Balloons, stand-up comedy and Canberra’s Birthday: Here’s what to do this week
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Happy Canberra Day, Canberra!
And as you relax on this public holiday, we have the perfect reading material for you—all the great events coming up this week (and even today!) across Canberra.
Ready for sheep dogs, belly laughs and balloons? So are we.
Celebrate our city on Canberra Day
Taking place on Monday 14 March from 11 am, Canberra Day will see multicultural food, entertainment, stalls and workshops bring Commonwealth Park to life.
And with a jam-packed program running until 8 pm, there’s plenty to see and do to celebrate the birthday of our beloved capital. Read all about it here.
Monday 14 March | Various locations | enlightencanberra.com/program/canberra-day
Rise above it all at the Canberra Balloon Spectacular
Tico, the sloth-shaped hot air balloon, will be flying over Canberra in all of his adorable glory as he joins the 2022 Canberra Balloon Spectacular.
Take to the lawns of the Parliamentary Triangle, the water on a GoBoat or the tops of our mountains to see hot air balloons rise each morning (weather permitting, of course) over the city from 12 March.
The 5 am alarm clock may not be welcomed at the time, but watching these lift-off in the misty morning is a truly one-a-year experience. Of course, you can also book a flight to see Canberra from a truly fresh perspective.
Until 20 March | Launch zone: Patrick White Lawns, National Triangle | enlightencanberra.com/program/canberra-balloon-spectacular
Enlighten Festival 2022 (FINAL WEEK!)
Enlighten Festival, Canberra’s vibrant, jam-packed celebration of light, colour and food is back for 2022. Taking place from Friday 4 to Sunday 20 March, the city will come alive with a massive program of diverse and exciting events—including some new attractions, all under the banner of @Enlighten Festival.
While the classic festivities we know and love will still be going ahead, Canberra After Dark, Van Gogh Alive and Surface Festival are just some of the new attractions that will infuse the city with food, art, and culture.
But wait—there’s more. Some of the capital’s major attractions will also present exclusive ticketed events during the festival, giving access to areas normally closed to the public, all a part of the Canberra After Dark @ Enlighten Festival program.
On Saturday 12 March turn your gaze skywards as the Canberra Balloon Spectacular @Enlighten Festival lifts off and fills the skies. A spectacle of colour, over 25 balloons from around Australia and overseas will come together to make this a morning to remember. From Saturday 5 March you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the life and works of Van Gogh thanks to a spectacular multi-sensory experience, Van Gogh Alive, which will run for the duration of Enlighten.
As always, entry to Enlighten will remain free but COVID restrictions may apply.
Until 20 March | Various locations across The Parliamentary Triangle and Canberra City | enlightencanberra.com
The National Sheep Dog Trial Championships
The National Sheep Dog Trial Championships serve as an enduring link between the Bush Capital and rural Australia. Competitors come from all over the country to support this sport, rich in Australian rural heritage.
For 150 years, stockmen and women have been lining up to prove that their dog is the best in the district. These impromptu local events have become the sheepdog trials of today. Part of our rick pastoral heritage of competition at Agricultural shows and field days.
The sheep dog trials, commencing on Monday 14 March (and entry to the day is free!), will be a riveting spectator experience with every trial a mini-drama arising from dog-sheep-human encounters.
Each dog starts with a perfect score (100) and 15 minutes to motivate three sheep to navigate a set of obstacles before they are enclosed in a pen at the finish. Points are deducted when sheep stray too far from the path, refuse obstacles, or fail to be penned in time. Every handler has their own approach – instructions to the dog can be many or few and are delivered using gestures, whistles, shouts or gentle words.
On finals day the top 20 scoring dogs run, with the the highest scoring moving on to compete for the coveted Duke of Gloucester Sash.
Fiona Simson, President of the National Farmers Federation will be presenting the Duke of Gloucester Sash to the 2022 National Sheepdog Trial Open Champion on Sunday 20 March.
14–20 March | Hall Showground, Hall | Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite
The Forage@Enlighten Festival
The Forage. Credit: Tim Bean.
Street food feast-ival The Forage is back!
The Canberra Day long weekend (11-14 March) sees the arrival of an exciting new food precinct The Forage@Enlighten Festival offering an enticing lakeside zone for all things local and regional food and beverage.
This well-loved Canberra food experience returns in a new home for this autumn experience that will quickly become a Festival must-do.
