A drone show, night markets, food events, live music and more: 30+ ways to fill the week
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Here’s your essential guide to what’s happening this week in Canberra – and it’s a lot.
Head along to night markets, enjoy a drone show, eat your way through multiple foodie events and so much more.
Special Events and Festivals
Flight: Drone Skyshow & Night Markets
In a first for Canberra, this January will see an epic drone show take to Lake Burley Griffin, complete with bustling night markets. FLIGHT: Drone SkyShow will feature 600 drones working in perfect synchronisation to an epic soundtrack, with previous shows by production company AGB Creative featuring enormous floating flowers, animals and more. While we don’t know what’s in-store, the production will ‘depict a vast array of Australian experiences and stories across a trilogy of shows’.
Thursday 25 until Saturday 27 January | Commonwealth Place, Commonwealth Place, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | More information here.
Community Day 2024 – Australia Day at the Museum
Join the National Museum of Australia this Australia Day for a free day of music, dance, art, conversation and connection. Featuring local and regional First Nations Traditional Custodians, along with musicians, poets, artists and performers from diverse backgrounds, the National Museum invites you to immerse yourself in a day that considers what it means to belong.
Friday 26 January | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton | nma.gov.au
Australia Day at Regatta Point
This long weekend, relax at Regatta Point with a fun filled community day. There will be a sausage sizzle (which will be free for the first thousand attendees), face painting, balloon twisting and various giant outdoor games. And that’s just the beginning. The event will also feature roving entertainment, live music and a special appearance from the Brumbies.
Friday 26 January | Regatta Point, Parkes | More information here.
January 26 Special Screening: Winhanganha
Winhanganha (Wiradjuri language: Remember, know, think) was born from a desire to make sense of the archival inheritances that shape our present realities. Commissioned by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, it is an examination of how archives and the legacies of collection affect First Nations people and wider Australia, told through the lens of acclaimed Wiradjuri artist, Jazz Money. Using film, television, audio and music recordings, the film is a poem in five acts that attempts to acknowledge the horrors, joys and beauties held within the archive.
Friday 26 January | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton | Book here.
Australia Day Concert
Head along to the Nara Peace Park for a day filled with singing, dance, martial arts, and musical instruments thanks to Federation of Chinese Community of Canberra Inc (FCCCI). Aiming to promote inclusivity and to reflect, respect and celebrate everyone’s journeys and achievements, there will also be some food and drinks available. Why not make a day of it?
Friday 26 January | Beijing Garden, Nara Peace Park, Yarralumla | More information here.
Australians & Hollywood
Elvis is leaving the building – the Canberra-exclusive Australians & Hollywood exhibition is closing on 28 January.
Australians & Hollywood celebrates iconic moments in contemporary Australian film and the people and stories that brought them to life. Don’t miss the chance to relive beloved cinema moments and see rare behind-the-scenes footage, costumes and props.
Highlights include spectacular costumes from ELVIS, Moulin Rouge! and The Sapphires, props from The Power of the Dog and ELVIS, customised steering wheels from Mad Max: Fury Road, Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin’s art concept books for Romeo + Juliet and the clapperboard from Dune.
Until 28 January | National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton | Tickets here.
Play Day
Sundays at Dairy Road, one of Canberra’s coolest precincts, just got cuter. Play Day is a free weekly event for kids and their adults, that offers theatrical performances, live bands, water play and activities for open-learning play in Dairy Road’s purpose built LESS Garden. Blending education and fun, don’t miss out on this free event!
Sunday 28 January | Dairy Road, 1 Dairy Road, LESS Garden, Fyshwick | More information here.
Paws Party: Pet and Wild
Did someone day ‘summer themed pet party’? Head along to a day full of fun at Haig Park for a paw-ty under the sun. There will be live music (for both humans and canines), free pup treats, a summer themed photo booth, and more! You can also visit the Haig Park Village Markets for more paw-some discoveries.
Sunday 28 January | Haig Park, Girrahween Street, top of Mort Street, Braddon | More information here.
Food and Drink
Bottomless High Tea at Parlour
This isn’t your usual stuffy high tea. Parlour is kicking off their High Tea season with a refreshing take on the tradition. Still serving all of the classics (freshly made finger sandwiches, cakes and pastries with all the trimmings) there’s something special in store – a bottomless drinks option, keeping your cocktail and wine glasses brimming with summer.
Saturday 27 January | Parlour, 16 Kendall Lane, City | Book here.
Luna Saturdays
Have you been to Luna yet? On Saturdays watch the bar transform for an evening where intrigue and luxury intertwine. There will be Cabaret Dancers, DJs and more! Book online or walk in.
