45+ things to put on your ‘to-do’ list this week in Canberra
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An evening with Grace Tame, a show pushing the boundaries of circus performance and endless food events: this week in Canberra there’s a whopping 45+ things to put on your ‘to-do’ list.
Let’s get started.
Special events + festivals
Backbone
This frenetic celebration of human interconnectedness will test the limits of strength: physical, emotional, individual, and collective. Coming to Canberra this raw—yet utterly disciplined—show presented by Gravity & Other Myths (GOM), is pushing the boundaries of circus performance.
Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 October | The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre | Tickets here.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Arts Trail
Celebrate local artists and makers with this year’s Queanbeyan-Palerang Arts Trail! With artists’ creations being exhibited in Braidwood, Bungendore and Queanbeyan, discover the artistic process, connect with your community, and this year, collaborate in the brand new collaborative artwork—Bloom!
Until Sunday 16 October | Multiple venues | visitqueanbeyanpalerang.com.au
Perinatal Wellbeing Fest
This free community festival is full of fun things to do that promote awareness, belonging and connection. Head along to enjoy a BBQ, raffles and prizes, face painting, stalls and even a family friendly 30 minute yoga session!
Monday 10 October | 6 Minns Pl, Weston | perinatalwellbeingcentre.org.au
Wine Meets Design
Nearly 90 stallholders will be collaborating with artists from many disciplines to transform Dirty Janes into a sensory wonderland. Get greeted with a glass of bubbles as you explore all that the night has to offer. Live music, entertainment, food and drinks will guide you through a night with a magical atmosphere spanning the classical, the cirque and the cabaret. A blind auction will also be taking place featuring a piece of Ben Quilty’s work!
Thursday 13 October | Dirty Janes, Collie St, Fyshwick | dirtyjanes.whatson
Tuggeranong Night Markets
Head along to the Tuggeranong Night Markets to find goodies from local small businesses! Held out the front of the Southpoint Mall from 4 pm, there will also be plenty of local talent to made the night even more magical.
Friday 14 October | Southpoint Mall, Anketell Street, Greenway | facebook.com/Tuggeranongnightmarket
Calwell Community Markets
On Saturday morning from 9 am visit the Calwell Community Markets to find a range of hand made, and local products to suit your needs. There will also be a Halloween themed scavenger hunt—spook-tacular!
Saturday 15 October | 7 Webber Cres, Calwell | facebook.com/calwellmarkets
Queanbeyan Markets
Looking for fresh produce? Pop into the Queanbyean markets where you can grab something yummy to eat while you wonder the stalls and see what is new this spring!
Sunday 16 October | Brad Haddin Oval, Campbell St, Queanbeyan | facebook.com/QueanbeyanMarket
TEDxCanberra
TEDxCanberra’s theme for 2022 is Impact—and there’s no denying the audience knows that change comes in excruciating increments for those who believe in it. Sharing stories of impact, TEDxCanberra returns for a major in-person production as they present the ideas and the people behind them who are out to change the world.
Sunday 16 October | Cultural Centre Kambri, ANU | tedxcanberra.org
Celebrate Gungahlin Festival
Live in (and love) Gungahlin? Get ready for the Celebrate Gungahlin Festival. Over three weekends in October get ready to celebrate living at the top of the light rail with the perfect event coming to get your social butterfly energy back in full swing.
From art exhibitions to cultural showcases, sporting expos and community picnics, head along to one of the numerous events being planned to unlock new friendships and uncover hidden gems in your local area.
Saturday 15 October | Various locations | celebrategungahlin.com.au
Portuguese Cultural Festival
Come along to the Portuguese Cultural Festival at the Italian Cultural Centre for a celebration of music, dance, food, and culture headlined by the one and only Pedro Cruz! Enjoy traditional food, live music, and a performance by a traditional Portuguese dance group.
Saturday 15 October | Italian Cultural Centre, 80 Franklin Street, Forrest | Tickets here.
