Your final chance to experience DARKFIELD plus a weekend of wine!
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Put a fork in us, we’re done with this week.
If you feel the same, it’s time to get your mind off work with a weekend of events and delicious food and wine…and we have some ideas.
Special Events and Festivals
Sustainable House Day
Celebrate National Sustainable House Day at the Suburban Land Agency’s Display Village on 21 April with advice and inspiration on sustainable living and building practices and trends.
With special guest and international award-winning landscape designer and Logie award-winning television presenter Jamie Durie, this event promises a day filled with insightful panel discussions, hands-on demonstrations, live music and fun kids activities so the entire family can enjoy.
Looking for ideas and inspiration? Explore over 10 display homes, each showcasing diverse sustainable living solutions and boasting highly energy efficient, thermally comfortable designed homes. Learn from the experts who designed and built the low-carbon and multi-generational homes, showcasing a series of sustainable design features
Indulge your tastebuds with induction cooking workshops from renowned chef Mal Hanslow of Pilot & Such and Such restaurants, and see how induction cooktops offer energy-efficient, safe and easy cooking solutions.
Plus enjoy kids activities, live music and delicious treats from Whitlam’s Heartbeat Café.
Sunday 21 April from 11am | SLA Display Village, Whitlam | suburbanland.act.gov.au/events/event-item/2024/04/21/default-calendar/sustainable-house-day
DARKFIELD: FLIGHT (Final week!)
Calling all thrill seekers, this one is for you. Sitting at the nexus of technology and theatre, FLIGHT takes you on a deeply hypnotic journey that challenges your sense of what is real, and what is imagined through two worlds, two realities and two outcomes to your journey. We won’t say anymore, you need to experience it for yourself…
Until Sunday 21 April | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
DARKFIELD: SÉANCE (Final week!)
Step inside, take a seat but don’t get comfortable. SÉANCE is an intense sonic performance that explores the psychology of a group of people who have been bombarded with suggestible material. In complete darkness, your senses become vulnerable to persuasion. You’ll need to proceed with an open mind…
Until Sunday 21 April | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Vinnies Narrabundah is turning 60!
Vinnies Narrabundah is celebrating 60 amazing years as a cornerstone of the Inner South community and the vibrant Narrabundah Shops.
Celebrate this Saturday 20 April with yummy treats, a $1 sale on kids toys and books.
Saturday 20 April from 11 am – 3 pm | 47 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah | Instagram
Canberra Roller Derby League’s Come and Try Day
Expect basic skating skills taught by their friendly trainers, and information about CRDL’s Fresh Skater Program starting in late April.
The session will cost $15 which will be deducted from the Fresh Skater Program fee if you sign up on the day.
Saturday 20 April from 10 am until 12 pm | Evelyn Scott School, 2 Bielski Street, Denman Prospect | Facebook
Community and Family Fun Day at Ginninderry
Come and meet your neighbours at The Link for a free BBQ, kids activities, building tour, bike repairs and more.
Featuring:
- Guided and self-guided tours of The Link
- Free BBQ
- Jumping castle and other kids activities
- Bike repair drop-in session with Canberra Environment Centre
- Free backyard plants for Ginninderry residents
- A visit from the Ginninderry Conservation Trust Rangers
- Working bee at The Link Community Gardens
- An opportunity to discuss your home design with our Sustainability Manager, Jessica Stewart
Registrations required. Get your free tickets today.
This event is part of Renew’s nationwide Sustainable House Day. View the full program at SustainableHouseDay.com.
Saturday 21 April from 10 am until 2 pm | The Link, Ginninderry | Registrations via Eventbrite.
Autumn Art Fair – The Little Burley Market
Come celebrate one of the most beautiful times of the year on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin with the return of The Autumn Art Fair. From 9am to 2pm, this market will include a jam-packed lineup of art and design stalls, delicious food and drink, live entertainment, workshops and more, all set in a location known for its spectacular Autumn displays.
There will be plenty of creative opportunities for everyone! Join a free art workshop, learn new techniques and simple tricks from one of the pro’s to achieve those spectacular masterpieces. Kids can create their own city out of cardboard with Tom Buckland’s FREE box building extravaganza workshop, or unleash their inner artist at the Autumn Leaf decorating station.
