30+ events for your busy week in Canberra
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So little time, and so much to do in Canberra.
This week, head on a musical journey with Sonic Travels, relive your childhood with the ultimate adults-only night out at Questacon and start your Christmas shopping at the Undercurrent Market. Here are 30+ things to do in Canberra.
Special events + festivals
“Love from Christmas” bar
Gin and tonic anyone? The Canberra Centre will have some delicious on offer this weekend, just in time for Black Friday. There will also be a variety of entertainers (including Ally Cowell and wonderful Ashley Feraude and his sleek DJ sounds featuring Christmas jingles) as well as the chancer to win a $1,000 shopping spree at Canberra Centre.
Friday 25 until Sunday 27 November, 12 pm – 3 pm | Level 1, Monaro Mall (outside Bed Bath and Table) | canberracentre.qicre.com
Shoe Love at Sissa Sorella in Deakin
This Sunda morning you’ll be able to shop up a storm at The Shoe Love Event as you catch up with friends and enjoy the Sunday vibes in the Sissa Sorella laneway in Deakin.
With live Jazz by the Joe Taylor Trio (and plenty of good coffee and brunch options nearby), it’s the perfect excuse to book in for an organised shopping session at a time that suits you. Spoil yourself at Sissa Sorella and then stay on and enjoy the day.
Find out all the details here and register here.
9:30 am – 12:30 pm Sunday, 27 November | Sissa Sorella, 18-36 Duff Place #Shop 1, Deakin | eventbrite.com.au
Undercurrent Market
Over 50 bespoke and hand-selected market stalls are coming to the National Portrait Gallery next month, as Undercurrent celebrates its 11th market (after a two-year pause). Perfectly placed four weeks out from Christmas, you’ll have your presents ready for under the tree before you even have it set up and get to meet the makers in the process.
Friday 25 November, 5 pm – 8 pm, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November 10 am – 5 pm | National Portrait Gallery, Parkes Place | undercurrentdesignmarket.com
Ainslie Salon: Sonic Travels
Get ready for the next incantation of Ainslie Salon: Sonic Travels! Get ready to take a journey through sound, including acclaimed Sudanese singer Ajak Kwait to pioneers of SE Asian experimentalism Indonesian duo Senyawa. They will be joined by local and interstate talents such as Moody Beaches, e4444e and Ike(from)Pluto. This four-day mini-festival spans many sounds and cultural experiences.
Wednesday 23 to Saturday 26 November, 6 pm| Ainslie Main Hall, Ainslie Arts Centre, 30 Elouera St, Braddon | Tickets here.
That Was Friday
‘Who are we without community?’ It’s a question that sits at the heart of siblings Charley and Eliza Sanders’ latest multidisciplinary production, That Was Friday. Coming to life at the Belconnen Arts Centre from Wednesday 23 until Saturday 26 November, this beautiful piece of storytelling is an ode to connection, the fragility of relationships, and the comfort we seek in the arms of isolation.
Wednesday 23 until Saturday 26 November | Belconnen Arts Centre | Tickets here.
Questacon: SciNights
It’s time to relive your childhood with the ultimate adults-only night out—that’s right, SciNights are returning to Questacon and it’s set to be way more fun than your Year 6 excursion! And after a long hiatus, come and relive your childhood with your friends (and no one to limit your silly putty purchasing) as Questacon opens its doors for this adults-only special night. The night-time event is the perfect opportunity to head back to Canberra’s much-loved national institution for a fun-filled—and slightly more grown-up—experience with a very, very appropriate theme: nostalgia.
Friday 25 November, 6 pm – 9 pm | Questacon, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | Tickets questacon.edu.au
Open Day Bonanza
This is Cubitt’s BIGGEST-EVER OPEN DAY and you better get excited. At their Fyshwick location you’ll find a special event with loads of prizes and giveaways – and most importantly, expertise on hand to answer any questions about Granny Flat design! Head along to see which Granny Flat design could fit nicely on your property or speak to one of the experts about a home extension that suits you (Psst, there will also be free coffee).