Floriade
It’s time to stop and smell the flowers! Floriade is back to its former glory at Commonwealth Park this month. It’s been a few years since Canberran’s have had the chance to stroll through the sun, enjoy the stunning displays of flowers and fill our Insta feeds with pops of colour. The iconic Ferris wheel is also back to help you connect the dots on what patterns the flowers make—and of course, you can’t skip the food stands, activities, rides and more that will be available throughout the park.
The gates are open from 9 am- 5 pm and Floriade is free to attend.
Until Sunday 16 October |Commonwealth Park, Parkes | floriade.com
Food + wine
Pink Ribbon High Tea
White chocolate and raspberry panna cotta, white and pink macaroons, scones, jam and cream and pink Moscato: meet the ultimate high tea with a perfectly pink twist.
Head along to Westfield Woden on Thursday 13 October for a good cause as they host a Pink Ribbon High Tea Charity Event to raise awareness for breast cancer. Serving sugary sweets and succulent savoury dishes from award-winning restaurant Daana (as well as tea, coffee, non-alcoholic Altina La Vie En Rose and—fittingly—pink Moscato), there’s no denying it’s an elegant and delicious way to raise much-needed money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Thursday 13 October | Westfield Woden | westfield.com.au
Wine Meets Design
Enjoy a magical atmosphere spanning the classical, the cirque and the cabaret! At this event Dirty Janes will be transformed into a sensory wonderland featuring 90 stallholders that have collaborated with artists Anthony Hodgkinson, Annie Holcolme and more. Collector Wines will be offering their delightful wines for tasting alongside culinary magic from Kitchen Witchery and mocktails from Tea Garden Co—and if that’s not enough, there will also be live performances on the night.
Thursday 13 October | 80 Collie St, Fyshwick | dirtyjanes.com
Tiger Lane Test Kitchen (Floriade edition)
Join the Tiger Lane Test Kitchen to enjoy a new signature set tasting menu created in time for Floriade. Feast on this seven course meal and sip away on wines that have been meticulously paired with a selection from MADA Wines, and the dinner will be hosted by winemaker Hamish Young.
Until Saturday 15 October | Tiger Lane, Canberra Centre | tigerlane.com.au
Spring High Tea at Parliament House
Take high tea to the next level with a contemporary twist and views of spring-flowering courtyards at Parliament House this week. Parliament House’s executive chef will create sweet and savoury delights with matching refreshments to celebrate the best of the season.
Friday 14 – Saturday 15 October | Australian Parliament House | aph.gov.au
Spring Salad Spectacular
Ever thought salad is boring? Think again. The Southern Harvest Association is hosting a long lunch that’s sure to change your mind and prove that vegetables can be a delicious star of the show. Showcasing produce from member growers, expect a multi-course, veggie-licious celebration of spring featuring local ingredients and regional wines.
Sunday October 16 | 66 Turallo Terrace, Bungendore | southernharvest.org.au
Orange Wine Festival
Degustation dinners, yoga in the vines, and endless cool climate wines to try—if you’re thinking of taking a road trip to Orange, there’s never been a better time.
A scenic three-and-a-half hours’ drive from Canberra, the Orange Wine Festival is back from Friday 30 September until Saturday 29 October to celebrate the region’s thriving wine and food scene. With the opportunity to taste delicious local produce while enjoying various events across the month (hello wine-themed night market) it’s the perfect excuse for a spring mini break—and after the last few years wine-not treat yourself?
Until Saturday 29 October | Orange, NSW | orange360.com.au
Stage + screen
First Seen: Doula by Emily Clark
Exploring the unexpected friendship of a dying woman and her death doula, this play written by Emily Clark explores the topics of love, relationships and the divide between the stories people tell themselves about their own lives.
Thursday 13 October | The Street Theatre | thestreet.org.au
All the Earth’s a Stage
Watch as the master improvisers at Lightbulb’s premiere improvised comedy ensemble explore Earth Science while making your stomach hurt from laughter. They have partnered with some of Geoscience Australia’s most passionate scientists and researchers to celebrate the links between earth science and sustainability.
