From Australia’s largest inflatable obstacle course to dining with a twist, here are 28 ways to fill the weekend
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It’s time for another packed weekend in Canberra (which is just the way we like it).
From Australia’s largest inflatable obstacle course to dining with a twist, we’ve found 28 ways to spend this weekend. You’re welcome!
Special events and festivals
Retro Arcade at Canberra Centre
Live out your retro arcade dreams these school holidays, as Canberra Centre brings the nostalgia of your favourite arcade machines to life!
Step through the doors of the Retro Arcade and be transported into a classic 50s style arcade—sure to be a hit with the young and the young at heart.
Visitors will enjoy an immersive space where they’ll be able to enjoy for free retro arcade games including Munster Pinball, Atari Pong, Air Hockey and a number of others, including from Kingpin, Canberra’s leading entertainment venue, which was awarded Canberra’s Top Entertainment Venue for 2022 (for the third year in a row)!
Until 23 Sunday April from 10 am–2 pm daily, and 4–7 pm on Friday nights | No bookings are required for this free event | Canberra Centre.
Canberra Glassworks School Holiday Program
Looking for something creative and fun for the school holidays? Under the guidance of some of Australia’s most acclaimed glass artists, the kids will learn introductory techniques in glassmaking to create their own masterpiece. Choose from Teen Glass Blowing, Casting Light and Holiday Tiles classes and have fun!
Until Saturday 22 April | 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | Book here.
Art Steps For Within Without
Art Steps is a series of creative making activities produced for children to enjoy with family and friends. Take the kids along to play in an immersive space that showcases artist’s James Turrell’s years of experimentation with space and light, experiment in the Skyspace Garden, build cubby-spaces and more.
Until Sunday 23 April | National Gallery, Parkes Place East, Parkes | Book here
Tuff Nutterz Canberra
Measuring almost 300 square metres, Australia’s largest inflatable obstacle course is back to cause some chaos for the whole family. This supersize inflatable maze is packed with 30 fun and challenging obstacles to complete, including huge slides, climbing walls, hanging rails, balance balls and more! The kids will have a blast and so will you…if you’re game to try.
Until Sunday 23 April | Parkes Place Lawns, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | Book here.
Playful Endeavour
Playful Endeavour is returning for the April school holidays for loose-parts play in Glebe Park! Take the kids along and let them run wild with open-ended, imaginative, self-directed play using a wide range of materials to spark the imagination such as hoops, poles, pipes, crates, ropes and tyres. Children are encouraged to let their imagination run free, using found and made materials to become whatever they want them to be! The best part? It’s free.
Until Sunday 23 April | Glebe Park, Canberra City | act.gov.au
Canberra Circus Festival
The circus is back in town and it’s here for a good time. Expect an incredible line-up of Australian and international circus acts, outdoor performances, street artists, roving performers, workshops, food, markets, unusual attractions, community stalls and heaps more in this all-ages, fun-for-the-whole-family event.
Until Sunday 23 April | Chifley Community Oval, Maclaurin Crescent, Chifley | Book here.
Canberra and Region Heritage Festival
Back for it’s 40th year, this year the theme of the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival is ‘Sharing Stories’—and there will be more than 160 activities to spark your interests. From open days, tours, workshops, exhibitions and entertainment, what will you book into?
Until Sunday 30 April | Various locations | environment.act.gov.au
You Are Here presents Cahoots Lab
Dance, music, glass, cinema, theatre, interactive art, workshops, sculpture, sound, projection, digital art, poetry, and more—this is for everyone who loves art. Inviting the local community to a unique showcase of experimental artworks, Canberra’s very own experimental and interdisciplinary art festival is back for 2023.
Cahoots Lab consists of events featuring works from 19 exciting Canberra artists working in diverse art forms including dance, music, glass, cinema, visual art, theatre, interactive art, sculpture, projection, digital art, poetry, and more!