Amongst a backdrop of spectacular Autumn beauty, take the chance to meet an assortment of painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, jewellers, designers and more. Get to know the incredible processes and talent behind the work, and indulge in the opportunity to purchase directly from the maker.
9 am – 2 pm, 20 April | Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | thelittleburleymarket.com.au
Long Lunch at the Truffle Farm
Mount Majura Vineyard and the Truffle Farm are teaming up to host a Long Lunch celebrating fine wine and delicious produce in a stunning rural setting on Saturday 20 April.
The long lunch, crafted by The Truffle Farm’s Executive Chef Kanharith Kim, will include canapés to start, then a three-course menu complemented by Mount Majura wines. Hosted in the luxury barn at the Truffle Farm amongst a forest of 8,000 oak and hazelnut trees, it’s sure to be the perfect backdrop to a delicious long lunch.
Tickets are $195 and include lunch and wines.
African Festival In The Park
Be transported to Africa without getting on a plane! This is a free family fun-packed event where you can experience the rich and diverse cultures of Africa through art, music, dance, fashion, and food. Explore the stalls and enjoy a wide range of traditional African cuisine, whilst listening to live entertainment on the stage@
Saturday 20 April | STAGE 88, Commonwealth Avenue, Parkes | More information here.
Egyptian Lanterns
Construct, decorate, and light up a fanous-style Egyptian lantern these school holidays! Running across two sessions daily (10 am – 11 am and 11.30 am – 12.30 pm), at the National Museum of Australia, your five to 12-year-olds can learn about the significance of these colourful lanterns in both ancient and modern-day Egypt, then construct their own lantern using laser-cut plywood. Pop in an LED tealight to see it shine!
Spaces are limited, so bookings are essential.
Weekdays, Tuesday 16 until Wednesday 24 April | $25 per child, $21 for friends of the Museum, accompanying adults free | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton | Book here.
Canberra and Region Heritage Festival
The annual Canberra and Region Heritage Festival is back with a bang! You’ll need to plan ahead for this one because the jam-packed program has more than 120 events. It’s a great opportunity to learn about Canberra’s history from exhibitions and workshops to hands on activities. Visit their website to stay up-to-date with what’s happening!
Until Sunday 28 April | Various locations | More information here.
Discovering Ancient Egypt
Journey back in time to discover the wonders of ancient Egypt in this must-see exhibition featuring over 220 objects from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden). You’ll learn all about the lifestyles of the ancient Egyptians, their religion and society, their creativity and their belief in an afterlife where they hoped to live for eternity.
Until September 2024 | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton | Book here.
Spellbound
Witness levitations, impossible vanishes, mentalism and a death-defying escape during this spectacular night of magic with one of Australia’s leading Illusionists, Anthony Street. Performing one of the oldest of art forms, Anthony will enthral and astonish you, and keep you on the edge of your seat.
Sunday 21 April | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Markets
Roaring Bright Market at Gold Creek
The inaugural “Roaring Bright Markets at Gold Creek is this Sunday 21 April between 10 am and 2 pm.
It is being held in conjunction with the opening of the Roar’n’Explore Early Learning Centre and will be positioned on the area outside their front (next to the Dinosaur Museum).
There will be over 25 stalls offering a variety of locally produced and handcrafted products including sewn goods, wood turning, childrens wear, jewellery, pet accessories, giftware and many more.
Coffee will be available as well as yummy foods. There will be live music, face painting and kids activities.
Sunday 21 April from 10 am to 2 pm | Gold Creek Road Nicholls | Facebook
Little Burley Markets
Offering a diverse array of multicultural foods, much-loved beverages and brunchables, beautiful blooms, locally made art, fashion, photography and homewares, artisanal bread, delectable pastries, seafood, smoked charcuterie, truffles, meats, puppy treats, and much more, you’ll be able to find plenty of goodies at this bespoke lakeside market
8 am – 1 pm Saturdays | Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | thelittleburleymarket.com.au
Haig Park Markets
Moments away from Lonsdale Street’s boutiques and cafes, the Haig Park Village Markets will delight your senses with delicious cuisines, tasty treats, beautiful blooms, fresh produce, delectable charcuterie and artisan products. It’s a lovely place to enjoy a picnic whilst feasting your senses on the culinary delights on offer or to browse the fabulous local handmade design stalls.