Thursday 13 October | Smith’s Alternative | smithsalternative.com
An Evening with Grace Tame
Have you ever wanted to hear hear Grace’s story, in Grace’s words, on Grace’s terms? Sharply intelligent, deeply felt and often blisteringly funny, Grace offers a constructive and optimistic vision for a better future for all of us, and now you can watch her live on stage as she celebrates the release of her memoir, The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner.
Thursday 13 October | Canberra Theatre Centre | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
QL2 Dance, Chaos Project 2022 ‘Big Little Things’
From the infinitely small to the infinitely big, Big Little Things is an exploration into our interconnectedness, how little things, small actions can have an impact on everything else, on the big picture, on our lives.
In this live performance, you will experience a full-length contemporary dance work created in collaboration with 40 young people aged between 8 and 18 years and four professional choreographers.
Friday 14 October | Canberra College, 2 Launceston St, Phillip | Tickets here.
H.M.S Pinafore Musical
Come and watch the talented cast of the musical H.M.S Pinafore, an adaptation of the comic opera written by Arthur Sullivan. Performed at the Q in Queanbeyan, get ready for a fabulous performance you can’t miss.
Friday 14 October – Friday 21 October | The Q | theq.net.au
Victory over the Sun
A whirlwind of colour meets baroque grunge in this sci-fi performance led by Meanjin/Brisbane-based artist Justene Williams. A story that provoked a riot at its premier, Victory over the Sun was originally an opera which followed a group of revolutionaries who wanted to destroy reason by disposing of time and capturing the sun. Williams’ iteration is described as a ‘work of passionate strangeness’, this limited edition performance a must-see.
Friday 14 October – Saturday 15 October | The National Gallery | nga.gov.au
Beautiful Thing
Join the cast and crew of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing and watch this beautiful and tender comedy live on stage! This coming of age love-story follows two boys as they gradually fall for each other while exploring themes of love, domestic violence, and hope.
Until Saturday 15 October | ACT HUB, Kingston | thelittleboxoffice.com
Tommy Little
Tommy Little is coming to Canberra and you better expect a huge night of laughs. Full of wild stories and guaranteed good times (nothing is out of bounds) make sure to book early to avoid disappointment!
Saturday 15 October | Canberra Theatre Centre | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Music
Music in their Veins—The Spina and Benignetti Piano Duo
Another lunchtime, another concert. This time the Wesley Lunchtime concert series is delighted and honoured to celebrate the long awaited return of the acclaimed Italian piano duo Eleonora Spina and Michele Benignetti, who will perform works by Schubert (Fantasia in F minor D940), Franck (Prelude, Fugue and Variation op. 18 transcribed for piano four hands by Abel Marie Decaux) and Poulenc (Sonata for piano four hands). See you there?
Wednesday 12 October | Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest | wesleycanberra.org.au
Adam Harvey & Beccy Cole: Great Country Songbook Vol 3
With 20 Golden Guitars between them, Adam Harvey and Beccy Cole are back together again touring and coming to The Street Theatre. Performing a concert of classic country songs from their new Great Country Songbook, expect a fantastic night of music, stories and humor.
Friday 14 October | The Street Theatre | thestreet.org.au
Drawing Breath
In drawing breath Luminescence Chamber Singers explore first breaths, last breaths, and music as diverse as the vast compass of human life and feeling in between: from Machaut and Gesualdo to Pink Floyd, Florence and the Machine, and newly commissioned works by Brenda Gifford, Connor D’Netto and Dan Walker.
Sunday 16 October | National Museum of Australia | luminescence.org.au
Stonefest
Stonefest is finally back and it’s bigger and better than ever! This year it will feature nationally renowned acts like Vera Blue, Ruby Fields, Luca Brasi, Hope D and Arno Faraji as well as many other local artists. And don’t worry if you bought Stonefest 2021 tickets—you’re already good to go! So get excited and get ready for UC’s biggest party of the year!