Saturday 26 November, 9 am – 3 pm | 80-82 Kembla St, Fyshwick | cubitts.com.au
Femmes Fatales on the Frontier
Grainger Gallery hosts “Femmes Fatales on the Frontier”. These six female artists are dangerous women who, through their femmes fatales, invite you to a quirky and irreverent exhibition on the power of feminine beauty as viewed through the female gaze.
Vanessa Stockard takes us on a deep dive down a hallucinatory rabbit hole of Alice and her friends, the Infanta, Ophelia and Jane Morris, while Gria Shead’s Kate Kelly rides into town with an arsenal of cigar box femmes. Penelope Boyd’s Victorian gothic girls invite closer investigation as they hide their crimes and misdemeanours. Ella Kilgour’s ladies are odes to Gainsborough and Poussin with a contemporary twist – all neon-powder-puff, Autie pouf and Snapchat Catface, they stare back across centuries of history into hypermodern times.
Hilary Herrmann’s haloed heroines float through the skies like mystical saints, referencing ancient iconography and pointing to the order of the universe. Monika Scarrabelotti’s sensuous bronzes traverse the voyeuristic, engaging the viewer in an intimate response. All in all, these six artists invite you to gaze into the realm of the Magical Real in the Neon-Classical Age!
Until Sunday 4 December | Grainger Gallery, Dairy Road, Fyshwick | graingergallery.com.au
HYPERSPECTRAL 22: audiovisual dance party
PhotoAccess presents the inaugural contemporary art and music event HYPERSPECTRAL. This exciting showcase will feature the convergence of local and emerging contemporary digital media, video and music artists responding to the themes of Hauntology, Trans/Post Humanism, Otherworldly Events, and more than Human Occurrences.
Listen to local DJs as you explore immersive outdoor installations of experimental media. Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Register for the event here.
8 pm Saturday 26 November | PhotoAccess Gardens, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith| photoaccess.org.au
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Australian Parliament House will be lit orange, along with Old Parliament House and the National Carillon in the Parliamentary Triangle, light rail stops, the Malcolm Fraser Bridge and the Canberra Times fountain.
Drawing attention to the importance of the UN’s 16 Days of Global Activism Against Gender Based Violence, the monuments will be lit for the entire 16 days to say NO to violence against women. The Zonta Club of Canberra Breakfast will be organising a walk to view the illuminations beginning at Parliament House at 7:30pm, concluding at the National Carillon.
Friday 25 November | Various locations | un.org/en/observances/ending-violence-against-women-day
Spilt Milk
Spilt Milk is coming back to Canberra but for the first time out at Exhibition Park. Featuring an epic line up of both international and Australian talent, including a selection of local musicians. See you there?
Saturday 26 November | Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) | moshtix.com
‘Stay Well’: Harness Your Hormones Before The Holidays
Join the CBR Gals Network this weekend at Wild Studio for a yoga class with Sarah Moloney to melt away lingering stress before the holidays — and a talk on seed cycling with Melissa Kovacevic, where you’ll learn how to maximise your energy through tracking your cycle. Grab your tickets before you head along.
10 am – 1pm Sunday 27 November | 25 Dundas Ct, Phillip | cbrgals.com
Food + Wine
Thanksgiving in Canberra
Did someone say a Thanksgiving Feast…with an Australian twist? Head along to Thanksgiving in Canberra to try some American inspired dishes (enhanced with Aussie ingredients) and to learn about America’s biggest holiday, traditions and share what fills you with gratitude. The buffett will include traditional favourites like Turkey with stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, pumpkin pie and more! Yum.
Thursday 24 November, 6 pm – 10 pm | Psychedeli, 4/60 Marcus Clarke St, Canberra City | Tickets here.
