The Weekend Edit
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Welcome to the essential guide to your weekend, Canberra. Thanks to Zango, Canberra’s locally owned listing site, we’re bringing you this weekend’s coolest events—and hottest Open Homes.
Every Monday for more than eight years, we’ve published This Week in The Can, our comprehensive guide to everything happening around the city this week—but sometimes it’s just too epic to get through!
That’s why each Friday we publish our Weekend Edit—a curated selection of events we think you’ll love!
WANT TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE DESTRUCTION OF THE 2020 BUSHFIRE DISASTER + DROUGHT? CLICK HERE.
ENLIGHTEN FESTIVAL
Credit: Hcreations Photography for VisitCanberra.
Canberra will shine bright with culture and creativity as the Enlighten Festival, presented by Singapore Airlines, brings together the best autumn events.
Held over 17 days from 28 February to 15 March, the city will come alive with a range of free and ticketed events.
Kick off the festival at the 10th anniversary of Enlighten Illuminations (28 February to 9 March) as architectural projections light up the National Portrait Gallery, National Library of Australia, National Gallery of Australia, Australian Parliament House, Museum of Australian Democracy, Questacon and more.
Enjoy the roving artists, live bands and enchanting performances throughout the Enlighten precinct.
With programming commencing at 6 pm, and architectural projections lighting up your evening from 8 pm to 11 pm each night, there’s plenty of time to have your tastebuds tempted at the Canberra Night Noodle Markets (28 February-9 March), Bentspoke Beer Garden and Enlighten Alley.
After taking in the projections, be enlightened with a visit inside many iconic national attractions. With exclusive events on offer sure to entertain every member of your family.
Enhance your experience of Enlighten Illuminations by joining the Chef’s Degustation at Parliament House for a fine dining experience or book a private garden dining experience at Questacon’s Illuminated Igloo Garden.
Entertain the family at National Zoo and Aquarium’s Zoofest or receive exclusive night access to some of Canberra’s best exhibitions including Spy: Espionage in Australia at National Archives of Australia and Friday Late: Games Masters Exhibition at National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. View the full program at enlightencanberra.com.
Prepare to have your mornings brightened when the Canberra Balloon Spectacular returns from 7 to 15 March as hot air balloons fill the sky with a flurry of colour, sound and movement.
Celebrate local creativity as Lights! Canberra! Action! (6 March) shines a light on local film-makers and Symphony in the Park (8 March) provides the perfect soundtrack to your sunset picnic.
Top off the festival by celebrating the city’s birthday at Canberra Day (9 March) and enjoy a flourish of fireworks at Hit 104.7 Skyfire (14 March).
Cost: Prices vary, please check the website.
Happening 28 February to 15 March, times vary, please check the website. Parliamentary Triangle.
See enlightencanberra.com for more information.
THE CANBERRA TIMES NIGHT NOODLE MARKETS
The Canberra Times Night Noodle Markets will return to Reconciliation Place for an extended duration of eleven nights, from 28 February until 9 March, transforming Reconciliation Place into a bustling Asian street food festival.
Kicking off on 28 February, the highly anticipated Night Noodle Markets will return for an extended stint due to popular demand, turning Reconciliation Place into a bustling Asian street food festival over eleven sizzling nights.
Canberrans can embark on a vibrant flavour journey through Asia, tasting new creations, dynamic flavours and signature dishes from hawker-style stalls from around the country served alongside live music, DJs, and lion dancing.
Local favourites Korbq, Donburi Station and Superbao will be joined by multicultural flavours from around Australia from Hoy Pinoy, Gelato Messina, May’s Malaysian Hawker, Wonderbao, Bangkok Street Food, Twistto, Flying Noodles, Teppanyaki Noodles, Shallot Thai, Satay Brothers, Chinese Dim Sum King, Mochi Donuts, Waffleland, The Pham Sisters, Raijin, Poklol x Puffle, Chur Burger, Wok Master and Bao Brothers.
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 5 pm–10.30 pm and Saturday – Sunday: 4 pm–10.30 pm.
Happening 28 February–9 March at Reconciliation Place, Canberra.
Free Entry. To view all stallholder menus visit: goodfoodmonth.com/canberra/canberra-night-noodle-markets
Belvedere Brunch at Buvette
Buvette has teamed up with Belvedere to take Buvette Brunch to the next level.
