Fire shows, free fun, Circus Oz and s’mores vibes: your ultimate cheat sheet for Winter in the City

Posted on 27 June, 2025

Ready to turn the City Centre into your personal winter playground?

Winter in the City is back from 5–19 July, and this year it’s serving up 15 days of pure entertainment magic that’ll make you forget all about hibernating at home.

From world-class circus acts that’ll leave you gasping to fire shows that light up the winter nights, here’s everything you need to know about Canberra’s most spectacular mid-winter celebration. Consider this your invitation to fall in love with the city centre all over again.

What’s the big deal about Winter in the City?

Don’t miss Flux Entertainment’s pyrotechnic displays!

Picture this: Canberra’s heart transformed into a dynamic winter theatre where something incredible happens every single day. For a fortnight, City Walk becomes the stage for nationally renowned performers, jaw-dropping pyrotechnics, and family-friendly fun that won’t cost you a cent.

This isn’t just another winter event; it’s a love letter to our city centre, designed to bring warmth, laughter, and a sense of community to the coldest months. Whether you’re chasing thrills after dark or looking for the perfect family day out, Winter in the City delivers experiences that’ll have you planning return visits.

When can I catch all the action?

Mark your calendars for Saturday 5 to Saturday 19 July because the City Centre will be alive with entertainment daily. Here’s when the magic happens:

• Daily performances: 2 pm (family shows), 3:30 pm (circus acts), plus fire shows at 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, and 7:30 pm
• Grand finale: Saturday 19 July features a full day of performances plus The Forage street food festival from 12 pm – 9 pm.

The beauty of this program? You can pop in for a quick lunchtime show or make an evening of it with dinner and fire performances.

Who’s taking the stage?

Circus Oz is coming to City Walk – and it’s completely free!

Get ready for some serious talent. Mission to the Moon blends circus, theatre, and space science into a high-energy adventure that’ll have kids dreaming of astronaut careers. The Circus Firemen bring Australian humour to death-defying ladder stunts and fire juggling that’s equal parts thrilling and hilarious.

But the real showstopper? Circus Oz is coming to Canberra – and it’s free. Six decades of comedy, clowning, acrobatics, and pure joy condensed into performances that remind you why live entertainment hits differently. Add Lucky Jim’s chaotic musical mayhem and Flux Entertainment’s bigger-than-ever pyrotechnic displays, and you’ve got a lineup that rivals any ticketed festival.

What else is happening while you’re in the city?

Here’s where your Winter in the City adventure gets even better. While you’re soaking up all that entertainment magic, Canberra Museum & Gallery (CMAG) is serving up its own winter wonderland of creative activities that’ll keep the whole family busy between shows.

The kids’ workshops are pure hands-on joy – think designing colourful accessories in Wearable Whimsy (perfect for 5-9 year olds), creating wild animal masks inspired by Sidney Nolan’s magnificent lyrebird, or trying your hand at layered drawing techniques. At just $10-15 per session, they’re the kind of creative adventures that turn a city day into something truly special.

Can’t commit to a workshop? The MakerSpace at CMAG is running all winter long, letting little ones create their own Paper Cup Lyrebird inspired by Nolan’s theatrical designs. It’s free, runs during opening hours, and gives you the perfect creative pit stop between performances.

Don’t miss the chance to see A Total Work of Art: Sidney Nolan and the Stage at CMAG

And if you’re feeling inspired by all this winter creativity, don’t miss the exhibitions that’ll expand your world. Outer Space: Stromlo to the Stars celebrates 100 years of Mount Stromlo Observatory with immersive digital experiences that’ll have you questioning everything you know about the cosmos. Meanwhile, A Total Work of Art: Sidney Nolan and the Stage showcases the artistic genius behind those wonderful theatre designs.

The best part? Everything’s within easy walking distance of City Walk, making it easy to weave cultural adventures into your Winter in the City experience. Book a workshop for the afternoon, catch the fire shows in the evening, and suddenly you’ve created the perfect winter day that feeds both the soul and the Instagram feed.

What about food and drinks?

The Forage will be popping up at Winter in The CIty.

The city centre’s restaurants, cafés, and bars are your dining room for the fortnight – perfect for warming up between shows or making a proper evening of your visit. There’s something to suit every taste!

Onsite, you’ll find hot chocolate and marshmallows for toasting (because what’s winter without s’mores vibes?) plus a licensed bar for the grown-ups. But the real food finale happens on Saturday 19 July when The Forage transforms City Walk into a street food paradise. Think of it as the ultimate winter feast to cap off two weeks of entertainment bliss.

How do I make the most of it?

Be sure to make time for some retail therapy while you’re in the city!

Smart Canberrans will treat Winter in the City as the perfect excuse to rediscover their city centre. Catch an afternoon show, explore local shops you’ve been meaning to visit, book that dinner reservation you’ve been putting off, then stick around for the evening fire performances.

Getting there is the easy bit

The City Centre location means you’re spoilt for transport choices. Light rail and buses drop you practically at the stage door (Alinga Street is your closest stop), while car parking is abundant at Canberra Centre, Civic Pool, and the city car parks. Bike riders will find plenty of racks nearby, and the whole area is wheelchair accessible with flat terrain throughout.

So grab your warmest coat, rally your favourite people, and prepare to see the City Centre in a whole new light.