There is so much to do around the Canberra region this weekend, 3-5 May, no one in the family will be left disappointed.
Embrace the power of the force with the May the Fourth Fete at St Anthonyโs Primary School before heading over to Questacon sci(fi) Night.
Comedy Icon Dawn French stops in Canberra as does Australian Idol royalty Jessica Mauboy.
Stop by the National Museum of Australiaโs Market Day for all your shopping goods and while youโre there check out the incredible Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition.
EVENTS
Warped and Twisted: Those amazing Canberra Spinners, Weavers, Knitters, Basket makers and Crocheters have so much to show you.ย Thereโll be warm, woolie garments and headgear, elegant home furnishing items, accessories, toys and lots more in our Gallery and Shop.ย . Canberra Textile Works, Chifley, 3-11 May; https://www.canberraspinnersandweavers.org.au
Vinyl Lounge: The monthly vinyl listening party returns, bring your favourite records and music stories and support the development of the national sound collection. National Film and Sound Archive, Friday 3 May, 5.30pm; nfsa.gov.au/events
Market Day: The Museumโs Gandel Atrium is transformed into a shopperโs paradise with an art and design market hosting more than 40 stalls selling jewellery, ceramics, homewares and more. National Museum of Australia, 4-5 May; nma.gov.au
Steampunk @ Altitude Festival 2024: Explore Steampunk curiosities, oddities, games, markets, laughter and high jinks in historic Nimmitabel. Two days of promenading, perusing, performing, photographing and generally having a fantastical Steampunk experience. Nimmitabel, 4-5 May; steampunk.in
The Wright Place & The Enchanted Garden: The Wright Place features front garden terraces, garden rooms, container plants and tank irrigation. The Enchanted Garden is a waterwise garden offering a maze of mosaic and pottery art amid native and exotic plants. Kambah, 4-5 May 10am-4pm; opengardenscanberra.org.au
May the Fourth Fete: A special Star Wars edition, purchase merchandise- some still in its box, join cake decorating and enjoy the band. There will also be carnival rides, showbags, clothes, plant and good stalls, photobooth, craft and so much more. St Anthonyโs Primary School, Saturday 4 May 10am-3pm.
Questacon Sci(fi) Night: Celebrate May the Fourth at Canberraโs home of science, Dr Scar upgrades humans to cyborgs, Dr Brad Tucker talks aliens, teleportation and monsters while you can choose the light or dark side in a saber battle. Questacon, Saturday 4 May 6pm; ticketek.com.au
Brumbies vs Fijian Drua:Fresh off a win over the top-placed Hurricanes, the Brumbies will be looing to continue their winning ways when they take on the Fijian Drua on Saturday.GIO Stadium, Saturday 4 May, 7:35pm; ticketek.com.au
Canberra International Music Festival: Celebrate 30 years of the beloved event featuring 60 world class artists, 20 spectacular concerts in 11 magnificent venues. Until 5 May, full program; cimf.org.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
Humans 2.0: The next chapter of Circaโs acclaimed Human presents a tightly woven choreography of bodies, pulsing with music and lighting. Canberra Theatre Centre, 2-4 May; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
The Actress: The curtain is ready to fall on Lydiaโs final performance but first friends, family, rivals and colleagues visit her in her dressing room in this witty, funny production. Canberra Rep Theatre, 2-18 May; canberrarep.org.au
Dawn French: The Queen of British comedy returns to the stage with her one-woman play Dawn French is a Huge Twat. National Convention Centre, Friday 3 May 7:30pm; nccc.com.au
Jessica Mauboy: A coming home, the beloved Aussie artist is returning to her roots musically and geographically in the Yours Truly Tour. Canberra Theatre Centre, Friday 3 May 7:30pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Weโre Home: Warehouse Circus presents a circus show full of comedy, acrobatics, aerial feats, original live music and much more. Canberra College Performing Arts Centre, 4-5 May; warehousecircus.org.au
Bjorn Again: Celebrate ABBAโs Eurovision victory in 1974 with the Waterloo Anniversary Tour, upbeat and fun and with all your favourite hits. Canberra Theatre Centre, Saturday 4 May 8pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
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
The World of Musicals in Concert: A show for the whole family, enjoy your favourite tunes on stage from The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables to Guys & Dolls and South Pacific and many more. Canberra Theatre Centre, Sunday 5 May 6pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
EXHIBITIONS
Photo Access: Presents Navigating Histories and exhibition that weaves together historical narratives and their contemporary reverberations by Ren Gregorฤiฤ, Phuong Le, Chris Siu and Estelle Yoon. 2 May- 1 June; photoaccess.org.au
Beaver Galleries: Showcases two exhibitions- Our Beautiful Art Room by Yarrenyty Arltere Artists and Noctilucent by Kirrily Hammond. Beaver Galleries, Deakin, 2-18 May; beavergalleries.com.au
Inhabited: An exhibition featuring textiles, painting, woodwork, mixed media, assemblage and more from eight artist from around the Gungahlin region. Studio Studio, 4-12 May; belcoarts.com.au
All My Memories are Mistranslations: The romanticism of Malaysian heritage, the gritty reality of New York City and Aussie tongue-in-cheek become one in Omar Musaโs solo exhibition. Humble House Gallery, Fyshwick, 4 May- 2 June; humblehouse.com.au
Kyeema Art Gallery: Presents What you see, What I see? An exhibition from Marie Carver and Natalie Will. Capital Wines, until 5 May; capitalwines.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
Trust Me: Local artist Toni Hassan presents a multimedia exploration of her life-altering experience of cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2023. CCAS Manuka, until 5 May; ccas.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
Thank God Itโs Friday: An exhibition from Canberra artist Collective Hall Artists, brings together works from different career stages and influences. The Link, Ginninderry, until 26 May; ginninderry.com
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
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
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, untilย 8 September; nma.gov.au