Saturday 15 October | University of Canberra | Tickets here.
Tours
Un-tour: The Hidden Gallery
Step into a brand-new world and explore the National Gallery after dark in an immersive cybernetic walking tour! View the gallery from a new perspective, experiencing both public and previously hidden spaces while you discover the connections between humans, technology and the built environment!
Wednesday 12 October – Sunday 16 October | The National Gallery | nga.gov.au
Geoscience Australia Tour Highlights
Be led through Geoscience Australia’s public spaces and watch as the scientists monitor for earthquakes and even touch the moon. Finally, enjoy a hands-on experience in their Education Centre.
Tuesday 11 October, Friday 14 October, and Saturday 15 October | Geoscience Australia | Tickets here.
Geoscience Australia TimeWalk
Take a 1.1km walk through time with the Geoscience Australia TimeWalk tour and discover the 4600 million-year history of our Earth!
Wednesday 12 October and Saturday 15 October | Geoscience Australia | Tickets here.
National Mineral & Fossil Collection Experience – Auslan Interpreted
Attend a behind-the-scenes tour of Geoscience Australia’s world-class collection of minerals and fossils. An accredited Auslan interpreter will accompany this tour for our Deaf community.
Wednesday 12 October, Friday 14 October, and Saturday 15 October | Geoscience Australia | Tickets here.
Exhibitions
Autumn Bounty
Featuring the work of well-known Canberra artist, ceramicist and sculptor Camelia Smith, this exhibition embraces the glory of this past Autumn Bounty from her Kambah garden, in a group of still life miniatures along with a selection of reproduction luminous watercolour prints and sculptures.
Until Sunday 13 November | Designer Op Shop Emporium, Corner Of Barrier Street And, 1 Lyell St, Fyshwick | dosemporium.com.au
Not the only Clay in the Village
Showcasing recent works of eight clayworkers who are proud members of the LGBTQIA+ community living and thriving in the Canberra Region, this exhibition explores what it means to be a member of a community.
Individually and collectively exploring this topic, there are echoes of their identities within their clay expressions as well as the idea that they are gathered together based on shared identities while remaining individuals with diverse lived experiences.
Thursday 13 October until Sunday 6 November | Canberra Potters Gallery, 1 Aspinall St Watson, ACT | canberrapotters.com.au
Canberra Art Biennial
Contour556 returns this October for its fourth anniversary, bigger and better than ever before. Situated all over Canberra, come celebrate this year’s participating artists and performers as they question ideals about art and space, artists and the public, and so much more.
Until Saturday 29 October | Multiple venues | contour556.com.au
Zonta’s Art Show
Want to support some local artists? The Zonta Club of Canberra Breakfast are holding an ART Show to exhibit the work of local artists. Money raised from the event will support projects that empower women, including home starter kits to assist family and domestic violence survivors, birthing kits for women giving birth in developing countries, cushions for women recovering from breast cancer, and scholarships (especially in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).
Entry is free and tea and coffee with fresh scones, jam and cream will also be available for sale.
Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October, 10 am – 4 pm | The Old Barn – 18 Beltana Rd, Pialligo | zontaclubcanberrabreakfast.org
Structured Light
You might remember Daniel Crooks’ Structured Light from earlier in the year at the 2022 Enlighten Festival, Crooks is back transforming the National Gallery into a world of colour, shapes and light. The stunning new perspectives and illusions illuminate the night sky, this time celebrating the current architecture of the Gallery.
Until Sunday 16 October | The National Gallery | nga.gov.au
Nurture: Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre annual members exhibition
Feeling craft-y? The Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre annual members exhibition will showcase contemporary expressions of craft and design uniting time-honoured techniques with modern interpretations. Demonstrating the trends in contemporary craft and design in Australia by practitioners from the ACT and surrounding region, this can’t be missed.