Join Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar for the launch of Buvette’s Belvedere Brunch and experience a bountiful brunch with a premium Belvedere twist, custom cocktails developed from Belvedere’s ‘The Art of Brunch’ series.
Enjoy a decadent selection of charcuterie, cheeses, savouries and decadent desserts while sipping on delicious cocktails or bottomless mimosas!
To celebrate the launch, Belvedere Vodka will have a special gift for every guest.
$55 for brunch and a glass of wine or sparkling
$12 Belvedere Brunch cocktails | $20 Bottomless Mimosas | $14 Bloody Mary’s
Happening Sunday 1 March from 11.30 am–2.30 pm at Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar, inside Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton.
Bookings are essential contact buvette@domahotels.com.au or call 02 6163 1818.
See Facebook for more information.
ACTEWAGL ROYAL CANBERRA SHOW 2020
The ActewAGL Royal Canberra Show, Canberra’s largest all-ages event, is staged annually by the Royal National Capital Agricultural Society.
The Show honours the country heritage of Australian agricultural shows with horse, cattle, sheep, alpaca and yard dog competitions. There are displays of the winning horticulture and produce and craft entries in the pavilions, Flyball, a large conformation dog show and cat shows.
No show is complete without show bags and rides, the thrilling entertainment on the main arena and around the grounds, a cuddle with the animals in the Farmyard Nursery, plenty of tasty food and goods to sample and, of course, the fireworks on Friday and Saturday night.
There is all of this and more at the Show, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Happening 28 February–1 March at Exhibition Park in Canberra.
See Facebook for more information.
GIN BRUNCH AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
Leap into a Gin Brunch on the last day of summer at the National Press Club.
Featuring a lush menu of seasonal favourites paired with delicious gin-based cocktails.
Cost: $95 members, $125 non-members
Happening Saturday 29 February from 10.30 am for an 11 am start at the National Press Club of Australia, 16 National Circuit, Barton.
See npc.org.au/member_events/gin-brunch for more information.
Illuminated Mini Beasts at Canberra Centre
Be immersed and inspired by a collection of Australian insects as Canberra Centre debuts the ‘Mini Beasts’ – three giant interactive sculptures for Enlighten Canberra 2020.
These innovative handmade art installations utilise thousands of pixel mapped LED lights, and produce high quality sound based on your input. The Mini Beasts include a gesture-controlled humming Neon Cuckoo Bee, an enormous proximity activated Swallowtail Butterfly, and a touch sensor triggered singing Cicada.
Despite their name, there is nothing ‘mini’ about the sculptures, with each standing up to four metres high. Built using state of the art technologies, combined with traditional handmade steel techniques, Mini Beasts were inspired by the truly spectacular nature of these tiny real-world creatures.
Happening 28 February–25 March at Canberra Centre.
See canberracentre.com.au for more information.
ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP 2020
Don’t miss your chance to see some of the world’s best cricketers play in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup across three days at Manuka Oval. It’s the first time the tournament has been played in Australia and also the first time the women’s competition has been staged as a standalone event.
Defending champions Australia will play Bangladesh under lights on Thursday 27 February, the middle day of the Manuka Oval program.
The opening day of action in Canberra, on Wednesday 26 February, will see 2009 champions and 2018 finalists, England and Thailand, play in the first match of a double header, followed by 2016 champions West Indies clashing with Pakistan.
Friday 28 February will see another double header in Canberra, with South Africa and Thailand in action in the afternoon game, followed by England and Pakistan.Happening 26-28 February at Manuka Oval, Manuka Circle, Griffith.
See icc-cricket.com for more information.
FREE PAINT A CAR ART ACTIVATION
Sick of the kids drawing all over your walls? Let their “creative talents” run wild at Marketplace Gungahlin’s FREE Paint a Car Art Activation!
That’s right your mini Picasso can paint a car—and you don’t have to deal with the mess!
There will be three car painting sessions each lasting four hours and the Sunday session is all about saying thank you to our amazing firies!
The kids can paint a thank you message to our firefighting hero’s—for a gold donation, which will be donated to the St Vincent De Paul Bushfire Appeal.
Cost: Free to Marketplace Kids Club Members—sign up here
Happening Friday 28 February from 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Saturday 29 February: 10 am – 2 pm and Sunday 1 March St Vincent De Paul Bushfire Appeal Fundraiser: 10 am – 2 pm outside Big W at Marketplace Gungahlin.
