Hot summer nights of film, music and food + belly dancing, dinosaurs, yoga and more: we’ve got your weekend sorted
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From music, film and more at the NFSA to belly dancing and a swag of family-friendly activities, there’s a whole lot on around town this weekend.
Assemble your crew – Canberra is waking up from its summer slumber and there’s plenty to be discovered.
Great for a night out
Hot Summer Nights at NFSA
Get along to the NFSA this summer for free live music, cold drinks and good vibes in the heritage courtyard followed by a classic film in Arc Cinema.
Kicking off from 6 pm, relax in the vibrant atmosphere and enjoy free live performances and sets from Australian DJs and musicians hand-picked to complement the soundtracks and themes of each night’s film screening.
Then head into Arc Cinema for a captivating blend of dramatic, romantic and cinematic films, all curated to express the vibrant intensity of summer heat: thought-provoking features and nostalgic classics exploring themes of love, passion, music, dance, suspense and stunning locations.
Food and drinks will also be available.
Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 1 February | McCoy Cct, Acton | nfsa.gov.au
Belly Dancing at Bar Beirut
Shake off the ordinary and shimmy into the extraordinary at Bar Beirut with weekly weekend dance performances.
Bar Beirut is an inclusive venue with an extensive zero-per cent ABV (Alcohol by Volume) cocktail range, and a menu that easily accommodates vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free diners.
Every Friday and Saturday night | 25 Garema Place, Canberra City | barbeirut.com.au
Sunset Cinema
Who doesn’t love going to the movies? Get the most out of summer, by heading to the Sunset Cinema at the Botanic Gardens. Showing all the new hits, some old favourites, and family classics, bring a picnic, some camping chairs or a blanket and sit back and enjoy the show!
Until Saturday 22 February, from 6:30 pm | Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton | Movies and tickets can be found here.
Family-Friendly
Sea of Light
Try something a little different these holidays and embark on a journey of light and imagination. With a UV torch as a paintbrush, participants can paint and stencil their own voyage and steer ships that leave glowing paths of light in their wake, before creating a nautical soundtrack, by controlling colour and light! Take inspiration from artworks by Contemporary Aboriginal Visual Artist Elizabeth Close, which are painted in light across the sea floor.
Saturday 18 January, various times | The Courtyard Studio, Civic Square, London Circuit | More information and tickets here.
DinoFest Canberra – Age of the Tyrannosaur
Take the kids to a roarsome experience to see life-size, real walking and moving dinosaurs stomping into the Black Mountain Peninsula. The dinosaur encounter experience is sure to go down a treat, with walking and interactive dinosaurs roaming around, and the dinosaur trail with more than 30 dinosaurs enroute including a life-size T-Rex! Keep the fun going with a dino dig, arts and crafts, and the opportunity to feel a fossil with real dinosaur bones… Book your tickets before going though, the sessions are selling out faster than a velociraptor can run!
Until Sunday 2 February, 10.30 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm | Black Mountain Peninsula, Garryowen Drive, Acton | More information here.
Storytime Ballet – The Sleeping Beauty
Dress up in your best ballet-inspired outfit and bring the littlies to see an interactive Storytime ballet experience. This narrated version of The Sleeping Beauty tells the story of a beautiful princess who must sleep for 100 years until woken by true love’s kiss. The stage will be filled with glittering tutus and loved characters dancing along to Tchaikovsky’s score! The show runs for just under an hour, so the kids won’t lose interest. Don’t forget to bring your own wand from home or buy one from the counter, to take part in the performance!
Thursday 16 – Sunday 19 January, 11 am and 2 pm | Canberra Theatre, Civic Square, London Circuit | Tickets can be purchased here.
Illusionist Anthony Street
Step into a world of wonder with Illusionist Anthony Street, in a thrilling magic show crafted to captivate audiences of all ages!
The creator and star of the world-famous Celtic Illusion, Anthony will bring his unique blend of breathtaking illusions, mind-bending magic, and boundless charisma to the stage. Prepare to be amazed!
Saturday 18 January, 2 pm | The Q, 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan | Book here.
Cool Holidays at NFSA
The NFSA offers another dedicated school holiday matinee program this summer, featuring beautiful animation and Australian favourites.
Get the family and enjoy the NFSA’s heritage building for free before or after the screening. Explore the NFSA or simply enjoy a locally roasted coffee, sandwiches or a sweet treat in the sunny courtyard.
Happy Feet Two is screening at 1 pm on Friday 17 January.
Runs until 24 January | McCoy Cct, Acton | nfsa.gov.au
Markets
Capital Region Farmers Market
This market is a community project run by the Rotary Club of Hall, the only rural Rotary Club in the ACT.
Head along to browse over 100 stallholders who bring their freshly picked, grown, and hand-crafted produce. Speak to a stallholder and ask them where their produce comes from – you’ll be surprised what you’ll learn and pick up cooking storage, and usage tips!