Festive High Tea
Did someone say a three-tiered tea selection of tried-and-tested festive favourites (including mince pies, white rocky road and rum truffle; an assortment of savoury sandwiches including turkey and cranberry sauce, and more)? Head to this festive high tea with all your favourite people at Pialligo Estate.
Saturday 27 November | 18 Kallaroo Road, Pialligo | thepialligoestate.com.au
Summer German Breakfast
Head along to the Harmonie German Club are an excellent traditional Bavarian or Black Forest breakfasts alongside your all-time breakfast favourites. Bookings are required and it’s sure to be delicious!
Saturday 27 November | 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah | fb.me/e/2orm4XV9a
Sunset Cinema
Sunset cinema is back for summer and with even more screening nights, and food options (hello popcorn and burgers from the Hungry Brown Cow) you better be excited. Screening weekly Wednesday to Saturday until February 2023, it’s the perfect opportunity for movie lovers to bask in the warm nights while enjoying some of their favourite films.
Saturday 24 November until Saturday 25 February 2023 | Australian National Botanic Gardens | sunsetcinema.com.au/canberra
Stage + screen
The Torrents
Canberra’s newest theatre is opening on Wednesday November 23 with the bold production of a witty Australian gem, The Torrents by Oriel Gray. In this 1890s screwball comedy, an all female and non-binary cast take to the stage to turn back time—and touch on themes that are still are as relevant today as when it was written.
Wednesday 23 November – Saturday 3 December | Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, 1 Dairy Rd, Fyshwick | Tickets here.
An Evening with Richard E Grant
Since his breakout role in cult classic film Withnail and I in 1987, Richard E Grant has become a much-loved fixture on our screens, starring in everything from Doctor Who to Downton Abbey via Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Spice World and Oscar-nominated for his 2018 role in Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Now, join him for this unique event as he tells stories from his life, entwining tales from his extraordinary time in showbiz with uplifting reflections on love and loss, to celebrate the publication of his new book, A Pocketful of Happiness.
Wednesday 23 November | Canberra Theatre Centre | canberratheatre.com.au
God of Carnage
What happens when two sets of parents meet up to deal with an incident between their children? A calm and rational debate between grown-ups about the need to teach kids how to behave properly? Or a gloves off, hysterical night of name-calling, tantrums, and tears before bedtime? It starts as a civilised discussion with espresso, homemade clafouti and small talk, but once you remove the middle class veneer of respectability, there’s no hiding the savage mess beneath.
Wednesday 23 – Saturday 26 November | The Q, Queanbeyan | theq.net.au
Rob Beckett – Wallop
Rob Beckett is coming to Australia! It’s been a busy few years for the Mouth of the South and he’s coming to see you to fill you in and make you laugh.
Host of Rob Beckett’s Undeniable, All Together Now and team captain on 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Rob is one of UK’s top comedians. He is also the star of BAFTA-nominated Rob and Romesh Vs, Live At The Apollo, Would I Lie To You?, 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and Mock The Week. And he is a host of hugely popular podcast Parenting Hell, co-presented with Josh Widdicombe, which has had over 25 million downloads
Friday 25 November | The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre| canberratheatre.com
A Salute to Roy Orbison
Wesley Orbison, Roy Orbison’s eldest son is very proud to fully endorse and present this amazing live concert experience remembering his father as we relive the sound & all the magical hits of Music Legend Roy Orbison in an International production starring the sensational Voice From Downunder John Stephan.
Friday 25 November | The Q, Queanbeyan | theq.net.au
I Catch Killers
Gary Jubelin is one of Australia’s most celebrated homicide detectives who led some of the country’s largest, most complex and high-profile criminal investigations.
This is a Live Show; there is no safety net here, it will be raw and brutally honest just like the world Gary inhabited. You will find out what being a real homicide cop is all about, the price that is paid and how it changes you. Rob will be probing the tough cases, ruthless criminals, controversies, and regrets. You will be taken on a journey from the crime scene to the interview room and discover sometimes at the end of a case there is nothing left except darkness. But the audience will also discover that humanity, kindness, and humour make this dark world a little brighter for all those involved. Ensuring nothing is left on stage, you will also have the chance to question Gary in a no holds barred Q & A Session.
