A Fun Run for charity, Budjerah, and street food: Your ultimate cheat sheet for Canberra Day 2024

Posted on 23 February, 2024

The Canberra Day 2024 program has been unveiled, with the huge announcement dropping last week that the packed day will feature a fundraising fun run for Hands Across Canberra around Lake Burley Griffin.

The Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run will start and end at Commonwealth Park, with routes along the ‘bridge to bridge’ section of Lake Burley Griffin.  With 2km, 5km and 10km routes there’s an option to suit everyone, with profits from the Fun Run going to local charities through Hands Across Canberra. Registrations are closing soon so don’t miss out!

That’s on top of a free live performance from Platinum recording artist and multi-ARIA Award-winner Budjerah, a local food and makers market and plenty of family-focused entertainment for little ones and performances from local Canberra bands.

So, what do you need to know ahead of the big day? We’ve got your cheat sheet sorted.

When is Canberra Day 2024?

Canberra Day 2024 falls on Monday 11 March, with celebrations organised by the ACT Government and Events ACT kicking off from 10 am and continuing until 5 pm that day.

Where is it happening?

Commonwealth Park is the epicentre of the celebrations, with the Fun Run starting from Ferry Gate and Stage 88 hosting family-focused entertainment all morning (The Beanies! Lucky Jim and His Imaginary Friends!) from 10.20 am, with live performances continuing all day and plenty of delish food and drinks too.

How can I get involved in the Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run?

Organised in partnership with the Stromlo Running Festival,  the Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run will raise money for Hands Across Canberra, an organisation that funds local charities to make sure that every dollar goes to a great cause.

The big goal is to raise money to support local charities during the Canberra Day Appeal, and here’s one way to be part of that effort.

The Fun Run itself will take place from 10 am on Monday 11 March from Commonwealth Place and you can choose to run 2km, 5km or 10km. You can register for your preferred distance by clicking here. Registrations close soon so don’t miss out!

Naturally, the 2km is the family-friendly option, with no pressure whatsoever to run – just grab your friends, family, dogs and prams and have a delightful stroll along Rond Terrace and know that you’re raising money for a whole bunch of great causes.

Registration costs $15 for the 2km run, $30 for the 5km run and $45 for the 10km run, with all proceeds going to Hands Across Canberra.

Find out more about the individual Fun Run circuits, start times and registration here.

Who is performing?

As we’ve said, the kids will be entertained from mid-morning at Stage 88 with the fantastic (and home-grown!) The Beanies from 10.20 am, followed by fellow local Lucky Jim and His Imaginary Friends at 11.15 am.

From midday, get jazzy with groovy In Full Swing (12.20 pm) and TraXion  (1.30 pm) and yes, dancing is absolutely encouraged.

Celebratory (read: dancing) vibes will continue into the afternoon when Full Chank takes to the stage at 2.40 pm. And if you’re wondering what their names means, we don’t know either, but they’re described as a “Canberran superband” that showcases “full throttle soul music getting the feet tapping and the hips moving” and we can’t argue with that.

Finally, as evening descends, chart-topper and Coodjinburra artist Budjerah will take to the stage at 4 pm (for free!) in a rousing end to a spectacular day.

What can I eat and drink at the local food and makers markets?

Always a very good question (and one that we know our readers always ask!), the great news is the food and drink offerings for Canberra Day 2024 will be curated by none other than the Local Village Markets, the team behind the beloved Haig Park Village Markets and Little Burley Markets, and the uber-popular Night Markets at the recent FLIGHT: Drone SkyShow.

So, what can you expect on the day? A diversity of delicious street food cooked and prepared by local vendors that celebrates Canberra’s multicultural identity.

These include Yummy Time Dumplings, Canan Turkish Gozleme, crepes from Palacinke, Japanese from Raw Yakitori, Spanish fare from Barceloneta, Mexican from Jarochos, Beignets and Suya Box serving African flavours as well as Jacko’s Pizza Trust, Sushi Sushi and BZ Burger.

Feeling sweet? Indulge in dessert or afternoon tea from Dough It Yourself, Mellabella Gelato, The Cake House and Blondiez and Browniez and Love Dem Apples (yes, they do caramel apples).

There will also be plenty of options for drinks, with coffee from Plunge & Co Espresso and Gas Coffee and More. Adults can also toast to the city with tipples from Ambrosia Distillery, The Floating Filly and House of Bubbles, as well as pick up some goodies from Hold Fast Distillery and Jeir Creek Wines to take home.

Speaking of picking up a treat or two, you’ll also be able to shop the makers market – with all your hard-earned money going towards local businesses. Think: artwork from Gold St. Press, sustainable fashion from Bahrii, candles from Miami + Co and jewellery from Acahua, Clay by Fox, and Resin Doll Designs.

How do I get there?

There is limited parking available at Regatta Point, so we recommend parking at the CIT Reid, Civic Pool, National Convention Centre or City Hill (off London Circuit) car parks and then walking across the pedestrian bridge over Parkes Way. Or you can try the parking off Barrine Drive and cross Commonwealth Avenue to reach the park.

A map displaying car park spaces surrounding Commonwealth Park is available here.

You can also catch public transport to the celebrations, check the  Getting To Enlighten Festival – Enlighten Festival (enlightencanberra.com) page for all the details.

What else is happening that weekend?

It’s a packed final weekend of Enlighten, with our local film festival Lights! Canberra! Action! at the Senate Rose Gardens on Friday 8 March, the Canberra Balloon Spectacular lifting off Saturday 9 March, the legendary Hoodoo Gurus on stage with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra at Symphony in the Park on Sunday 10 March, and the final weekend of Illuminations, which finish on Monday 11 March, after the Canberra Day festivities.

The Canberra Balloon Spectacular will run from 9-17 March, with over 40 hot air balloons launching each day (weather permitting) from the Patrick White Lawns.

Early risers can start their day with a hot breakfast and coffee as they watch the colourful flotilla take to the skies – or if you’re looking for a physically-distanced balloon experience you can catch spectacular (pun intended!) views from the National Arboretum and Mount Ainslie.