Saturday 18 January, 7 am – 11.30 am | Exhibition Park in Canberra, Exhibition Park in Canberra, Mitchell | More information here.
Haig Park Village Markets
The Haig Park Village Markets runs every Sunday in the beautiful leafy grounds of Haig Park, Braddon.
This farmers and foodie market will delight your senses with delicious cuisines, tasty treats, beautiful blooms, fresh produce, delectable charcuterie, and artisan products. Plus you’ll discover locally handmade crafts including jewellery, art, natural body care, unique homewares, hand-poured candles, children’s apparel, pooch wares, and more. Plus, there’s live music, an artists’ table, face painting, and more!
Sunday 19 January, 8 am – 2 pm | Haig Park, Girrahween Street, Braddon | More information here.
Old Bus Depot Markets
Designer Sunday at Old Bus Depot Markets showcases fresh-thinking Australian designers, makers, and artists.
What might you find? Dynamic groups of creatives featuring their awesome designs in jewellery, fashion, accessories, homewares, and artwork.
Sunday 19 January, 9.30 am – 2.30 pm | 21 Wentworth Ave, Kingston | obdm.com.au
Stage and Screen
Steve Backshall Ocean
A must-see for the whole family, this educational mix of stunts, experiments, props, cutting-edge science and big-screen footage will help you to dive deep into the wonderful world beneath the waves.
Led by the renowned explorer and naturalist Steve Backshall it’s a great way for the kids to learn more about what we need to do to save our seas.
Friday 17 January | Canberra Theatre Centre, City | Book here.
Music
Dionne Warwick – One Last Time Tour
Five-time Grammy Award-winning music legend Dionne Warwick is coming to Canberra, and you better be excited.
Celebrating 50 years of hits, the opportunity to see living legend Dionne Warwick in person One Last Time is not to be missed.
Sunday 19 January, 7 pm – 9 pm | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | Book here.
Exhibitions
History: Solo Exhibition by Martyn Thompson
Head along to the Canberra Glassworks to see the stunning works of cross-disciplinary artist Martyn Thompson.
Reimagining his ceramic vessels in glass, blending nostalgia and modernity through a tactile, painterly approach, this exhibition has been curated by Aimee Frodsham, the exhibition integrates his new glasswork with textiles, furniture, and objects from his studio.
Showing until Sunday 23 March | Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | More information here.
Richard Larter: Free Radical
Showing at ANU Drill Hall Gallery, this exhibition showcases the work of a founding father of Australian pop art.
Head along to see some of Richard Larter’s luminous abstract paintings (many painted in Canberra and Yass). While informed by his adventures in popular culture these works are also firmly rooted in the histories of abstraction, holding great concern for composition and the formal dynamic relationships of colour, shape, and line. Fluid, lyrical, and improvised, Larter’s work refers to the energies of place and the politics of the times.
Until Sunday 19 January | ANU Drill Hall Gallery, 29 Kingsley Street, Acton | More information here.
Dear Forests…
This is an open postcard exhibition that brings together the work of several artists from around Australia.
Head along as they bring a lens of focus on the world’s forests, the need for their safekeeping and preservation inclusive of the wildlife within. Calling on artists to embrace their imagination to raise awareness, and provoke dialogue, political activism, boldness, experimentation, thoughtfulness, playfulness, or deep contemplation, don’t miss seeing it for yourself.
Until Sunday 2 Febuary | 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
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 this exhibition, artist Peter McLean emphasises the relational aspect of nature rather than the scenic.
With a deep affinity for nature and the environment, his work explores the materiality of nature and our physical, emotional and spiritual relationships with place.
Until Sunday 2 Febuary | 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
Echoes of Absence
Rebecca Tapscott’s cyanotype print wall installation, Echoes in Absence, is a poignant exploration of loss and interconnectedness, drawing from personal and environmental experiences. Crafted from the bodies and bones of animals lost due to human expansion, these prints bear witness to the absences being formed, in the tapestry of life.
The installation offers an introspective experience in an extrospective space, representing a collective environmental legacy seven years in the making.
Until Sunday 2 Febuary | 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
Grounded
Robyn Evans, Sabina Moore, and Amanda Andlee Poland make up The Grounded Collective; three artists researching place, time and memory.
Consisting of three Canberra-based artists whose interest in the local environment and working collaboratively has brought them together, the Collective’s exhibition project involves researching local sites to extend their individual and group practice. 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.
Until Sunday 2 Febuary | 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
Carol Jerrems: Portraits
Photographers, this one’s for you! This week, spend time learning about a key influential figure in Australia’s photographic history at the National Portrait Gallery’s latest exhibit – Carol Jerrems: Portraits. The exhibition showcases more than 140 photographs, drawn from the National Gallery of Australia, the National Library of Australia, and the National Portrait Gallery.
Expect to see photographs from her earlier work to her more famous works, including Vale Street 1975. Learn how her work defined the 1970s and the future of Australian photography while examining portraits of cultural figures like tennis legend Evonne Goolagong, fashion designer Linda Jackson, and author Bobbi Sykes.
