Just like all babies seem to do in the blink of an eye, the Canberra Baby and Beyond Expo has grown up.

For the past five years, the expo has helped Canberra parents navigate the journey through bump, baby and beyond through their annual event at EPIC. Last year, it was put up for sale, and who better to step in and give it a whole lot of love and new life than four local parents?

Canberra businesses Nellie and the Cat and Tip You’re It! have banded together to take over the event, revamping it as Oh Baby! Canberra.

Held over a big weekend on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October, Oh Baby! Canberra will combine a boutique shopping experience with more than 250 brands represented, with entertainment, services and information for anyone with babies, toddlers or babies-on-board. And the event is expanding to include something for kids up to preschool age too, and even a bit more for the dads.

And to fit everything in, the event has moved to its new home at Thoroughbred Park, with plenty of parking and a shady outdoor space with food trucks and entertainment so you can settle in and make a day of it.

The new owners are no strangers to the event, having all exhibited at the Canberra Baby and Beyond Expo before.

Che McGee and her husband Trev opened Tip You’re It on Braddon’s Lonsdale Street back in April 2015. Inspired by the birth of their daughter Evie two years earlier—and later the addition of now two-year-old Finn—it’s become a go-to spot for beautiful baby shower gifts or birthday presents for littlies. With a focus on ethically-made, sustainable products and the brands you’re likely to lust over on Instagram, Tip You’re It! has been part of the Canberra Baby and Beyond Expo for the past four years.

The other half of the Oh Baby! team is Ant and Joce Wilson, parents to Ella and Iris. Joce is the woman behind online destination Nellie and the Cat, offering a gorgeous range of meaningful gifts for mums and bubs. She’s most well-known for her ‘You’ve Got This Mama’ mug, with hundreds sold, which not only give mums a pep-talk with their cup of coffee, but $5 is also donated to Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia.

Both Che and Joce say they’re thrilled to be able to put their touch on the event, with everything parents or parents-to-be need to know, plus of course some fantastic shopping.

“What we want to do with Oh Baby! is to take the essential things that new parents need to know and pair that up with a boutique shopping experience,” says Che.

“So you’ll be able to find out about health services and that kind of essential information, combined with a nice shopping experience and day out.”

For the first time, there will also be a panel where some mums and dads will get real about parenthood.

“We’ve got some mums who will talk about general health and wellbeing and all the emotions you go through as a new mum, and how that it’s ok to look after yourself and have that time out. And we’ll have a panel with dads talking about this is what we didn’t know and this is what you need to know,” says Che.

There will also be plenty to keep the littlies entertained, with an appearance by Jimmy Giggle, a reading by local children’s author Tania McCartney, plus fairy dancing, play areas and more.

Tickets are $10, which gets you entry to both days of the event. You can buy them at the door, or skip the queues and buy online now. The first 1,000 people to grab a ticket will score themselves a goodie bag with more than $50 worth of swag inside.

the essentials

What: Oh Baby! Canberra
When: Saturday 26 October and Sunday 27 October from 10 am-4 pm
Where: Thoroughbred Park, Canberra
Web: ohbabycanberra.com.au

Photography: Kayleigh McGlynn

This editorial was created in partnership with Oh Baby! Canberra. For more information on sponsored partnerships, click here.