With more than 25 local businesses offering a wide range of food and drink options, you’ll have plenty to choose from to tantalise the taste buds. Grab yourself a smorgasbord of a feast and relax by the lake with family and friends.
No tickets required.
12–14 March | Parkes Place | enlightencanberra.com/program/the-forage
Sculpture@Shaw
Sculpture@Shaw is a biennial exhibition of sculptures by local and internationally renowned artists set at Shaw Wines.
Sculpture@Shaw is brought to you by Shaw Wines and BelcoArts. An exhibition of sculptures by local and internationally renowned artists set in the rolling paddocks at Shaw Wines in Murrumbateman, NSW.
The event will run over two weeks from 5 March to 20 March 2022. The stunning location of Shaw Wines in springtime ensures a beautiful backdrop for a diverse range of sculptures.
There will also be an exhibition of small-scale works on display around the terrace of the Shaw Wines Cellar Door. This adds another dimension for visitors to enjoy.
During the weekends there will be helicopter joyrides. This family friendly event is a great day out for everyone. The event is also dog-friendly where visitors can wander through the paddock with their pets on a leash.
This is a COVID safe event. Children under 18 free.
Until 20 March | Shaw Wines, 34 Isabel Drive, Murrumbateman | Eventbrite
City Illuminations @Enlighten [FINAL NIGHT!]
Ephemeral.
Enlighten Festival has expanded across the lake to illuminate the city!
City Illuminations @Enlighten, by the City Renewal Authority, will dazzle Canberrans with an illuminated trail experience running through Civic and surrounds from 4 March until 14 March. The city will be transformed in the day and night with impressive lighting, sculptures and interactive experiences including a world premiere of ‘Ephemeral’ (pictured), a major illuminated installation of giant bubbles centred in Civic Square.
Each evening, until March, Ephemeral will be shrouded in sound, bubbles and smoke, as they pulse and change colours. Take some time out and enjoy the show which will occur every half an hour whilst grabbing a drink at the Canberra Theatre Centre’s Terrace ‘Bubble’ Bar.
This installation will be complemented by other illuminated sculptures including; an illuminated sculpture, ‘Kin’ in Garema Place; kaleidoscopes of butterflies ‘Fluttering Home’ near the Sydney and Melbourne Buildings; and interactive ‘Mini Beasts’ in multiple locations of the Canberra Centre.
A free hop-on hop-off shuttle bus will be travelling on a loop around the National Triangle and various city centre locations to help connect all the Enlighten sites. Make a night of Enlighten this year by grabbing dinner and drinks in the city and taking advantage of the free shuttle bus to see all the illuminations around Canberra.
Until 14 March | Various locations across the city | enlightencanberra.com/program/city-illuminations
Shakespeare to Winehouse: Icons from the National Portrait Gallery, London
William Shakespeare (detail) c. 1600-1610, associated with John Taylor, oil on canvas, National Portrait Gallery, London. Given by Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere, 1856 © National Portrait Gallery, London.
From Shakespeare to Winehouse, Darwin to Dickens, the Beatles, Brontë sisters and Beckham, the National Portrait Gallery, London holds the world’s most extensive collection of portraits. While they undergo the largest renovation of their building in 125 years, the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra is thrilled to show over 80 London treasures for an exclusive exhibition in 2022.
Start planning now to visit famous faces from the sixteenth century to today. Think Mandela, Malala, Churchill, Diana, Bowie, Sheeran, Westwood and more! And iconic artists like Warhol, Hockney, Emin, van Dyck, Rubens and Freud. There’ll be fame, power, love, loss, innovation and the downright inspirational – it’s going to be incredible.
This really is a rare, once-in-a-generation opportunity – showing exclusively at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra – so keep calm and grab your ticket!
Until 17 July | National Portrait Gallery | portrait.gov.au/exhibitions/shakespeare-to-winehouse-2022
Van Gogh Alive
Van Gogh Alive Singapore. Credit: Grande Experiences.
As Van Gogh Alive comes to Canberra make no mistake—this is no ordinary art exhibition. Forget tiptoeing through silent galleries to look at the iconic work of Vincent Van Gogh.
From Saturday 5 March you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the life and works of the Post-Impressionist painter thanks to the spectacular multi-sensory experience. Read more here.
From 5 March onwards | Park Place Lawns | vangoghalive.com.au
ACT Seasonal Antique and Collectable Fair
The Canberra A.C.T Seasonal Antique and Collectable Fair with The Rotary Club of Canberra East has now been operating for 34 years. The fairs are held twice a year, Autumn and Spring, in the iconic heritage-listed Albert Hall.