Until Sunday 2 March | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | Book here.
Anne Dangar
Get lost in a world of swirls, squares, lines, and colours at the NGA’s free Anne Dangar exhibit.
This iconic Australian artist played an important part in bringing modern art to Australia in the twentieth century, and this exhibit allows locals a chance to browse her ceramics, paintings, archival material, and more in this major retrospective exhibition celebrating her life and art.
Until Sunday 27 April | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | More information here.
Ethel Carrick
The National Gallery of Australia is continuing its focus on celebrating the work of all women artists, with its major exhibition Ethel Carrick. Post-impressionist art lovers will be excited to see 140 pieces by Carrick, in the first retrospective of her work for nearly half a century.
What’s even better? Entry is free, so you can visit as many times as you want!
Until Sunday 27 April | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | More information here.
20 Years of Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Experience the wonder of two decades of award-winning nature photography as a new exhibition opens at the National Archives of Australia. 20 Years of Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year celebrates the winning entries from each year since its inception.
Conceived in 2004 by Dr. Stuart Miller AM, the competition aims to stoke the public’s fascination with the natural world and provide a platform for emerging and established photographers alike to showcase the remarkable flora, fauna, and landscapes of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, and New Guinea.
Until Sunday 27 April | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | More information here.
Pompeii
If seeing Pompeii in Italy is on your bucket list, mark your calendars for this one! The National Museum of Australia is showing its Pompeiiexhibit, featuring over 90 discovered objects from the ancient city before Mount Vesuvius erupted. This display in Canberra will be the first time some of these objects have been seen outside Europe!
Visitors will be taken into the exhibit with an engaging atmosphere created by large-scale digital projections and captivating soundscapes. Expect to see recovered jewellery, sculptures, pottery, frescoes, and other objects once used by this civilisation.
Until Sunday 4 May | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula, Acton | Book here.
Lindy Lee
Lindy Lee is one of Australia’s most accomplished contemporary artists. This exhibition brings together highlights from across the artist’s career as well as a monumental new installation and works on paper.
Exploring themes of ancestry, spirituality, the environment, and the cosmos, this display of new and recent works will shed light on Lee’s ever-evolving and ambitious practice.
Until Tuesday 1 July | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | More information here.
Behind the Lines 2024
It’s time for the annual wrap up of this year’s best political cartoons at the Museum of Australian Democracy! Opening on Friday 29 November, the Behind the Lines 2024 exhibit will feature political cartoons by established and emerging cartoonists across Australia all under the theme ‘No guts, no glory.’
Some of the highlights include witty comics poking fun at the growing use of AI, poignant drawings about the international conflict, and cheeky sketches relating to the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Until November 2025 | MoAD, 18 King George Terrace, Parkes | moadoph.gov.au
Sport
Yoga in the Gardens
Looking for a moment of zen? The Hyatt Hotel is holding yoga in the Lavender Courtyard every Saturday morning.
You can relax and stretch in the peaceful surroundings of their elegant gardens (which are located off The Tea Lounge) as senior yoga instructor, Nandhini Nagaratnam takes you through a class that focuses on strength, flexibility, health, and wellbeing.
Just make sure to bring your own mat!
Every Saturday until 22 February, 7 am – 8 am | Hyatt Hotel, Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla | Book here.
Workshops, Tours and Talks
Bulgarian Dance Workshops with Dr Gergana Panova
Dr Gergana Panova, a world-renowned choreographer and folk dance teacher, is coming to Canberra to present two workshops.
As a young person, Gergana danced as a soloist with the National Ensemble of Bulgaria. She then devoted herself to folk dance research as a professor at the Bulgarian Academy of Science. Gergana has given over 300 workshops in Bulgarian dance over four continents and now teaches at the Folkwang University in Essen, Germany. Talk about a way to start 2025!
Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 January, 9.30 am – 12.30 pm | Folk Dance Canberra Hall, 114 Maitland Street, Hackett | Email folkdancecanberra@gmail.com for more information
Flow Cook Connect with Yoga and Ayurveda
Get a valuable introduction to holistic health concepts in the pursuit of your wellbeing at Flow Cook Connect with Holistic Yoga Teacher Tracey Murray.
Flow Cook Connect is a complete day of self-care offering a genuine, authentic, and holistic Yoga and Ayurveda experience. You’ll learn how Yoga and Ayurveda are connected, why the practices together are beneficial, why they are essential to bring balance, and how you can become your own healer.
Plus, you’ll get hands-on with Ayurvedic cooking practice, eat a nourishing balanced lunch that you’ve helped create, hear about the principles of nature and how diet and lifestyle choices impact you, and more!
Saturday 18 January, 8 am – 3 pm | Mandala Studio, 253 Northbourne Avenue, G06, Lyneham | Book here.
Feature image of NFSA’s Hot Summer Nights by Meg Houghton.
