Welcome to the first weekend of spring! As it starts to heat up we bring you the best events from beer and markets to family fun activities.
Young Henry’s Bar Shout – Fri 6th
Love beer? Come and try the Young Henrys Newtowner Pale Ale for free! Visit The Duxton in O’Connor from 4.30pm – 6.30pm as they bring you the very best from the Young Henrys team, Aussie Pale Ale called Newtowner.
Start of Spring Carnival at The Cannery – Sat 7th
The BentSpoke Cannery is opening its doors to the public again for our Annual Start of Spring (SOS) Carnival! This family-friendly event is FREE to attend. They’re partnering with local arts organisations PhotoAccess and M16 Artspace to line up a fun, free and interactive day which will be helping to raise funds for the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary – a local ecosystems conservation organisation. The funds raised will be donated to the trust in honour of Threatened Species day. You might even come home with a new artwork of a Bush Stone Curlew! This years’ SOS features exciting activities for all ages including short film screenings, meet and greet with Brian the Bettong, tours, colouring in, art exhibitions and auction, delicious food and live music. Join from 11am – 8pm.
Battle of the Brewers at Old Canberra Inn – Sat 7th
It’s round 6 of the Battle! King River from Whitfield Victoria are up against Tallboy and Moose from Preston Victoria at Old Canberra Inn! Each of these breweries will be taking over the taps and battling for a spot in the final showdown. Meet the people who brew these fantastic beers, win some merch and celebrate what King River and Tallboy and Moose have to offer! Kegs will be tapped at 2pm sharp and there will be live music from 2pm. Come down to the Inn and indulge in this incredible beer showcase. This is a free event.
Canberra’s Zero Waste Festival – Sat 7th
Canberra’s first Zero Waste Festival is at the National Museum of Australia (Peninsula Room) from 11-3pm. Run by Zero Waste Revolution there will be stalls, talks and workshops demonstrating practical ways for you and your family to live with zero waste. Bring your own zero waste finger food, and share in our zero waste picnic. Be part of the first Australian trial that will transform running shoes into park benches, by bringing in your old runners to the event – any brand, any size! Come along and join the Zero Waste Revolution! For more info visit their website.
Canberra Kids Market – Sat 7th
Canberra Kids Market is the place to find new, handmade and pre-loved, clothing, toys, books, games, accessories and equipment for babies, toddlers and young ones. Plenty of stalls to explore and great bargains to be had. You’ll find quality treasures for 0 to 12-year-old girls and boys, including designer labels and big-name brands. Buying at the Canberra Kids Market is a great way to support a sustainable lifestyle, helping reduce waste by recycling quality goods too precious to discard. Why not declutter and make some extra cash along the way? Located at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) in the Mallee Pavilion from 9am – 12pm. Free parking.
Adult and Teen Watercolour Art Class at Handmade Canberra – Sat 7th
Unleash your creativity and all the inspiration you soak in at the markets with an afternoon watercolour class. Stephanie Elizabeth shares her expertise in this 2hr intensive class. The theme will be spring florals as Canberra celebrates everything botanical during Floriade and beyond. You will learn the fundamentals of colour mixing, watercolour techniques and applying your own style to a painting or two. It will be on from 2pm – 4pm at EPIC. Tickets are $45 – purchase here.
DreamWorks Pyjama Party – Sat 7th
Families put on your pyjamas, bring a picnic meal and immerse yourself in all things ‘Trolls’ at the National Museum of Australia. From 4.30pm – 7pm, enjoy themed craft activities, then sit back and watch the DreamWorks ‘Trolls’ movie. Popcorn supplied!
Angry Birds 2 Charity Screening – Sun 8th
Join Dendy at 10am for a charity screening of Angry Birds 2! All proceeds go to the Sony Foundation in support of You Can (the youth cancer campaign). The flightless angry birds and the scheming green piggies take their beef to the next level in The Angry Birds Movie 2! When a new threat emerges that puts both Bird and Pig Island in danger, Red (Jason Sudeikis), Chuck (Josh Gad), Bomb (Danny McBride), and Mighty Eagle (Peter Dinklage) recruit Chuck’s sister Silver (Rachel Bloom) and team up with pigs Leonard (Bill Hader), his assistant Courtney (Awkwafina), and techpig Garry (Sterling K. Brown) to forge an unsteady truce and form an unlikely superteam to save their homes. Book tickets here.
Story Time at National Library of Australia – All Weekend
Story Time: Australian Children’s Literature is an exhibition of much-loved children’s books from the colonial period through to the present day that will appeal to anyone who has experienced the magic of stories. This exhibition will reacquaint you with old friends and introduce you to new ones. It will take you on a nostalgic tour through childhood, looking at the works of great Australian authors and illustrators including Bronwyn Bancroft, Mem Fox, May Gibbs, Bob Graham, Emily Rodda, Ivan Southall, Shaun Tan and Ethel Turner. A must-see exhibition, Story Time explores the rich history of Australian children’s literature and takes you on a journey across time and place—real and imagined. Families can also have fun in the dedicated kids section, Playtime. Presented in association with the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature.
