If you’re not getting out in Canberra this weekend you’re missing out on some fun-packed events. Here are 10 of the best.
1. The Forage
Saturday 21, 2.00pm – 7.00pm
Held at Little National Hotel, The Forage is one of Canberra’s most loved street food events. Get amongst the delicious food, mobile bars, and sweet treats this Saturday. Be entertained by some of Canberra’s talented musos and performers with a beer or wine in hand. Some of the food and drink vendors available include Bentspoke, Mount Majura Vineyard, Sweet Bones, Mr Papa, Bush Taco Girls, The Canberra Distillery, Bar Rochford Lemonade Stand, and Loose Gourmet Churros.
Friday 20 October to Saturday 21 October
Open up your world with Floriade Fringe, an alternative utopia where art truly is for art’s sake. Floriade Fringe will be held at Haig Park in Braddon and will feature an exciting combination of creative talent from Canberra. Performance artists, such as headliner Anya Anastasia with her show Rogue Romantic direct from Edinburgh Fringe (get your tickets here), will join locals Sound and Fury Ensemble, Bambi Valentine, and more compliment a pumping music program featuring headliners L-Fresh the Lion from Sydney, The Burnt Sausages and Thunder Fox. Festival-goers also gain insight into the artistic process, with the chance to see some of Australia’s leading artists at work. As well as delicious stalls, the performative food stage The World Kitchen is on show, demonstrating ways people can connect and share stories over excellent nosh. Not bad for just a gold coin donation!
3. Hyper Real
Starts Friday 20 October
Hyperrealism at the National Gallery of Australia features astonishing life-like depictions of the human form in sculpture, video, digital art, virtual reality and bio-art, Hyper Real charts the evolution of hyperrealism since the early 1970s and invites visitors to experience the familiar in extraordinary ways. Hyper Real presents nearly 50 works from hyperrealism’s inception to the new world already upon us, with a strong focus on the exceptional talents of Australian artists, whose contribution in the field of hyperrealism are of global significance.
4. Wanderlust
Saturday 21 October, 7.00am – 3.00pm
Wanderlust is the world’s first mindful triathlon! Held at the Patrick White Lawns, Wanderlust will involve a 5km run (or walk – it’s up to you), a 90-minute DJ-powered yoga flow class, and a 30-minute meditation session – all aimed at instilling the practice of mindfulness. There will also be a Mindful Market with jewellery, essential oils, yoga props and apparel. Acroyoga, hooping, aerial yoga, walking meditation, photography workshops, and essential oil workshops will also be available to add peace to your life. To purchase tickets, click here.
5. Canberra say YES! Rally for Marriage Equality
Sunday 22 October
Kicking off at 1.00pm at Civic Square, this is your chance to make history. All around the country this weekend, people will be gathering to support marriage equality. Add your voice to the chorus with this great event in Canberra this weekend.
6. The Merchant of Venice
Friday 20 October and Saturday 21 October
More than 400 years after The Merchant of Venice was written, the taut line between religious law or secular society, righteousness or compassion, tolerance or hate, is still present in our lives today. Featuring three-time Helpmann Award winner, Mitchell Butel (Janet King and Rake) as the uncompromising and defiant Shylock, Jessica Tovey (Wolf Creek and Wonderland) as Portia, and directed by Anne-Louise Sarks (Belvoir’s Jasper Jones and Medea), this production tackles the prejudices and preconceived notions of one of Shakespeare’s most challenging plays. The Merchant of Venice is showing at Canberra Theatre Centre.
7. Japanese Film Festival
Friday 20 October to Sunday 22 October
The Japanese Film Festival in Australia started in 1997 with three free film screenings by former Festival Director Masafumi Konomi, and is now one of the largest celebrations of Japanese films in the world. Last year, the Festival celebrated its 20th year with an audience of 26,100 Australia-wide. The Festival has enjoyed great success over the years, with the opportunity to showcase a vast variety of cinematic delights from 35mm film classics to newly released titles currently screening in Japan. The JFF is showing at Dendy Cinemas, Canberra Centre.
8. Duck Racing
Sunday 22 October
Raise money and have a good time at Kingston Foreshore on Sunday with the Duck Race. The event kicks off at 9.00am, with tickets for the actual race on sale from 10.00am – get in quick, there’s a maximum of 500 entries. The race will start at 12.00pm in the canal, with a first-place prize of $500.
9. Cider Festival
Saturday 21 October
It’s perfect cider drinking weather in Canberra, so The Durham Castle Arms is celebrating International Apple Day with a Cider Festival. There will be seven taps dedicated to the heavenly drop, showing the best in Aussie cider, as well as a bunch of bottled brews to wet your whistle. While bookings aren’t essential, you can nab yourself a table on 6295 1769.
10. Spring Community Market
Saturday 21 October
Enjoy a fun day in the sun with friends, family and the community at the Spring Community Market. Check out locally crafted goods, flea market stalls, delicious food and drinks, and amazing live music. The market runs from 10.00am to 4.00pm, at Sly Fox Coffee, MacArthur Avenue, O’Connor.
