gardens
Terroux: Is a large evolving country garden with water features and quirky pieces of art. A garden of discovery with gravel paths revealing diverse plantings and extensive parkland with orchards against the Brindabella backdrop. Free for members, $10 entry for over 18 years. 88 Rochford Road, Wallarroo. Hall, 24-25 February; opengardenscanberra.org.au
Yass Picnic Races: Established in 1901, the Yass Picnic Races are one of the oldest Picnic Race Clubs in NSW. Head along to Marchmont Race Course on Saturday 24 February 11.30am-6pm for a great day out. Buses will run to and from town. Tickets: yasspicnicraces.com.au
2024 Lantern Festival: The Australia Chine Friendship Society hosts a free evening of music, dancing, martial arts and lantern parade, BYO picnic, the event will be cancelled if there is rain. Beijing Garden, Yarralumla, 24 February 6pm; acfs.org.au
Retirement Village & Resort Expo: Explore the latest resort style developments and established villages while getting all your questions answered. Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden, 25-26 February; retirementexpo.com.au
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Last of the Red Hot Lovers: New York at the end of the 1960s, middle-aged Barney Cashman doesn’t want to miss out on the swinging craze and sets up three encounters in this classic comedy. Canberra REP Theatre, 22 February – 9 March; canberrarep.org.au
Lakeside at 5: The monthly Friday afternoon tunes feature local artist Creswick. Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Friday 23 February 5pm; tuggeranongarts.com
Matchbox Twenty: Return to Australia to celebrate their new album, Where The Light Goes, with special guests the Goo Goo Dolls. GIO Stadium, Friday 23 February 7pm; sold out.
Adélaïde Ferrière: The renowned percussionist known for her magnetic stage presence and virtuosic dynamism performs her Australian debut. Snow Concert Hall, Friday 23 February 7pm; snowconcerthall.com
Transients: Andrea Keller on piano, Julien Wilson on saxophone, and Sam Anning on double bass perform original compositions. The Street Theatre, 23 February 7pm; thestreet.org.au
Next to Normal: Queanbeyan Players present the award-winning Brian Yorkey musical exploring how a suburban household copes with mental health and crisis. Belconnen Community Theatre, until 24 February; queanbeyanplayers.com
BLANK: A joint effort between audience and performer, the gaps in the script are filled to reveal a story that celebrates human imagination. Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, Fyshwick, until 24 February; milltheatreatdairyroad.com
The Australian Tenors: Perform with the Southern Cross Orchestra and special guest Giuseppina Grech from Opera Australia. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, Saturday 24 February 2pm; theq.net.au
Sionnach Rua’s Great Irish Songbook: Returns with an enchanting collection of new songs and stories. The Street, City West, 24 February 7.30pm; thestreet.org.au
Art Song Canberra: Start their 2024 season with A Tribute to Oliver, celebrating Oliver Raymond OAM. Wesley Music Centre, Sunday 25 February 3pm; trybooking.com
EXHIBITIONS
Loose Ends: Nine studio artists present a collection of the works they had been meaning to get around to, completed for the exhibition deadline. ANCA, Dickson, 21 February – 10 March; anca.net.au
M16 Artspace: Presents five exhibitions: New Work by Martin Paull, Absurd Frontier by Nathan Hughes, CAPTCHA by Matthew Francis, Cold Collations by Susan Chancellor, and Pixel Panel III by Karen Milder. 23 February – 17 March; m16artspace.com.au
Places Near Here: Canberra artist Julie Colbran showcases a series of landscape paintings that capture the Canberra region. Rusten House Art Centre, Queanbeyan, until 24 February; qprc.nsw.gov.au
GW Bot: The artist presents Glyphs – the poet’s garden, a collection of works on paper and sculpture at Beaver Galleries, Deakin until 24 February; beavergalleries.com.au
Built Geologies: Inspired by terraforming, artist Nicholas Burridge showcases works created during his 2023 residency at Canberra Glassworks, until 24 February; canberraglassworks.com
Alchemy Exhibition: The final coming together of the 15 Project Alchemy artists presents a series of cross disciplinary art projects in response to the Black Summer fires. The Queanbeyan Hive Gallery, 24 February – 17 March; rebustheatre.com
Liz Jakimow: Presents A journey with grief: exploring loss through photography and poetry, a personal exploration of grief and loss at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Barton until 25 February; csu.edu.au
Holding Time: Bungendore Wood Works Gallery presents an exhibition of works by Harp Kiddle. Bungendore Wood Works Gallery, until 28 February; bwoodworks.com.au
Madonna40: A Celebration: Experience this incredible homage to the Queen of Pop, as one Canberra fan shares their collection of Madonna memorabilia. Canberra Museum and Gallery, until 3 March; cmag.com.au
Emily Kam Kngwarray: This exhibition celebrates the timeless art of the pre-eminent Anmatyerr artist who devoted her final years to painting and creating work capturing the experience of her extraordinary life. National Gallery of Australia, until 28 April; nga.gov.au
Focus: Australian Government Photographers: Undertake a journey spanning six decades of Australian life with works from some of the government photographers working between 1939 and 1996. National Archives of Australia, until 10 June; naa.gov.au
Discovering Ancient Egypt: On loan from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities is a deep dive into the culture of the ancient society with more than 220 objects, spanning more than 3,000 years. National Museum of Australia, until 8 September; nma.gov.au
