20+ ways to fill your weekend in Canberra
Posted on
Looking for something to do this weekend? Luckily, plenty is happening in Canberra.
From an exclusive Christmas pop-up to the Sunset Cinema, Christmas markets and more, read on for your curated guide.
Special Events and Festivals
The Canberra Distillery Pop-Up Bar
Who doesn’t love gin? Local Gin distillery, The Canberra Distillery, is showcasing its wonderful range of gins at Westfield Woden with an exclusive Christmas pop-up at Westfield Woden.
Westfield members can visit The Canberra Distillery Pop-Up Bar from Friday to Sunday to redeem a free drink! You potentially could get some Christmas gifts sorted as well!
Until Sunday 22 December | Westfield Woden, Keltie Street, Phillip | More information here.
Tick, Tick…Boom!
Before there was Andrew Garfield on the screen, there were other greats on the stage playing Jonathan Larson – and this is your chance for the true experience of Tick, Tick…Boom!
Three of Canberra’s best performers are taking the stage under the direction of Nikki Fitzgerald to bring Jonathan Larson’s semi-autobiographical musical to life, exploring the challenges of artistic ambition and personal fulfillment. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll be singing along long into the night.
Until Saturday 21 December | 14 Spinifex Street, Kingston | Book here.
Deck the smalls
The Gallery of small things annual Xmas show is back with new artworks created to the theme ‘Deck the smalls’.
Head along to see ceramic keepsakes, geometric woven art plus landscape tapestries for the wall, etchings, blue and gold brooches, decorations for the tree, fine art bird prints and much more. Plus the gallery will be decorated with the tiniest decorations no more than 4.5 centimetres in height! It’s a little bit of festive fun!
Until Sunday 22 December, 11 am – 4 pm | Gallery of small things, 27 Wade Street, Watson | More information here.
Markets
Month of Merry at The Little Burley Market
Take your Christmas shopping lakeside with three Christmas-themed markets!
The Little Burley Markets are embracing the silly season with their ‘Month of Merry’ – three days filled with festive entertainment, activities, and more. Bringing together over 70 stallholders, you’ll find culinary creations, handcrafted jewellery, artwork, candles, and even puppy couture. Who needs to hit the shops when you can do your Christmas shopping then amongst the beautiful backdrop of Lake Burley Griffin?
Saturday 21 December, 9 am – 2 pm | Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | More information here.
Christmas at Haig Park Village Markets
The ultimate Christmas experience awaits this December, and you can find it in Haig Park.
Taking place across four fun-filled Sundays, the Haig Park Village Markets will be helping you sleigh the gift game with their festive extravaganza. Expect gift shopping, culinary delights (hello Christmas puddings), free photos with Santa, gingerbread making, carols, and more!
Until Sunday 22 December, 8 am – 2 pm | Haig Park, 14 Girrahween Street, Braddon | More information here.
Christmas at Old Bus Depot Markets
Hold onto your Santa hat, because every Sunday throughout December, the Old Bus Depot Markets will be selling holiday-themed high-quality handcrafts.
From fresh Christmas trees to decorations, and family photos with Santa (including a session for your four-legged friends), you’ll be sure to discover a festive find. After all, ‘tis the season to do some last-minute shopping…
Until Sunday 22 December, 9,30 am – 2.30 pm | 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | More information here.
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
Food and Wine
High Tea at Louis
Looking for a sophisticated and refined experience high tea experience? Nestled within the elegant confines of Hotel Realm, you can’t go past high tea at Louis.
Offering a meticulously curated array of delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and an exquisite selection of pastries and desserts that showcase the finest craftsmanship (along with an impressive tea menu) it will be an occasion to remember.
Every Saturday, 2 pm – 4 pm | Louis, 18 National Circuit, Barton | Book here.
QTea High Tea x Space Kitchen
There’s no cucumber sandwich in sight at this high tea experience. And you better get excited because QT has partnered with Space Kitchen in what be the most delicious collaboration ever.
Taking their high tea offering to the next level, the QTea High Tea x Space Kitchen experience is all about indulgence – from the sweet to the savoury. Lock eyes with Canberra’s first cake trolley featuring Space Kitchen cakes, choose from 28 teas (along with the prettiest of cocktails featuring special brews) and dig into tiers of treats that include Wagyu bresaola bites and picture-perfect serves of duck liver parfait for a decadent dining experience.
Every Saturday, with sittings at 12 pm and 12.30 pm | 1 London Circuit, City | Book here.
Stage and Screen
Sunset Cinema
Your favourite outdoor cinema is back for the summer with their signature mix of new releases, all-time classics and family favourites.
Catch new summer blockbusters like Gladiator 2, the latest superhero action Venom: The Last Dance and don’t miss the brand new dark comedy sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in the stunning Australian National Botanic Gardens. Grab yourself a bean bag, some snacks and enjoy!
