Wondering what’s on this weekend without the beloved National Multicultural Festival? From 19-21 February there’s still a host of multicultural events and activities, and plenty more across Canberra.
Traditionally today would have seen tens of thousands of Canberrans flock to Civic for the beginning of the National Multicultural Festival.
While the festival has been cancelled this year due to Covid restrictions, the 2022 National Multicultural Festival, in what will be its 25th year, is scheduled to be held a year from now on the weekend of Friday 18 to Sunday 20 February 2022.
Opening at the National Museum of Australia from 20 February to 8 August as part of a national tour, Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion is a celebration of Indigenous art, history and culture through the lens of contemporary fashion. As the first major survey of contemporary Indigenous Australian fashion to be undertaken in this country, Piinpi was curated by Bendigo Art Galley’s First Nations curator, Kaantju woman, Shonae Hobson.
From 10am to 4pm on Saturday, the Geocon Year of the Ox celebration at Grazier Lane in Belconnen to celebrate the Year of the Ox.
Bring along your family and friends for a lively day of glowing lanterns, sizzling Asian street food served up by local businesses, live music, lion dancing, kids’ activities and much more.
Another Lunar New Year event over the weekend is a lion dancing performance by Yut Hung Kung Fu Academy at Weston Asian Grocery.
On from 4pm to 5pm on Saturday at Glebe Park, there is a free Rueda lesson – a social Spanish dance set to Salsa music.
From 17 to 28 February, the Jewish International Film Festival is on at Dendy Cinemas.
Learn to make your own tomato sauce at Passata Day from 10am to 12pm on Saturday at the Canberra Environment Centre at The Link in Ginninderry for $15 per person.
And Sunday marks International Mother Languages Day, which brings together people of the ACT and surrounding region to raise awareness of the value of all languages, especially endangered languages. A walk celebrating this day starts at 10.30am near the International Flags Display near Questacon.
Over the weekend, the Hellenic Club Woden will present free photography exhibition, The Evzones Collection by Nick Bourdaniotis. Compiled over the past six years, both in Greece and Australia, Bourdaniotis was granted rare, behind-the-scenes access to the daily lives of the Evzones – traditionally dressed military guards.
Alongside the host of multicultural events running this weekend, there’s lots more on, including everything from more events to exhibitions, live theatre, music and more.
Whether you’re newly engaged, preparing for an event, looking for a getaway, or love food and live music, come along to CBR Fair from 20-21 February at Thoroughbred Park, Lyneham. Canberra Daily is the event’s print media partner. More info: canberrafair.com.au
Head along to the Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds on Saturday 20 February for Foodies Night Markets Murrumbateman – a night of delicious food, music and entertainment for the whole family. Foodies night markets are proud supporters of Rural Aid with part of the entry fee being donated to rural aid.
The ACT’s centre for contemporary photography, film and video, PhotoAccess, is hosting an open day 20 February 12-4pm at their Griffith gallery.
Stand-up is starting up again on the southside tonight, 19 February 7-9.30pm, with Club Sandwich Comedy at Tuggeranong Arts Centre; trybooking.com/BOGAI
Get your live theatre fix with Wolf Lullaby, an Australian play asking the question — when a child commits an act of terrible violence, who is really responsible? – on now at The Q, Queanbeyan until 27 February; theq.net.au
Additionally, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is on as Canberra REP peels back the layers of life in the Pollitt family, at REP Theatre, Acton. Their season runs 19 February–6 March, Wednesday to Saturday at 8pm; canberrarep.org.au
Some live music is in the region too as Steve Kilbey of iconic band The Church performs some of his back catalogue acoustically at Belco Arts, Saturday 20 February 7pm; belcoarts.com.au
Kilbey will then play Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundaroo on Sunday 21 February 4pm (sorry folks, this event is sold out).
