Love markets, expos and fairs? From visiting the Sir George to browsing books, this weekend is packed full of events for you
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Clear your calendars, this weekend is looking busy!
Why? Because there are 25+ events happening around town—including 11 markets, expos, and fairs to explore. Head along to the Sir George to taste local produce, thrift at The Lab, browse books at the Lifeline Bookfair and so much more.
Markets, Expos, and Fairs
The Lab Sunday Thrift Market
The Lab is hosting another thrift market to celebrate the end of winter and it’s the perfect opportunity to clear out (or update) your wardrobe. From preloved apparel to leather goods, jewellery, designer fashion, homewares, spiritual books and more, there’s plenty to discover.
Sunday 10 September | Level 1/18-20 Franklin Street, Griffith | the-lab.com.au
The Sir George Markets
Road trip anyone? The Sir George in Jugiong is hosting a market day! The Sir George Markets is all about community, local produce including wineries, distilleries, food, crafts, art. Celebrate the start of spring by exploring the various wares and enjoying live music from Matt Dent (a local musician from Yass). There will be loads to eat, drink, and discover!
Sunday 10 September | 320 Riverside Drive, Jugiong | sirgeorge.com.au
Manga Mini-Con
Are you a manga and anime lover? A comic collector? A cosplay enthusiast? In exciting news for fans, a Manga Mini-Con is coming to Westfield Woden this September. Running in a special pop-up location in Woden’s Westfield Shopping Centre, across the four days manga fans will have access to popular titles such as Chainsaw Man, Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Spy x Family, with a special ‘buy one get one-half price’ offer available on Viz titles. And to top it off, there will also be plenty of giveaways, gift vouchers, cosplay competitions, manga/anime character standees, and more!
Until Sunday 10 September | Westfield Woden, 160/2, Keltie Street | qbd.com.au/mini-con
Lifeline Canberra EPIC September Bookfair
The Lifeline Bookfair is back at EPIC baby! Showcasing a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, including rare books and collectables, children’s books, textbooks and foreign language books, you’ll find everything from magazines to comics, records and CDs, DVDs, games and more. As always, entry is via gold coin donation or tap-and-go is available.
Until Sunday 10 September | Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) Corner Northbourne Avenue and Flemington Road, Mitchell | lifelinecanberra.org.au
Gamma Expo
If you love Gaming, Anime, Movies, Manga and Art then GAMMA is the show for you. At this gaming and pop culture event you can meet guests from TV and Movies, see cosplayers, musical performances, attend masterclasses, watch Q&A panels and explore an exhibitor hall full of vendors local and from around Australia. There will also be GAMMA’s largest guest lineup in 10 years!
Until Sunday 10 September | Thoroughbred Park, 1 Randwick Road, Lyneham | Book here.
WildBark Community Day
Wildbark is celebrating it’s first birthday with a Community day
Start the day by joining the Run for Threatened Species – a 5km and 2km fun run in Mulligans Flat Sanctuary. Then get ready to explore Wildbark with free tours, activities and stalls. Listen to live music with The Cashews while enjoying delicious food from the Wildbark Kitchen or a free BBQ
This is a free event.
Saturday 9 September from 9 am – 3 pm | Wildbark Centre, Throsby | wildbark.org/eventsandbookings
Tharwa Bush Fair
The famous Tharwa Fair cake stall, local flower farmers and artists, raffles, live bands, and much more—the Tharwa Bush Fair is back! Perfect for the whole family, this year they have even more delicious food options, and more wonderful activities for children (including face painting, and a family scavenger hunt hosted by Outward Bound).
Sunday 10 September | Tharwa Preschool, North Street, Tharwa | facebook.com/tharwabushfair
Makers-Con at the Old Bus Depot Markets
This is one for pop culture fans and enthusiasts. The Makers Convention is uniting to bring together stalls and attractions that showcase a range of hobbies—from costume design, steampunk, comic books, leather makers and a whole lot more.
Sunday 10 September | The Old Bus Depot Markets, 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | obdm.com.au
Little Burley Markets
Offering a diverse array of multicultural foods, much-loved beverages and brunchables, beautiful blooms, locally made art, fashion, photography and homewares, artisanal bread, delectable pastries, seafood, smoked charcuterie, truffles, meats, puppy treats, and much more, you’ll be able to find plenty of goodies at this bespoke lakeside market
8 am – 1 pm Saturday | 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.
8:30 am – 2 pm Sunday | 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
Special Events and Festivals
The Hello Girls
There’s a new musical in town this spring and the women of 1918 America are here to make their mark! Join Heart Strings Theatre Co on a 100-year time warp to the US Army frontlines, where the fearless women of America are fighting change within the patriarchal space. Packed with songs of companionship, and sharing the powerful stories of the spirited individuals who led the women’s wartime movement, The Hello Girls is an entertaining thought-provoking piece of theatre.
Until Saturday 9 September | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Classic Cruise for Camp Quality
Calling all classic car and motorbike lovers! The Classic Cruise will be driving across Canberra to raise money for Camp Quality this September. Starting at the National Arboretum, the leisurely drive will go past Canberra icons (including the Cotter and Questacon) before ending with a sausage sizzle and ‘Show n Shine.’ Superhero costumes are highly encouraged!