Until Sunday 22 February 2025, 6.30 pm – 11.30 pm | The Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton | Book here.
Exhibitions
Pattern Recognition
Pattern Recognition celebrates female and non-binary artists from the ACT region who use abstraction and design principles to explore colour perception and spatial relationships, highlighting the ways artists approach colour, geometry, and form.
While the artists in the exhibition explore similar visual terrain, embracing non-objective abstraction, repetition and pattern, their underlying conceptual investigations and influences vary and include post-colonial and feminist frameworks, climate activism, architecture, memory, extended pictorial space, mindfulness, and sensory engagement with the materials. The exhibition investigates regeneration, exploring the influence of traditional craft disciplines on contemporary art practice.
A collaborative project presented as part of the 2024 Craft + Design Canberra Festival
Until 25 January 2025 | Canberra Contemporary Art Space, 44 Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | ccas.com.au/current
Oikos by Peter McLean
Peter McLean is an artist with a deep affinity for nature and the environment. In this exhibition, he explores the ‘oikos‘.
In ancient Greece oikos referred to both a house and members of a family/household. The modern English prefix of eco derives from oikos, as in the terms ecology and economy. In drawings and prints, he emphasises the relational aspect of nature: the landscape as home, and all earth’s species as family.
Until February 2025 | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
Grounded by Robyn Evans, Sabina Moore, Amanda Andlee Poland
The Grounded Collective is three artists researching place, time and memory. Through drawing and sculpture, the act of making is amplified by each artist in a three-way conversation to produce site-specific works, both collaborative and individual, that overlaps ideas and practice.
Head along to see the works of drawing practitioner Robyn Evans, sculptor and educator Sabina Moore and ceramics artist Amanda Andlee Poland.
Until February 2025 | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
Echoes of Absence by Rebecca Tapscott
Rebecca Tapscott’s cyanotype print wall installation, Echoes of Absence, is a poignant exploration of loss and interconnectedness, drawing from personal and environmental experiences.
Crafted from the remains of animals lost due to human impacts, these prints symbolise the absences in the tapestry of life and the installation vividly portrays the profound impact of our actions on interrelated habitats, forming a collective image of ecological fragility.
Until February 2025 | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
Dear Forests…
This is an open postcard exhibition.
Artists have been invited from throughout Australia to share in bringing a lens of focus on the world’s forests, the need for their safe keeping and preservation inclusive of the wildlife within. Asking artists to embrace their imagination to raise awareness, and provoke dialogue, political activism, boldness, experimentation, thoughtfulness, playfulness, or deep contemplation, all works are eligible for consideration of the AUD500 People’s Choice Award.
Until February 2025 | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
Ethel Carrick
Apart of a National Gallery initiative celebrating the work of all women artists to enhance understanding of their contribution to Australia’s cultural life, you can head along to the NGA to see the work of Ethel Carrick (1872–1952).
A pioneering artist who forged new ground in the early twentieth century with her bold and vibrant post-impressionist works, this will be the first retrospective of Carrick’s work for nearly half a century and an opportunity to assess her work in a new light.
Until April 2025 | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | Book here.
Anne Dangar
Coming to the NGA as part of a summer double bill with Ethel Carrick, don’t miss seeing retrospectives from Anne Dangar (1885–1951).
One of Australia’s most important, yet underacknowledged modern artists, the exhibition will explore Dangar’s life and practice, as well as her important position in French modern art as one of most dedicated and truly modern Australian artists of the twentieth century.
Until April 2025 | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | Book here.
Sport
Canberra United v Melbourne Victory
Get behind your team at McKellar Park this December!
Playing against the Melbourne Victory, head along to watch Canberra United in an unmissable game.
Saturday 21 December, 4 pm – 8 pm | McKellar Park, Walkley Place, Mckellar | Book here.
Yoga in the Gardens
BYO own mat to this relaxing yoga session in the Hyatt Hotel’s Lavender Courtyard.
Hosted by senior yoga instructor, Nandhini Nagaratnam head along for a peaceful session focusing on strength, flexibility, health, and wellbeing.
Saturday 21 December, 7 am – 8 am | Hyatt Hotel, 120 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla | Book here.
Workshops, Tours and Talks
Adopt-a-Reindeer Workshop at Westfield Woden
Create and take home your very own Christmas companion at exclusive Adopt-a-Reindeer Workshops!
Taking place near Cotton On, bookings are essential because there limited spots available. This event is exclusive to Westfield members!
Until Sunday 22 December, 11 am – 1 pm | Keltie Street, Phillip | More information here.
Feature image: Canberra Distillery Pop Up. Credit: Darcy Oliver.