Over twenty recognised antique exhibitors will be present and will have for sale an excellent stock of quality furniture, pints, jewellery, dolls, china, pottery, clocks, watches, military collectables, glassware and artwork. The Autumn Fair will be open Friday 18 March (6pm-9pm), Saturday 19 March (10am-5pm), and Sunday 20 March (10am-4pm).
Lucky door prize to be nominated at the event to be drawn at 3pm Sunday with the winner to be notified by telephone or email. Tickets will be available for purchase throughout the event at the front door. Light lunches and refreshments are available at the venue via a food van at the front entry.
The proceeds of this Fair will go to the ‘My Home’ charity to assist in providing safe and supported accommodation for people with an enduring mental illness who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Rotary Club of Canberra East, together with its sponsors, are proud to help this most worthwhile cause. A new and different charity is chosen for each event.
All proceeds from ticket sales go to charity.
18–20 March | Albert Hall, Yarralumla | facebook.com/canberraantiquefair
On Stage: Spotlight on Our Performing Arts
Houston Rogers, Portrait of Sir Robert Helpmann as Oberon [detail], 1954, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136330433.
Let the National Library entertain you when On Stage: Spotlight on Our Performing Arts opens in autumn. There’s no business like show business, and this exhibition brings Australia’s performing arts history into the limelight.
The Australian stage has seen it all, from theatre, opera and dance to musicals, magic and hip hop, featuring household names like Sir Robert Helpmann, Dame Nellie Melba, Peter Allen, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Tim Minchin and the Hilltop Hoods.
On Stage also provides a backstage pass to the action behind the scenes, showcasing perspectives on stage direction, costume design, scripts, contracts and musical scores used by performers.
Presented together for the first time and drawing exclusively from the collections of the National Library, the exhibition features items that have never before been on display. Other highlights include the earliest surviving Australian printed document, selections from the JC Williamson theatre archives, and other contemporary live music and theatre posters.
Whether you prefer to take a front row seat, tread the boards, or stagedive into the moshpit, there is something for every fan to see. Join the Library during your visit, and receive a special souvenir Library Card featuring a portrait of Sir Robert Helpmann.
Until 7 August | National Library of Australia | Entry is free, no booking required | nla.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/on-stage
The Alliance Française French Film Festival 2022
Imagine this: soon you’ll be in France enjoying canapes and champagne.
Yes—really. And the best part is, you won’t even need your passport. The Alliance Francaise French Film Festival is back to bring Canberra French escapism in the form of fantastique films.
With a variety of 42 carefully selected films showing at the Palace Electric, until Wednesday 6 April film fans can treat themselves to award-winning cinema that thrills, chills, and inspires.
Full of scandal, love, and revenge, it’s the perfect film to escape Canberra…and with the addition of French canapés and wine before the film you’ll soon be saying ‘je veux plus!’
Until 6 April | Palace Electric Cinema | affrenchfilmfestival.org
Wine Machine Canberra
Wine Machine is back in Canberra, feat. PNAU, Benee, The Presets, Thundamentals, Babe Rainbow, Art vs Science, Harvey Sutherland, Mell Hall and your fabulous sommeliers the Poof Doof Drag Jamboree!
They are delighted to return to the beautiful Commonwealth Part for your favourite day of the year in full normal festival mode with dancing!
Pretty sure it’s going to be, the Best. Chardy. Ever
Saturday 19 March | Commonwealth Park | wine-machine.com
Canberra Craft Beer and Cider Festival
Australia’s premier craft beer and cider festival is held on the grounds around the heritage Mercure Canberra hotel.
Featuring over 40 exhibitors from around Australia, the Canberra Craft Beer and Cider Festival features the ‘best of the best’, with opportunities to meet the brewers, enjoy beer-food matching and demonstrations by master brewers.
The Festival offers live entertainment throughout the day, high-quality food and a wide range of family-friendly activities to ensure the whole family enjoys the day out.
The Festival will be held from 11 am to 6 pm, and is a very relaxed, fun event where patrons can learn about Australia’s incredible craft beer evolution.
Saturday 19 March | Mercure Canberra | canberrabeerfest.com.au
Box Dye Single Launch Party
After many COVID related delays, Box Dye is finally releasing a new track! Best Friend’s Kids has already become a fan favourite to shout at shows, and now, at long last, it’ll be available for shouting in your cars and showers.