Sunday 10 September | Starting from the National Arboretum, Forest Drive, Molonglo Valley | superheroesact.com.au
Glenfiddich Whisky Wanderer Bus at Molly
Well, pour me a wee dram and call me Nessie—your spring is looking decidedly Scottish. That’s right—the adorable Glenfiddich Whisky Wanderer bus is back after a sell-out 2022 season for another round. Parked outside Canberra’s own whisky wonderland, Molly, in Odgers Lane, the Whisky Wanderer will be open to give you a drinking experience straight out of the Scottish Highlands. And yes—they do private functions.
Until Sunday 24 September | Melbourne Building, Odgers Lane, Canberra City | Book here.
Giants v Melbourne
The AFLW returns to Canberra when the GIANTS take on the Demons in a Sunday afternoon thriller at Manuka Oval. There will be plenty of entertainment for the kids with the GIANTS Fan Zone in full action with giveaways, face painting, inflatables and kick 2 kick post game. Afterall, there’s better than enjoying a game of footy on a Sunday afternoon with your family and mates.
Sunday 10 September | Manuka Oval, Manuka Circle, Griffith | Book here.
Stage and screen
Winnie the Pooh Show
Coming from Broadway and the West End, see Disney’s iconic Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin (and their best friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl and Tigger) come to life in this beautifully crafted, critically acclaimed musical stage adaptation featuring stunning life-size puppetry. This is one the whole family will enjoy.
Until Saturday 9 September | Canberra Theatre, Civic Square, Canberra City | Book here.
Mr Bennet’s Bride
Set in country England, 25 years before Pride and Prejudice, Mr Bennet’s Bride is a romantic tragicomedy that reveals a backstory for the greatly-loved, but ill matched, Mr and Mrs Bennet. All we can reveal is Mr James Bennet is determined to choose a wife on his own terms until he finds himself suddenly, irrationally in love with Miss Emily Gardiner. You’ll have to go along to how the story plays out on the stage…
Until Saturday 23 September | Canberra REP Theatre, 3 Repertory Lane, Acton | Book here.
Music
Songs for Freedom at Llewellyn Hall
Songs for Freedom is an uplifting concert of original songs created by a group of intercultural artists in the Pilbara town of Ieramugadu. Guided by Ngarluma and Yinjibarndi Elders, during the concert a stunning inter-cultural band joins local musicians, family, and friends to pay tribute to John Pat in the fortieth anniversary year of his passing in custody (fulfilling the Pat family’s vision of a community and country united in peace). Capturing the soul, blues, and unique country sounds of West Australia’s vast Pilbara, everyone is welcome.
Saturday 9 September | Llewellyn Hall ANU, William Herbert Place, School of Music Building #100, Canberra City | Book here.
Dirt Bags Show
In conjunction with the Dust Collectors exhibition at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, head along for an afternoon of rockin’ good tunes by Dirt Bag, the Lonely One from Captains Flat. This one-man rock-n-roll band is guaranteed to make you shake your money maker and blow your top!
Saturday 9 September | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Reed Street North, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com
Showtunes Classics Concert
Experience an afternoon of song (with hits of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rogers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Stephen Sondheim and more) at this Showtunes Classic Concert. Proceeds from Showtunes Classics will go to Marymead CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn to support children, young people and their families in the ACT and regional areas and there will also be raffle entries and goodies available for purchase after the concert.
Sunday 10 September | St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 108 Sternberg Crescent, Wanniassa | Book here.
Exhibitions
Desert, Sea, Moon
Desert, Sea, Moon is a textile exhibition honouring cloth and slow-stitch (as well as the simplicity and patience that goes into it). Invoking forms found in the natural world, such as landscapes, the sky, and the water, it offers a collection of simple yet intricate pieces that intend to call in feelings of both reverence and delight.
Until Sunday 24 September | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com
Shadow Play: Solo Exhibition by Hilary Warren
With a background as an artist and printmaker in this exhbition Hilary Warren uses her practice to explore the concepts of light and shade. Beginning with an observation captured as a digital image, she then processes it and translates it into an etched plate. The result is stunning.
Until Sunday 1 October | Humble House Gallery, 93 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick | humblehouse.com.au
Island Welcome
This is a nationally touring group exhibition exploring the use of contemporary jewellery as a gesture of welcome. Seeking to bring attention to asylum seeker issues, each artist has made a neckpiece, lei, or garland interpreting the theme of welcome whilst considering current Australian immigration policies.
Until Saturday 21 October | Craft + Design Canberra, North Building, 1, 180 London Circuit, Canberra City | craftanddesigncanberra.org
N’Zassa: Making Things Work
N’zassa, like all patchwork traditions, is borne of necessity, seeking to make the best of what is available. In this exhibition, Peter McCarthy seeks to inspire positive social transformation by subverting familiar traditional forms related to identify, power and prestige re-imaging them through his own personal material symbolism.
Until Saturday 21 October | Craft + Design Canberra, North Building, 1, 180 London Circuit, Canberra City | craftanddesigncanberra.org
Backwash
This group of artists seek to grapple with a tide of excessive mass consumption and an ever intensifying globalisation by readdressing its residues. Including works by Robert Bittenbender, Isabella Darcy, George Egerton-Warburton, Sarah Goffman, Spencer Lai, Marian Tubbs, and Philadelphia Wireman, these artists are also attuned to the poetic plasticity of their materials and seek to break the trajectory of waste by addressing its abject beauty.
Until Sunday 22 October | Drill Hall Gallery, Kingsley Street, off Barry Drive, Acton | dhg.anu.edu.au