Saturday 27 January | Luna, 99 London Circuit, City | More information here
Sunday Soirée
Live music, a Bentspoke pop-up bar and gourmet food and drink offers…what’s not to love? Head along to the Hyatt Hotel for a relaxing Sunday afternoon that will have something for the whole family. Perfect for friends, families and couples looking for a chilled Sunday afternoon catch-up, book ahead or walk in on the day!
Sunday 28 January | Hyatt Hotel Canberra, 120 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla | Book here.
Tipsy Sundaze
A Sunday sesh with vino and live music? Yes please. Grab some friends and elevate your Sunday at Amici. Unwind, sip, and savor while experiencing the very best Canberra’s music scene has to offer!
Sunday 28 January | Amici Wine Bar & Deli, 59 Northbourne Avenue, City | Book here.
Stage and Screen
Assassins Creed
Part of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s Gamer Over series, a sci-fi future collides with a reimagined Spanish Inquisition in this action-adventure adaptation of the popular game. See it in this unique screening at the NFSA.
Tuesday 23 January | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton | Book here.
Tomb Raider
Another film that’s part of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s Game Over series, the 2018 remake of Tomb Raider is a high-action adventure full of vine-swinging, bow-and-arrow-shooting, ancient-spirit-meeting action. See it for yourself.
Wednesday 24 January | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton | Book here.
The Nightingale
As the much-anticipated follow-up to runaway success The Babadook (2014), director Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale brings elements of historical realism to her approach to the horror/thriller genres. Showing as part of National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s Nefarious Australia series, it follows Irish convict Clare (Aisling Franciosi) and her companion Mangana (aka Billy) (Baykali Ganambarr), an Aboriginal tracker, through the Tasmanian wilderness as they seek to avenge the violence perpetrated by the colonial British authorities.
Thursday 25 January | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton | Book here.
Nitram
Part of National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s Nefarious Australia series, this film focuses on the darkest parts of Australian crime with this intense and controversial portrait of the man behind the Port Arthur massacre.
Sunday 28 January | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton | Book here.
Sunset Cinema
The Sunset Cinema is back with with their signature movie mix of hot new releases, all-time classics and family favourites. Located at the stunning Australian National Botanic Gardens, grab yourself a bottomless popcorn bucket, and a choc-top and head to the Sunset Bar for a refreshing drink. Whether its date night, family night or catching up with your mates Sunset Cinema is this summer’s ‘must do’ experience!
Until Sunday 24 February | The Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton | Book here.
Music
Australia in Harmonie
In this free event, a line-up of extraordinarily talented performers will come together to showcase the breadth and diversity of artists in this country. Taking place on January 26, the Harmonie Club invites all to reflect, respect and celebrate our first nations and other cultures as we gather under one roof and enjoy a wonderful evening of storytelling, songwriting and musicianship.
Friday 26 January | The Zeppelin Room, 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah | Register here.
Exhibitions
Trans(ap)parencies by Anthea da Silva
This is a contemporary meditation on perceptions of human value by Anthea da Silva. Using charcoal, oil and acrylic mediums, collaged X-rays and light-boxes, the exhbition challenge social constructs around bodies and gender. Head along to see it for yourself.
Thursday 25 January until Sunday 18 February | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | More information here.
Un/spoken by Saskia Haalebos
Last January Saskia got an autism diagnosis. Suddenly parts of her life made sense. All of those times when words tumbled out awkwardly or wrong, when their tone was ill-fitted for situations, when their order seemed random, when their humour brought a laugh, when they didn’t appear at all. un/spoken is about things not said, things she wishes she could take back, and some terrible puns.
Thursday 25 January until Sunday 18 February | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | More information here.
Glyph by Clare Martin
Glyph, an exhibition by Clare Martin, is an interesting exploration on purposeful marks and the combination of image and text. Falling loosely into three sections (symbols and numbers, mark-making and time and zines that combine image and text), Clare’s aim is to work in the region where they overlap.
Thursday 25 January until Sunday 18 February | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | More information here.
Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize
The National Portrait Gallery is hosting the Art Gallery of NSW’s touring exhibition Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize. Celebrating 100 years of Australia’s oldest and most-loved portrait award and reflects upon the changing face of the nation, this exhbition delves into the controversies and the commonplace, the triumphant and the thwarted, and honours the artists who have made the Archibald Prize the most sought-after accolade in Australian art today.
Until Sunday 28 January | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | More information here.
Nan Goldin
A sequence of 126 Cibachrome photographs by revolutionary American photographer Nan Goldin between 1973 and 1986, The Ballad of Sexual Dependency is Goldin’s most famous work (and one of the cornerstones of contemporary photography).