Judging from the sold-out roaring frivolity of their last launch, releasing State of Emergency, this will be a gig not to be missed
Friday 18 March | UC Hub | Tickets via Moshtix
Best of the Fest: Mardi Gras Film Festival
Including ‘The Divide’, from out filmmaker, Catherine Corsini (Summertime, MGFF16 Opening Night) fresh from winning the Queer Palm Award at Cannes, 2021; animations, coming-of-age tales, comedy, documentaries and more in ‘My Queer Career’, Australia’s richest queer short film prize; a stirring portrait of a man repeatedly imprisoned for homosexuality in post-war Germany, and the relationship he slowly develops with his cellmate Viktor in ‘Great Freedom’, and a bunch of the best short films from all our packages in ‘Best of MGFF22 Shorts’.
18–20 March | Dendy Canberra | queerscreen.org.au
Brumbies vs QLD Reds
Super Rugby’s biggest grudge match is back! The Brumbies take on bitter rivals, the Reds in a Saturday night blockbuster!
The Brumbies beat the Reds for the 2020 Super Rugby AU title, while the results went the other way in 2021 in a nail biter.
Friday 18 March | GIO Stadium | brumbies.rugby
Canberra Comedy Festival
Canberra Comedy Festival is back for 2022! Canberra Comedy Festival is looking forward to sharing some great comedy shows with you between 16 and 26 March (and a few after that period too).
Featuring shows including our Gala, internationals Stephen K Amos and The Dollop, and more favourites including Ronny Chieng, Claire Hooper, Geraldine Hickey, Aaron Chen, Tripod and plenty more.
16–26 March | Multiple locations across Canberra | canberracomedyfestival.com.au
Haig Park Village Market
Via facebook.com/haigparkvillagemarkets
The new Haig Park Village Markets runs from 9 am-2 pm every Sunday in the beautiful leafy grounds of Haig Park, Braddon—moments away from Lonsdale street’s boutiques and cafes.
Hosting some of the region’s best local farmers and producers this farmers and food market will delight your senses with delicious cuisines, tasty treats, fresh produce and artisan products.
It’s a lovely place to enjoy a picnic while picking up some fresh produce, beautiful blooms and artisan loaves of bread for the week. There is live music, delicious food and face painting among other exciting sights for children and adults alike, there is no better way to spend a Sunday!
Every Sunday from 9 am–2 pm | Haig Park | haigparkvillagemarkets.com.au
Celebrate iconic moments in contemporary Australian film
Credit: Nicole Kidman © RGR Collection/Alamy Stock.
Australians & Hollywood: A Tale of Craft, Talent and Ambition is a Canberra-exclusive exhibition celebrating iconic moments in contemporary Australian film.
This blockbuster exhibition by the NFSA features beloved cinema moments, rare behind-the-scenes footage and costumes and props from the NFSA collection on display for the first time. Discover the creativity and craft that goes into making a classic and get up close with personal treasures from Eric Bana, Paul Hogan, Baz Luhrmann and more.
Until 17 July | National Sound and Film Archive of Australia | nfsa.gov.au/australians-hollywood-exhibition-nfsa
Immerse yourself in history with Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes
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This once-in-a-lifetime exhibition can’t be missed. Showcasing the competitive spirit of the Ancient Greek world through sports, politics, drama, music, and warfare, Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes is illuminated by more than 170 objects from the British Museum.
From large marble statues of athletes and gods to richly illustrated pottery and bronze weapons, the exhibition reveals a vibrant and innovative society that endures in its art, culture, and legends.
Until 1 May | National Museum of Australia | nma.gov.au/exhibitions/ancient-greeks
Get cultured at Jeffrey Smart
Jeffrey Smart, Corrugated Gioconda, 1976, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, purchased 1976, © The Estate of Jeffrey Smart, courtesy of Philip Bacon Galleries.
The year 2021 marks one hundred years since the birth of acclaimed Australian artist Jeffrey Smart. The National Gallery of Australia’s major exhibition celebrates and commemorates this significant centenary.
One of Australia’s most celebrated artists, Smart sought inspiration from the world around him – looking to the environment of urban and industrial modernity – which he transformed through his imaginative sense of theatre and intimate understanding of geometry and composition. These potent and intriguing images have become emblematic of 20th and 21st-century urban experience.
Showing until 15 May | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place, Parkes | nga.gov.au