Until Sunday 14 May | Various locations | youareherecanberra.com.au
Food and Wine
Karen’s Diner On Tour
This is dining with a twist—the food is great, the service is ungrateful but your experience will be unforgettable. Book into this diner to enjoy an absurd, unique environment full of laughs, banter and top-notch American diner-style grub
Until Sunday 23 April | Clubhouse Kaleen, 16 Georgina Crescent, Kaleen | Book here.
Stage and Screen
Dancing in the Shadows of Motown at the Zeppelin Room
Ger ready for some hits from the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson Five, Four Tops and much much more as this ten piece band rocks out in Canberra.
Saturday 22 April | Harmonie German Club, 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabunda | Book here.
Macbeth
It’s Shakespeare’s most haunting thriller, presented by Bell Shakespeare. A terrifying portrayal of moral collapse, Bell Shakespeare’s Macbeth, with Logie award-winning Hazem Shammas (The Twelve, Safe Harbour) as Macbeth and Jessica Tovey (The Miser, The Merchant of Venice) as Lady Macbeth, will take you on an intense and compelling journey into the dark heart of humanity.
Until Saturday 22 April | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
And…Breathe
This World Earth Day, head along to the National Film and Sound Archive for the screening of five stunning dance films inspired by a connection to nature and the power of art to instigate change as they work towards Zero Emissions. Including a Q&A with ground-breaking cinematographer Jim Lounsbury, it’s not to be missed.
Saturday 22 April | 1 McCoy Circuit, Acton | nfsa.gov.au
Reasons To Be Pretty by Neil Labute
This bristling comic drama from American playwright Neil LaBute focuses on modern day obsession with physical appearance, centering around four friends and lover who become increasingly dissatisfied. It’s sure to make you laugh—and make you question what really matters in life.
Until Saturday 6 May | Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, 1 Dairy Road, Building 3.3, Fyshwick | Book here.
Exhibitions
Chiaroscuro
Mixing street edge with technical calibre, Chiaroscuro explores the inspirations of tattooist and emerging visual artist Bella Black. Electric, vibrant and visceral, the collection draws a line from her lighter early work in digital hyper-realism to a recent focus on darker contemporary impressionistic portraiture. Exploring the journey of feminine form and energy with recurring themes of agency, transcendence, and control, don’t miss this.
Until Sunday 7 May | Strathnairn Arts, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt | strathnairn.com.au
Shift
Materials and processes are integral to Joanne Searle’s practise. This new body of work makes visible the material explorations that come about during making—explorations which are often ephemeral, fragile and are overlooked.
Until Sunday 7 May | Strathnairn Arts, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt | strathnairn.com.au
From The Series ‘Light Jelly Sweet’
An showcasing new work by Henry Hu, this exhibition features animation, paintings, and photographs that spotlights the artist’s continued interest in abstraction, as a force that might signify life without directly defining it. What arises from Light Jelly Sweet, whether on canvas, board, or paper, are testaments of existence as remembered, imagined, invented, and observed.
Until Sunday 7 May | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Cres, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au
Dialogue
Saskia, Nicola, Jonathon and Cathy met in the ANU’s Gold & Silversmithing workshop in 2018. After leaving the workshop behind—and missing the camaraderie, inspiration and influence that is a feature of a shared space—they decided to challenge each other to extend their practices. This is the result.
Until Sunday 7 May | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Cres, Griffith | m16artspace.com
Homage
The 2022 Indigenous Artist-in-residence exhibition is back at Craft ACT! The program facilitates access for the artist to national cultural, tertiary and research institutions and their collections, curators and researchers. This group exhibition of new work by each artist is held annually, and a catalogue produced about the program is disseminated internationally. Don’t miss out.
Until Saturday 13 May | Craft ACT, North Building, 1, 180 London Cct | craftact.org.au
Two-Tone
Two-Tone is a collaborative exhibition featuring two contemporary artists, Louis Grant and Madisyn Zabel, who primarily work within a glass discipline. Head along to see the stunning work that opens up a discourse around dualities, contrasts and material in person.
