The four-day Easter long weekend on 15-18 April is a wonderful time for celebrating with family and friends. On the (Easter egg) hunt for things to do in Canberra? Look no further than our list of events and activities.

Festivals and events

National Folk Festival

This year, The National is thrilled to welcome back all of their kin who have nurtured and supported them over the last 55 years, after being away from their spiritual home of Exhibition Park since Easter 2019.

The National Folk Festival offers a wide range of engagement in the folk arts across the Easter long weekend, 14-18 April at EPIC; folkfestival.org.au

Old Bus Depot Markets

If you’re looking for a great day out on Easter Sunday, the Old Bus Depot Markets is open for a special Easter Market on Sunday 17 April 9.30am-2.30pm, with a little bit of something for the whole family. Even the Easter Bunny will be hopping by!

For more information head to www.obdm.com.au, or follow on Facebook or Instagram for stallholder updates.

The Canberra and Region Heritage Festival

A celebration of our local heritage with a host of events across the ACT region until 1 May.

The 2022 Canberra and Region Heritage Festival has a variety of activities available for the family to explore over the Easter long weekend. 

The first ever Kids Week kicks off on Monday 18 April, encompassing family friendly fun over the school holidays. With activities spanning from building a boombox to learning local Ngunnawal greetings, the week is dedicated to getting the younger generation involved in and passionate about conserving heritage.

If you are looking for something a little different to do with the family this Easter, check out some of the fascinating events on offer, including:

Saturday 16 April

• Canberra Railway Museum open day: Discover Canberra’s surprising rail history and explore vintage sleeping cars and imagine a century of rail travel. 
• Toy animal husbandry: Learn how to care for your bears and toys to make sure they last for generations to come.
• From Ireland in Chains to the Limestone Plains: Learn about the story of Martin Pike, a convict’s journey from Queens Country to the Limestone Plains, from an iron gang to freedom.

Sunday 17 April

• The old curiosity box: Take the whole family on a journey back in time with a trip to Blundells Cottage. Ask to see the curiosity box with all the mysterious objects inside!
• Steaming Day: Witness the majesty of two operational 1800s stationary steam engines housed in the historic, Victorian Georgian style, Waterworks Pumphouse at Goulburn NSW. Set on the banks of the picturesque Wollondilly River, it offers a place to relax and have a picnic or BBQ while the kids enjoy the playground.

You can find more information about what’s on in this year’s Festival on the Heritage Festival website.

Queanbeyan Palerang Heritage Festival

An opportunity to celebrate the unique history of the region, continues to 14 May; qprc.nsw.gov.au

NRL – Raiders vs Cowboys

Start your Easter long weekend right by getting along to see the Canberra Raiders host the North Queensland Cowboys at GIO Stadium on Easter Thursday, 14 April from 7.50pm; premier.ticketek.com.au

Live music and theatre

Llewellyn One: Redemption

The Canberra Symphony Orchestra’s Llewellyn One: Redemption, their first full scale concert of 2022, will mark the Orchestra’s return to Llewellyn Hall for the first time since CSO at the Cinema in August 2021.

Redemption will be performed at Llewellyn Hall, ANU, 13-14 April; cso.org.au/redemption

Spin – Election 2022

Satirists Charles Firth, James Schloeffel, and Mark Humphries dissect the upcoming federal election live, 13 April 7.30pm, Canberra Theatre, Civic; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Tenebrae

A candlelit service of readings and music for Maundy Thursday featuring the Wesley Uniting Church Choir with Igitur Nos, at the Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, Thursday 14 April 7pm; wesleycanberra.org.au

An Evening with John Butler

In a brand-new live show, Australian indie singer-songwriter John Butler will share stories from the road and from his heart, playing songs from his vast back catalogue of music. Butler will play the Canberra Theatre, Civic, Thursday 14 April from 7.30pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Hamlet @ The Playhouse

Bell Shakespeare’s critically acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet continues at The Playhouse, Civic, until 16 April; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Regenerating Australia documentary screening

Damon Gameau’s (That Sugar Film, 2040) new documentary short, Regenerating Australia, aims to inspire Australians and bring hope for a more sustainable future.

It premieres at Dendy Canberra on Monday 18 April 6.15pm; click here for more.

Activities

Pixar Putt

Australia’s much-loved pop-up mini-golf phenomenon, Pixar Putt, is now in at Civic Square and will be in operation throughout the Easter long weekend.

This open air, pop-up mini-golf sensation is made up of interactive putt-putt holes inspired by the stories, characters, and icons from some of Pixar’s most beloved films including Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Soul, The Incredibles, Onward, Finding Nemo, A Bug’s Life, Wall-E, Inside Out, Luca and more.

Tickets on sale now via pixarputt.com.au

The Picnic Train

Steam train rides will be returning to our nation’s capital for the first time in over five years this Easter long weekend.

From 15 to 18 April, there will be three daily return trips from Canberra to Bungendore in a classic steam locomotive 5917 and heritage carriages from the Canberra Railway Museum.

For more visit thepicnictrain.com/canberra-easter-steam

Exhibitions

Canberra Glassworks

Hosts group exhibition Upending Expectations: Contemporary Glass at the Glassworks Gallery, Kingston, 14 April–5 June; canberraglassworks.com

Decoded

The National Museum of Australia’s latest exhibition covers 75 years of the Australian Signals Directorate and is on at the Acton institution through until 24 July; nma.gov.au

Strathnairn Arts

Hosts two exhibitions, Jenny Blake’s Tipping Point and group exhibition 10 Years at Strathnairn, at their Holt gallery over the entire Easter Long Weekend; strathnairn.com.au

Jeffery Smart

The Jeffery Smart exhibition continues at the National Gallery of Australia, open every day over the Easter long weekend, until 15 May. See over 100 works of the extraordinary 20th Century Australian artist, celebrating the centenary of his birth. Book a ticket for your timed session online at /nga.gov.au/exhibitions/jeffrey-smart/

Send your free entertainment event listings to [email protected] with ‘What’s On’ in the subject line. Click here for an extensive list on what’s on in Canberra throughout April 2022.

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