Saturday 26 November | The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre | canberratheatre.com.au
World in Union
The Australian Rugby Choir (ARC) presents its World In Union Annual Concert 2022 with guest artists The Shanties. The choir will perform a mix of traditional and contemporary songs from its wide repertoire including many that have become favourites of supporters and audiences.
The Australian Rugby Choir is a member of the Male Choirs Association of Australia and has recently returned from a highly successful 2022 combined concert in the Sydney Town Hall. The Choir has also performed internationally and in 2019 was proud to participate in the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival, the largest festival of male voice choral singing in the world.
Saturday 26 November | The Q, Queanbeyan | theq.net.au
A Celtic Christmas
Watch two star-crossed lovers twirl beneath the mistletoe as award-winning Irish musicians complement the world’s best Irish Dancers to deliver an exciting mix of traditional tunes, heartfelt ballads, carols and red-hot rhythms in an unforgettable night of Irish charm and spectacular entertainment.
Sunday 27 November | The Q, Queanbeyan | theq.net.au
Clean Slate: Isobel Rayson at the COX Gallery
In this series Isobel Rayson explores the emotional experience of wandering through rural landscapes, national parks or along beaches and the patterns and textures found on the surface of objects that surround her. Documented in photographs and sketches, Isobel considers how these details might translate into a woodblock carving later in her studio.
Until Friday 16 December, 9 am – 5 pm | 1/19 Eastlake Parade, Kingston | coxarchitecture.com.au
Swooming, Shimmering, Sparkling
Tuggeranong Arts Centre is swooning, shimmering, and sparkling its way to the end of 2022 with the Spring exhibitions, Swoon! We are Dizzy with JOY!, by Hands On Studio and All That Glitters by local artists Helen Braund, Tiffany Cole, Romany Fairall, Michele Grimston and Emma Rani Hodges.
Until Saturday 17 December | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Tuggeranong | tuggeranongartscentre.com
Viewfinder: Photography from the 1970s to Now
Featuring 125 images from the last 50 years, all uniquely captured by celebrated documentary photographers, Viewfinder is an exhibition that provides a fascinating glimpse into the changing face of Australia.
Walk through the exhibition and you’ll see the faces and stories of migrants, shearers, dancers, miners, gardeners, surfers, and bronzed bodies at the beach—but it also reveals how much photography has evolved over the years, from black and white captures to the vibrant high-definition images of today.
This is a reflective exhibition that can be enjoyed by all ages. Read more here.
National Library of Australia | Until Sunday 30 April 2023 | nla.gov.au
Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop
In this exhibition, influential Australian Chinese artist Lindy Lee explores identity, history, spirituality and our relationship to the cosmos. She creates meditative works using light, shadow and scale across many artforms. Moon in a Dew Drop takes an in-depth look at four decades of extraordinary practice.
Until Thursday 3 December | Canberra Museum & Gallery, London Circuit | cmag.com.au
The Robert F!NK National Metal Prize
We’re all obsessed with the F!nk jug (hello Christmas present inspo), but did you know that there’s a Robert Foster F!NK National Metal Prize celebrating outstanding work in the field of contemporary metalworking?
Recognising the exceptional skill and innovative design of both established and emerging designers and craftspeople, head along to see the work of 10 finalists and see the winners of the three awards: an established artist, an emerging artist, and an acquisition prize.
Until Saturday 10 December | Craft ACT, Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit | designcanberrafestival.com.au
Seeing Seventies: Photography Competition
There’s no denying that Canberra has some iconic architecture—and this exhibition at Craft ACT is the ultimate celebration of design in the 70s. Capturing the best of Canberra’s design and architecture from the decade, the exhibition has over 90 photographs from professional and amateur photographers—perfect for spending an afternoon immersing yourself in architecture and art.
