Watson is playing host to the annual winter festival with the crew at Canberra Potters putting on a fire-lit proposition for your weekend. 

 

Get Your Hands Dirty 

Ever wanted to live out your Ghost pottery wheel fantasies, or do you just need to smash some clay to release a week’s worth of spreadsheet-induced rage? This is your moment.  

The festival is running hands-on wheel throwing and handbuilding sessions for both kids and adults who don’t mind getting mud all over their sleeves. If you’d rather leave the spinning wheels to the professionals, there will be live demonstrations throughout the afternoon from some of the region’s best ceramic artists. You can also wander through the resident studios, chat with the makers, and see where the magic actually happens.  

 

The Ultimate Winter Comfort Food Hack  

 The legendary Soup Bowl & Tumbler Fundraiser is back, and it is easily the best deal of the season. The premise is simple: you buy a beautiful, hand-crafted ceramic bowl made by a local potter, and they fill it to the brim with piping hot soup. You eat, you keep the bowl, and you get to feel like a very sophisticated patron of the arts. To wash it down, our mates at Lerida Estate are setting up a pop-up wine bar to keep the winter chills at bay.  

 

Fire, Shopping, and the Great Parking Escape 

Once you’ve eaten your fill, you can browse the market stalls inside the Canberra Potters Gallery to stock up on gorgeous mugs, plates, and planters. To wrap up the night, everyone will gather around for the spectacular opening of the massive, woodfired Petal Kiln. It’s loud, it’s incredibly hot, and it’s the ultimate way to thaw out your frozen toes. 

A quick logistical heads-up: do not attempt to squeeze your car into the Watson side streets unless you enjoy driving in frustrated circles. The organizers have sorted out parking at EPIC (Old Station Well Drive), with a free shuttle bus looping constantly between the Phillip Ave tram stop, EPIC, and the festival gate all afternoon.  

 

FESTIVAL INFORMATION: 

  • Location: Canberra Potters, Aspinall Street, Watson 
  • Dates/Times: Saturday 15 August 2026, 3:00pm to 8:00pm 
  • Ticketing/Booking: Entry is $5 per person or $15 for families of three or more. Small fees apply for some hands-on clay activities. 

Find out more HERE