Any ticketing links or relevant websites: marketplacegungahlin.com.au/whats-on/free-paint-a-car-art-activation
MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT
Credit: Marnya Rothe.
Get ready for the Monty Python Musical!
Spamalot retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Guided by the fabulous belting diva The Lady of the Lake, a diverse cast of heroic/foolish actors (and their assistant stage manager) battle their way past various cows, killer rabbits, and French people in pursuit of claiming the legendary Grail.
The team behind 2018’s smash hit Calamity Jane bring their anarchic, immersive storytelling style to ancient England, embracing the satirical, home-made spirit of the original movie and the Monty Python TV series.
Book onstage seating to be a part of the action! Cost not specified.
Happening 26 February – 1 March at Canberra Theatre Centre.
See canberratheatrecentre.com.au for more information.
CLIPPED. TV: MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERES + RAY ARGALL
Clipped.TV curates a special night of exclusive Australian music video premieres on the big screen.
Presented by Mountain Goat Beer, Clipped.TV: Music Video Premieres is a night celebrating the art form of music video.
As well as premiering new music videos by some of the hottest Aussie talent, the night will also feature an ‘In Conversation’ discussion on how the unreleased clips were created, Q+As with the filmmakers and artists themselves, as well as the premiere of restored 1980s classic music videos by legendary filmmaker Ray Argall.
Happening Friday 28 February from 6 pm-7.30 pm at National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton.
See nfsa.gov.au for more information.
CANBERRA KIDS MARKET
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. You can find the markets in 2020 at the new location, the historic Fitters Workshop in Kingston (free parking and free entry).
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. If you’re decluttering things the kids don’t need or want, why not book a stall and sell them at the market?
Costs $3.00 & Children under 12 free. Donations made to Fred Hollows Foundation and Save the Orangutans.
Happening Sunday 1 March from 10am-3pm at Exhibition Park, Corner Flemington Rd & Northbourne Avenue, Mallee Pavilion, Mitchell, ACT.
See canberramarkets.net.au for more information.
CELLAR DOOR
Cellar Door is a wine market for Canberra’s wonderful wine scene happening every Saturday from 3-6 pm. Buy wines from local makers every Saturday afternoon in the iconic Nishi Grand Stair, NewActon Precinct.
Grab a souvenir glass, taste the latest drops, and buy at cellar door prices.
Wine stalls rotate each week with complementing stalls like flowers, cheese, chocolate and books.
Make a day of it with a film at Palace Electric Cinema and NewActon’s leading food and drink destinations.
Happening every Saturday from 3-6 pm on the Nishi Grand Stair, inside the Nishi Building, Philip Law Street, NewActon.
See the website for more details.
THIS WEEK’S OPEN HOMES
If you’re hunting for your dream home, weekends are the perfect time to browse. We’ve rounded up six of this week’s hottest Open Homes from across Canberra, thanks to Zango, Canberra’s locally owned listing site.
15 McHenry Street, Amaroo
Family home with sensational street appeal
This distinctive grey rendered home is an entertainers delight and features the master bedroom segregated from the rest of the house on its own floor.
OPEN HOME: Saturday 29 February | 11.30–12.15 pm | 15 McHenry Street, Amaroo
See it here.
1 Steep Street, Harrison
One of Harrison’s finest luxury homes awaits
A lifestyle of undeniable sophistication, and sited in what is undoubtedly one of the Harrison’s newest homes; distinctive style, grand scale and high calibre inclusions are brilliantly showcased throughout this supreme family home.
OPEN HOME: Saturday 29 February | 2–2.45 pm | 1 Steep Street, Harrison
See it here.
65 Ebden Street, Ainslie
The grass is greener
This home challenges you to think, about what can be done and how it can be done for home and garden, how a home can extend beyond the front door and incorporates the wider community.
OPEN HOME: Saturday 29 February | 4.30–5 pm | 65 Ebden Street, Ainslie
See it here.
50 Olive Pink Crescent, Banks
Spectacular Brindabella Views
A fantastic opportunity awaits, with spectacular Brindabella Mountain views in a sought after loop street in the heights of Banks.
OPEN HOME: Saturday 29 February | 2.15–2.45 pm | 50 Olive Pink Crescent, Banks
See it here.
This editorial was brought to you in partnership with Zango. Find more information on sponsored partnerships here.
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