Until Saturday 10 December | Craft ACT, Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit | designcanberrafestival.com.au
Assembly
Angelica Mesiti explores the notion of how communities are formed through shared movement and communication. A mix of dance, music, verbal, and non-verbal musical forms, Mesiti shows the different ancestries that make up modern Australia while investigating the nature of connection
Until Sunday 29 January 2023 | The National Gallery | nga.gov.au
Blanche Tilden – ripple effect: a 25 year survey
An artist with an international reputation in the fields of contemporary jewellery and studio glass, this 25-year survey of the Tilden’s work reveals her remarkable and critically acclaimed practice.
This major survey exhibition includes both historical and contemporary works looking at the key themes of mechanical movement, and industrial and architectural uses of glass as well as a series of photographic portraits of collectors wearing their Tilden jewellery or ‘bringing out their Blanche.’
Until Sunday 12 February 2023 | Canberra Museum & Gallery, London Circuit | designcanberrafestival.com.au
JamFactory ICON Tom Moore: Abundant Wonder
Born in Canberra, Tom Moore is one of Australia’s leading glass artists and over the course of his career has carved out a singular voice in Australian glass art making. Expect to see ybrid creatures of part animal, vegetable, mineral and personal such as ‘plantbirds’ and ‘photofishcars’ that critique the current human condition and the impact humans have wrought on our environment.
Until Sunday 12 February 2023 | Canberra Museum & Gallery, London Circuit | cmag.com.au
Music
Reviving Bach
Bach is back! The Wesley Music Centre Lunchtime Concert series is delighted to present a concert of music originally composed by J.S. Bach, which has been re-fashioned into fresh versions. This includes an oboe sonata movement conceived from two sources, an oboe sonata once catalogued as an early work for violin and assigned to C.P.E Bach, and a keyboard solo which has also been designated for the lute.
Wednesday 23 November, 12: 40 pm – 1:20 pm | Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest | Tickets here.
Lisa Richards – Waiting to Fly Album Launch
Returning to Australia after 22 years and settling in Canberra, Lisa Richards is known for her truly original voice and sounds steeped in folk, jazz and blues. Launching her 8th album Waiting To Fly (conceived out of lockdowns and isolation), this show promises a dynamic line-up and a musical celebration of “taking flight” with songs and stories drawn from the new album and previous albums, bedded in a rich sonic palette.
Saturday 26 November, 7:30 pm | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers St, Canberra City | Tickets here.
Paris After Dark – A French International Cabaret
Award Winning Entertainer Milko Foucault-Larche joins forces with Parisian born Leading Lady Corinne Andrew to create a new French International Cabaret. Celebrating the essence of French popular music in the enchanting spirit of a real Parisian party, audiences will be transported to the City of Light for the romantic sounds of some of the most famous ‘chansons’ of all times.
Sunday 27 November, 4 pm | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers St, Canberra City | Tickets here.
Workshops, webinars + more
Poetry, not luxury
This is an inclusive, non-competitive, feminist, queer, leftist poetry open mic event where everyone is welcomed to the mic to share original work. Touching on a new theme each session, for the third event poets will be exploring ‘the city’. As written by poet Patrizia Cavalli ‘the city gives you, always, unexpectedly, here and there, out of nowhere, and immediately, its stench, burnt oil, fried food, to send you home.’
Thursday 24 November, 7 pm | Shop4/2 Frencham Pl, Downer | facebook.com/events
Postnatal Classes at Praksis Canberra
If you’re a mum who misses training or struggles to find time to look after yourself, you are not alone. And you don’t have to do this alone. Restore pelvic floor function, re-establish core connection, increase mobility, build strength and explore more free movements through games and other exercises with this six week course. Otherwise, pop into the ongoing Monday classes!
Until Wednesday 7 December | Praksis, Campbell | praksis.com