Until Saturday 22 October | Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit | craftact.org.au
Conflated | a NETS Victoria touring exhibition
Drawing on the inflatable form as both material and metaphor, Conflated brings disparate artists together to explore bodies, environments and cultures through contemporary art. Investigating the possibilities of the inflatable through participatory works that entice audiences into finding new forms of COVID-safe intimacy the exhibition explores the idea of inflation and deflation as a provocation, offering new possibilities in and for our world.
Until Friday 4 November | ANU School of Art & Design Gallery | soad.cass.anu.edu.au
Cressida Campbell
From her molasses-rich colour palette to her ability to re-imagine kitchen scraps with the deceptive ease of a film dissolve, it’s easy to get lost within Cressida Campbell’s world.
Her latest exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia is intimately soaked in her identity, the beautiful details of painted wood blocks and a ‘hard to pinpoint’ temporal energy that will disarm and transport audiences along the way. Featuring more than 140 works of art from the renowned artist, including new acquisitions and key works from private and public collections it will offer new insights into her life and work, featuring research and writing from a range of curators, artists, poets and other voices.
Until Saturday 19 February 2023 | The National Gallery of Australia | nga.gov.au
Workshops, webinars + more
Networking for change
Inviting workers in the community-managed mental health sector to come together for a online networking event as apart of Mental Health Month ACT, this is an opportunity to give back to the workers for their dedication and passion for community mental health services
Tuesday 11 October | Online | mentalhealthmonthact.org
Deadly Dialogues: Michael Torres and Tamati Smith
Exploring their experiences in the field of photography, join fine art photographer, poet, and media professional Michael Torres and photographer Tamati Smith as they share their journey in their craft. Unable to go along? It’ll also be livestreamed online via the National Library of Australia’s Facebook page!
Thursday 13 October | National Library of Australia | nla.gov.au
Cressida Campbell: drop-in and draw
Cressida Campbell has always loved drawing the beauty of what she sees around her in everyday life—and now as her work is showcased in a stunning exhibition, you’re invited to gather around the table to observe, compose and draw together. A still life of objects from the National Gallery’s collection and from Cressida Campbell’s own home will provide inspiration for people of all ages and abilities
The space is open daily during the Cressida Campbell exhibition and an exhibition ticket is not required.
Until February 2023 | National Gallery of Australia | nga.gov.au
Connection to Country: Towards Sustainable Earth Science
Join an online workshop presented by the Geological Society of Australia NEO for the opportunity to view First Nations Australians speaking about connection to the country and what it means to them. After this, you will have the opportunity to attend a workshop sharing how to develop a personalised Acknowledgement to Country.
Tuesday 11 October | Online | Tickets here.
Kara Walker in conversation with Daniel Browning
Join leading African American contemporary artist Kara Walker and Bundjalung and Kullilli journalist, Daniel Browning as they discuss art and contextualise it both nationally and internationally. They will also unpack how the history of North America has influenced today’s artistic culture.
Thursday 13 October | Online | nga.gov.au
Dreamtime Connections Talk
Join Aaron Chatfield of Dreamtime Connections for a captivating talk about Indigenous plant use as well as the opportunity to enjoy some bush tucker snacks and native bush tea. You will learn about the edible, practical and medicinal properties of Australian native plants as well as how they used and constructed bush tools for thousands of years.
Saturday 15 October | Lanyon Homestead | Tickets here.
Build a Bee Hotel Workshop
Learn how to build and maintain your own ‘air-bee-n-bee’ with local horticulturist and gardening writer Tracey Bool in this buzzing October workshop. The whole family is welcome to join in the fun and create a home for all the bees in the back garden.
Saturday 15 October | Mugga Mugga Education Centre, Symonston | Tickets here
Choices in Childbirth
Are you expecting? Have you considered a doula? The Canberra Doulas are holding monthly information sessions for all those expecting to find out more about what a doula is and all that they can offer during pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Learn how a doula can support you in preparation for your birth and how they can also assist you once you bring your baby home.
Saturday 15 October | Tulips Cafe, Piallago | facebook.com
