The Canberra region has so many great events and activities on offer this weekend, 6-8 October, that it could be tricky choosing what to do.
See behind the scenes of democracy at the Government House Open Day on Saturday and the Australian Parliament House Open Day on Sunday.
Explore a new culture, hobby or lifestyle at La Fiesta Latin American festival, the Canberra Highland Gathering, Canberra Bonsai Society’s annual show, or the Canberra Psychic Fair.
Take a moment to celebrate our local heroes at Googong’s Rural Fire Service Open Day and get a taste of the action on the big red truck.
EVENTS
Vinyl Lounge 10th anniversary: Vinyl lovers rejoice! Enjoy a complimentary drink on arrival and special live performances, with proceeds going towards developing the national sound collection. National Film and Sound Archive, Friday 6 October 5.30pm; nfsa.gov.au
Book Launch: Linda Peek launches her new book Malta: A Childhood Under Siege, a memoir of her mother’s time in Malta during WWII. Griffith Neighbourhood Hall, 6 October 6pm.
Arts Trail: Celebrate the local artists and makers of the Queanbeyan-Palerang region as studios and galleries open their doors. Visit creatives in Bungendore this weekend, 7-8 October; queanbeyanpalerang.com.au
Canberra Psychic Fair: Your one-stop location for all jewellery, homewares, clothes, and goods for everything psychic, wicca and witchy. Viking Club, Tuggeranong, 7-8 October; canberrapsychicfair.com.au
Canberra Bonsai Society: Presents their annual show with a collection of 80 uniquely crafted bonsai, plus vendors and information. Canberra High School, Macquarie, 7-8 October 9am-4pm.
TEDxCanberra: The ideas festival celebrates up-and-coming change makers, innovators and artists both local and from across the country. Canberra Theatre Centre, 7 October 9am; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Googong’s Rural Fire Service Open Day: Back for the first time since the pandemic, locals are invited to celebrate local heroes and learn about fire safety with fire trucks, community stalls, live entertainment, activities, and food and drink. Bunyip Park, Googong, Saturday 7 October 10am- 2pm; googong.net
Canberra Highland Gathering: A day of free, feel-good, Scottish fun with highland dancing, kilted warriors, military re-enactment group, music, food, and more. Kambah Oval, 7 October 10am-5pm; canberragathering.com.au
Harden Kite Festival: A fun day about 100km from Canberra with circus classes, competitions, petting zoo, activities, entertainment and more. Harden, 7 October 10am-4pm.
Government House Open Day: Tour one of Australia’s most historic properties and enjoy a picnic in the grounds of Government House, Yarralumla, 7 October 10am-2pm; gg.gov.au
La Fiesta: An all-ages celebration of the vibrant Latin American culture with an abundance of food, music, art, culture and dance. Latin American Plaza, City Centre, 7 October 3pm-9pm; act.gov.au/cityrenewal
Australian Parliament House Open Day: Celebrating 35 years as the heart of Aussie democracy with a day of live entertainment, food, demonstrations, arts and lots more. Sunday 8 October, 9am-5pm; aph.gov.au/openday
Deep Blue Ceramics Open Day: Meet the maker behind the works in this brand new teaching space, try your hand on the wheel and ask all your burning ceramics questions. 8 October, 10am-3pm, more details here; deep-blue-ceramics.myshopify.com
Tulip Top Gardens: Enjoy the incredible display of tulips, blossoms and other flowers along with birds, live entertainment, food and wine. Tulip Top Gardens, Sutton NSW, until 15 October; tuliptopgardens.com.au
Floriade: Celebrate Australia’s favourite Spring festival of beautiful blooms, engaging entertainment, workshops, markets, food and wine, art displays, events and more. Commonwealth Park, until Sunday 15 October; floriadeaustralia.com
LIVE PEFORMANCES
West Side Story: Dramatic Productions presents the beloved musical telling the story of romance and gang rivalry in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Gungahlin College Theatre, 6-21 October; stagecenta.com
The Beanies: The ABC Kids TV sensation is live on stage as Laura, Mim and Michael need your help to save EGGbert in the Egg-Straordinary Day. The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 7 October 10am and 12.30pm; theq.net.au
Saturday Afternoon Tunes: Bring your families, your friends and your picnics and enjoy free live music from the Rob Aspinall Trio and New Orleans Recital Hall under the Rotary Rotunda, Yerrabi Pond District Park, 7 October 3pm; belcoarts.com.au
Stonefest: UC’s legendary music festival returns with another great lineup including Bakar, Ball Park Music, Dune Rats and more. University of Canberra, 7 October 3.30pm; stonefest.com.au
Picnic Concert: A musical journey through the season of rebirth from the Canberra Symphony Orchestra String Quintet and Rachel Thoms. Lanyon Homestead, 7 October 4.30pm; historicplaces.com.au
Ben Lee: The beloved performer brings his Ben Lee vs The Collapse of the Music Industry Tour to Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundaroo NSW, Saturday 7 October 7pm; tallagandrahill.com.au
Disney Princess The Concert: The international fairytale sensation brings that special Disney magic to Canberra with an acclaimed cast performing more than 30 favourite princess tunes. Llewellyn Hall, Saturday 7 October 7pm; ticketek.com.au
Daniel Röhn & Simon Tedeschi: An evening journeying through the golden era of the 1920s and ’30s through storytelling, virtuosity and striking music. Snow Concert Hall, Canberra Grammar School, Saturday 7 October 7pm; snowconcerthall.com
Jack Biilmann: The blues meets roots-country and rock ‘n’ roll singer launches his new album, Divided Mind. The Street Theatre, 7 October 7.30pm; thestreet.org.au
Rosieville: Canberra Youth Theatre presents the unlikely story of a homing pigeon becoming a saving grace for a young girl experiencing heartbreak. Canberra Theatre Centre, until 8 October; canberrayouththeatre.com.au
EXHIBITIONS
Care Structures: A group exhibition bringing together local, national and international artists with expanded drawing practice. M16 Artspace, Griffith, until 22 October; m16artspace.com.au
Ngura Pulk – Epic Country: One of the largest First Nations community art projects, created and directed by the Anangu people. National Gallery of Australia, until 8 October; nga.gov.au
Making it Modern: The latest part in the Know My Name project celebrating the world of pioneering women artists who shaped art in modern Australia, features works by Ethel Spowers, Olive Cotton and more. National Gallery of Australia, until 8 October; nga.gov.au
Canberra Glassworks: Presents two solo exhibitions – a circular logic by Lisa Sammut, and What Gave You That Idea by Zoe Brand. Canberra Glassworks, Kingston, until 8 October; canberraglassworks.com
Slow Looking: A solo exhibition from Elisa Crossing invites the viewer to contemplate the present through colourful paintings. Nancy Sever Gallery, 17 September-8 October; nancysevergallery.com.au
You, as a train station: Through oil paintings, Brennan O’Brien shares a journey of acknowledging powerlessness and the acceptance of letting things travel through you. CCAS Manuka, until 8 October; ccas.com.au
How Cities Work: The exciting interactive exhibition explores the mystery, mayhem and magic of cities, with hands-on construction sites, a futuristic design station and more. Canberra Museum and Gallery, Civic Square, until 8 October; cmag.com.au
Belconnen Arts Centre: Presents four exhibitions – Sally Blake’s Wise Parliament, Shani Nottingham’s Plasticus Organicus, Dr Noriko Tanaka’s End Point of the Silk Road, and We Need to Talk by the Faculty of Arts and Design at the University of Canberra. Until 8 October; belcoarts.com.au
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