8.30 am – 2 pm Sundays | Haig Park, Girrahween Street, Braddon | haigparkvillagemarkets.com.au
Southside Farmers Markets
This village market is located at Canberra College, making it the perfect place to duck in to grab what you need (and maybe a few things you don’t). Order an egg and bacon roll to start the morning as you explore the best of fresh seasonal veggies, handmade pasta and pet treats.
8 am–11.30 am Sunday | 2 Launceston Street, Phillip | facebook.com
Food and Wine
Meet the Maker, Live Music & Lunch at Pankhurst Wines
If you’ve never drunk in the stunning views of the Brindabella Mountains from Wallaroo’s Pankhurst Wines, this is the perfect excuse – celebrate their 36th Vintage as you meet the winemaker, taste a range of wines and enjoy a bite to eat.
Enjoy a delicious lunch from much-loved Belconnen restaurant Olive at Hawker while listening to guitarist Ben Coming (and no doubt sipping a glass of wine or three!) on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April.
Tickets are $15 pp and include a special wine tasting and winemaker talk, focusing on their Italian wine varieties. Grab yours here.
Le Nez du Vin (The Nose of Wine)
Always wanted to know a little more about the wine you’re drinking? Shaw Wines’ ‘Le Nez du Vin’ Wine Sensory Class is a fun, informative event being held at the Murrumbateman cellar door and is a great way to learn about the many aromas found in wine.
Held in Shaw’s downstairs private cellar on Sunday 21 April, this class is designed with everyone in mind, from beginners to wine enthusiasts. A wine tasting of six wines is included.
Tickets are $65 per person, and limited to 16 people. Snap some up here.
Winery Tour, Woodfire Pizza and Wine
Learn how winemakers go from grape to glass in this 60-minute journey through the Four Winds’ vineyard and winery facilities, led by winemaker John Collingwood, on Saturday 20 April.
Your ticket ($45) includes a wood-fired pizza and a glass of wine voucher to enjoy at the Murrumbateman cellar door.
Long Lunch and Grape Stomp at Lake George Winery
Take a trip to Lake George for a fabulous celebration of wine and food – all set to a backdrop of live music, to keep the festival vibes high!
It’s all happening on Sunday 21 April – don’t miss out on the opportunity to stomp grapes. BYO towel to join in the fun!
Tickets include a three-course meal and are $89.
Chocolate (or cheese) and Wine Tasting at Dionysus Winery
Journey to Murrumbateman this weekend to unlock the secrets of flavour and texture of the classic pairing of chocolate, cheese and wine.
Enjoy your choice of cheese or handmade chocolate (filled with Dionysus wines!) matched with wine, and explore how these two elements interact to bring out the best in both.
The kids are also looked after with three flavoured milks matched with chocolate.
Tickets are $20 (adults) and $10 (kids) and there are sessions on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April.
Stage, Screen and Music
RBG: One Of Many
After a wildly popular, sold-out premiere season in 2022, the Sydney Theatre Company smash-hit production about the woman who changed the face of the American legal system – the indomitable Ruth Bader Ginsburg – is coming to Canberra.
Bringing her life to the stage thanks to the extraordinary pen of Olivier Award-winning Australian playwright Suzie Miller (Prima Facie), you’ll watch a story that chronicles Ginsburg’s wins and dissents, traces her steps forward and the steps back, and brings you right into the room with Ruth at the most pivotal moments of her life.
Until Sunday 21 April | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Dog Man: The Musical
This is a family show that will make adults laugh too. Why? Because with the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, Dog Man loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture. Need we say more?
Friday 19 and Saturday 20 April | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
The Shoe-Horn Sonata by John Misto
Based on true events, the Shoe-Horn Sonata is a compelling revelation of the experiences of women imprisoned by the Japanese in WWII told through two who meet again fifty years later. First performed at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre in 1995 (and the winner of Australia Remembers National Play Competition in 1995 and the Play Award for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 1996), head to the Mill Theatre at Dairy Road to see it for yourself.