Until Saturday 13 May | Craft ACT, North Building, 1, 180 London Cct | craftact.org.au
Boundaries
Showing the works of artists Julie Ryder, Mel Robson and Bev Hogg, this is another Artist-in-Residence exhibition that you shouldn’t miss.
Until Saturday 13 May | Craft ACT, North Building, 1, 180 London Cct | craftact.org.au
Jessica Murtagh: Collective Histories in Blue
Have you heard of Jessica Murtagh? Creating the most stunning glass amphoras inspired by antiquities from past societies such as the ancient Athenians, her work explores what future artefacts could be, and to question what our contemporary culture will one day leave behind.
She has won numerous prizes, including Highly Commended in the Waterhouse Natural Science prize 2021, the Vicki Torr Emerging Artist Prize, and most recently, the Helpmann Post Grad Prize 2023. Her amphoras have been collected by the National Gallery of Victoria, the Powerhouse Museum, Parliament House Collection and the Hamilton Art Gallery—and now she’s presenting her first solo exhibition at Granger Gallery.
Until Sunday 7 May | Building 3.3, 1 Dairy Rd, Fyshwick | graingergallery.com.au
SYNERGY: Tony Tuckson – Drawing into Painting
Curated by Terence Maloon and Tony Oates, this exhibition explores the work of Tony Tuckson. Showcasing works on paper that have been drawn from a residue in the Tuckson estate which has proved to be full of surprises, it shows Tuckson as an inexhaustible source of creative improvisation.
Until Sunday 18 June | Drill Hall Gallery, Kingsley Street, Acton | dhg.anu.edu.au
Portrait23: Identity
This is portraiture, but not as you know it. Portrait23: Identity is a major exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, showcasing new work from multi-award-winning contemporary Australian artists and collectives working across every state and territory.
Twenty-three artists and collectives present dramatic, ambitious and thrilling work about who they are and what it means to represent themselves, their communities, histories and contemporary society. Expect street art, textiles, performance, photography, ceramics, painting, drawing, soft sculpture and more.
Until Sunday 18 June | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | portrait.gov.au
Sport
Giants v Brisbane Lions
There’s nothing better than enjoying a game of footy on a Saturday afternoon with your family and mates., so don’t miss this epic clash when the Giants take on the Brisbane Lions at Manuka Oval. Enjoy all the high-flying footy and family entertainment.
Saturday 22 April | Manuka Oval, Manuka Circle, Griffith | Book here.
Markets
The Little Burley Market
Say hello to Canberra’s lakeside market. Head along to enjoy multicultural foods, much-loved beverages and brunchables, beautiful blooms, locally made art, fashion, photography and homewares, artisan bread, delectable pastries, seafood, smoked charcuterie, truffles, meats, puppy treats and much more. See you there?
Every Saturday, 9am – 1.30pm | Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | thelittleburleymarket.com.au
Haig Park Markets
Moments away from Lonsdale street’s boutiques and cafes, the Haig Park Village Markets will delight your senses with delicious cuisines, tasty treats, beautiful blooms, fresh produce, delectable charcuterie and artisan products. It’s a lovely place to enjoy a picnic whilst feasting your senses on the culinary delights on offer or to browse the fabulous local handmade design stalls.
Every Sunday, 8:30 am – 2 pm | Haig Park, Girrahween Street, Braddon | haigparkvillagemarkets.com.au
Old Bus Depot Markets
With more than 100 stalls (including your old favourites), you’ll have the chance to shop for a brilliant variety of Australian-made, handcrafted and premium products. Sneak a walk around the foreshore while you’re down there.
9.30 am – 2.30 pm Sunday | Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | obdm.com.au
Southside Farmers Markets
This village market is located at Canberra College, making it the perfect place to duck in to grab what you need (and maybe a few things you don’t). Order an egg and bacon roll to start the morning as you explore the best of fresh seasonal veggies, handmade pasta and pet treats.
8 am–11.30 am Sunday | 2 Launceston Street, Phillip | facebook.com