Decades-long in the making, The Ballad is a rare acquisition for the NGA and a must-see for anyone interested in people and their social and cultural context.
Until Sunday 28 January | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | More information here.
Through Their Lens
Explore the year in news through Australia’s top photographers. The prestigious Nikon-Walkley Press Photography Exhibition showcases the talent and dedication of Australian photographers by focusing on excellent visual storytelling. Get ready to be taken on a journey through the world of news, sports, portraiture, and visual essays, where fleeting moments are transformed into unforgettable images that defined the year.
Until Wednesday 31 January | Civic Library, London Circuit, Civic Square, City | More information here.
Nicholas Burridge Solo Exhibition
Head along to the Canberra Glassworks to see a unique exhbition featuring intriguing rock-glass hybrids inspired by the concept of terraforming. Created by Nicholas Burridge, the works touch on themes of geology, time, and industrialisation – serving as a poignant reminder of the immense geological forces that have shaped our planet over millennia.
Until Sunday 25 February | Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | More information here.
Emily Kam Kngwarray
Emily Kam Kngwarray celebrates the timeless art of a pre-eminent Australian artist, one of the world’s most significant contemporary painters to emerge in the 20th century. A senior Anmatyerre woman, Kngwarray’s devoted her final years to painting, creating works that encapsulate the experience and authority she gained throughout an extraordinary life. Showcasing an extensive range, this exhbition brings together her most important works.
Until April 2024 | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | More information here.
Discovering Ancient Egypt
Journey back in time to discover the wonders of ancient Egypt in this must-see exhibition featuring over 220 objects from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden). You’ll learn all about the lifestyles of the ancient Egyptians, their religion and society, their creativity and their belief in an afterlife where they hoped to live for eternity.
until September 2024 | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton | Book here.
Sport
CommBank Women’s 1st T20I: Australia v South Africa
Make sure you get along to this rematch of the 2023 T20 World Cup Final and watch Australia take on South Africa at Manuka Oval. It’s the perfect summertime entertainment.
Saturday 27 January | Manuka Oval, Manuka Circuit, Griffith | Book here.
Supernova 8: World Athletics Race Walking Tour
At this event, the nation’s premier walkers and rising stars will take on a host of international talent, battling it out over 10,000 metres at the World Athletics Race Walking Tour. Sounds fun, right?
Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 January | AIS Track, 6 Masterman Street, Bruce | More information here.
Australia Day Archery Tournament
The Canberra Archery Club Australia Day tournament is back for another year. A World Archery registered event, this will be a fun day filled with competition and connection for archery lovers.
Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 January | Canberra Archery Club, 41 Thurbon Road, Lyneham | Book here.
CommBank Women’s 2nd T20I: Australia v South Africa
Get along to witness some world-class cricket as Australia faces off against South Africa in the 2nd CommBank Women’s T20 . Name a better way to spend a Sunday?
Sunday 28 January | Manuka Oval, Manuka Circuit, Griffith | Book here.
Workshops, webinars and more
Igniting Ideas: School Holiday Program For Teens
Perfect for teenagers aged 12 to 15 years, in this workshop they’ll join designer and architect Erin Hinton (Associate Dean Education of the University of Canberra’s Faculty of Arts and Design) to explore the design thinking process. They’ll gather inspiration, ask questions and generate fresh ideas to find innovative solutions to real-world problems!
Wednesday 24 January | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton | Book here.
Podcasting 101 with ArtSound FM
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a podcast? This two-part workshop will show you how the professionals do it, using hands-on use of podcasting and studio consoles, microphones, and recording devices and software. You’ll learn how to use microphones effectively, edit sound recordings, structure podcasts and manage their quality, as well as how to plan and conduct interviews!
Saturday 27 January | Corner NSW Crescent and Manuka Circle, Griffith | Book here.
Glass Blowing at Canberra Glassworks
Make your own vase, tumbler or bird in this unique one-on-one glass blowing class! With the guidance of a skilled glass blowing teachers, you’ll gain some new skills and walk away with a beautiful creation.
Sunday 28 January | Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | Book here.
Warehouse Circus School Holiday Program
This is one for kids of all ages – the opportunity to unleash their inner acrobat, clown, and performer. This program is designed to spark creativity, build confidence, and cultivate lifelong skills, just like their graduates who shine in the circus spotlight. They’ll discover the magic of circus, where they can flip, twist, and turn!
Until January 2024 | Warehouse Circus, 70 Maclaurin Crescent, Chifley | Book here.
Art Play Space @ The NPG
Free creative activities? Yes please! Drop in to the family space these school holidays to enjoy activities are inspired by portraits in the Gallery’s collection.
Until late January 2024 | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | Book here.