Until Saturday 27 April | Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, 1 Dairy Road, Building 3.3, Fyshwick | Book here.
Bloom Sings Stevie Nicks, Carole King and Linda Ronstadt
Celebrate all the hits of Grammy Award-winning artists and vocal powerhouses Stevie Nicks, Carole King, and Linda Ronstadt in one massive show! Performed by Australian vocal powerhouse Bloom, for one night only you’ll hear hear hit after hit like “You’re No Good” , “Landslide” and so many more!
Friday 19 April | Canberra Southern Cross Club, 92-96 Corinna Street, Phillip | Book here.
Lady Sings The Blues
This is a story about women in song, their hurts, struggles and pain. Exploring the stories of the women who have shaped the history of music, you’ll be transported from the speakeasy setting to the very heart of the Lady herself, Prinnie Stevens, Australia’s own RnB Soul Songstress. With a song selection that spans over 100 years and touches on social issues across those decades, Prinnie will move you with her world class vocals, but will challenge your world as know it!
Saturday 20 April | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, Canberra City | Book here.
Hindley Street Country Club Live at the Southern Cross Club
For one night only don’s miss this epic cover band as they perform the biggest songs of a generation from the 70s and 80s. And why not make a night of it and enjoy a two course meal in a private dining area at the Southern Cross Club before the show with their ’Dinner and Show’ ticket offer?
Saturday 20 April | 92-96 Corinna Street, Phillip | Book here.
Chillinit – 420 Oz Crawl
The Multi-Platinum, ARIA Nominated, rap scallywag, Chillinit, is embarking on his first ever regional tour of Australia and he’s stopping in Canberra. Serving up his new mixtape, 420DNA, as well as a bunch of new tunes from his ever growing catalogue, you’ll hear some smash hits.
Saturday 20 April | UC Refectory, University of Canberra, Bruce | Book here.
Exhibitions
All Sorts Collective – From The Outside To The Inside
Showing at the Strathnairn Arts Association, From The Outside To The Inside explore the relationship between public and private spaces through a series of works in acrylic, watercolour in and pastel. Featuring contrasting views of outside lives to personal interiors exploring the quiet sanctity of a home, head along to see the works of Shakir Rayman, Stephanie Boyle, Louise Spencer, Katie Volter and Belinda Gill.
Until Sunday 21 April | Strathnairn Arts Association, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt | More information here.
Ralph Heimans: Portraiture. Power. Influence
This is the first major exhibition of the Sydney-born artist’s work in his home country. Featuring some of the most significant portraits in the artist’s career to date (from early major works such as his painting of HM Queen Mary of Denmark through to his most recent paintings), you’ll see some amazing works that have cemented Ralph Heimans as a internationally sought-after portraitist known for his meticulously realised paintings.
Until Monday 27 May | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | More information here.
Vincent Namatjira: Australia in Colour
This exhibition of acclaimed Western Aranda artist Vincent Namatjira, Vincent Namatjira: Australia in Colour, charts the artist’s career, revealing the power of his painting and the potency of his words. Showcasing Namatjira’s burgeoning artistic practice, this major exhibition brings together paintings, works on paper and moving image from public and private collections nationwide, the exhibition will also feature a selection of watercolours from the national collection by the artist’s great-grandfather and critically acclaimed Western Arranda artist, Albert Namatjira.
Until Sunday 21 July | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | More information here.
Sport
Five Peaks Challenge Bike Ride
This is a non-competitive cyclo-sportive bike riding and fundraiser event conducted by the Murrumbidgee Canberra Rotary Club challenging you to ride your bike (or unicycle, tandems recumbent, tricycle, e-bikes, and kick bikes) up the six peaks of Canberra – Mount Stromlo, Red Hill, Mount Pleasant, Mount Ainslie and Black Mountain and Dairy Farmers Hill (in the Arboretum). Keen to give it a go? There will be signage, marshals along the route, snacks at the top of each peak, two feeding stations, sag wagon, sausage sizzle at the finish, a record of your achievement, and more.
Sunday 21 April | Stromlo Forest Park (Starting and finishing at Dave McInnes Road, Wright) | More information here.
Feature image: Mount Majura Vineyard. Credit: Stuart Miller.
