Eight things to do around Canberra this weekend (10–12 Aug)

A weekend with lots to entertain the family coming up. The Brick Expo is on at the Hellenic Club all weekend, Science in ACTion is on at the Old Bus Depot markets this Saturday, the final AFL game to be played at Manuka Oval for the season is on this Saturday night, the National Library is having an open day this Sunday, and there is also a Light Rail Ready Event on in Gungahlin. Canberra Unscripted, a festival of unscripted theatre, is on at the Street Theatre all weekend and features a show suitable for the whole family on Saturday, and QL2’s annual production is on at the Canberra Theatre this weekend. QL2 is Canberra’s youth contemporary dance company and its productions are always engaging and accessible. Well worth checking out.

All weekend

Brick Expo

Where: Hellenic Club, Woden
When: Friday 1:30 – 6 pm, Saturday 9 am – 6 pm & Sunday 9 am – 4:30 pm
The Brick Expo is back for another year at the Woden Hellenic Club this weekend. Enjoy amazing Lego models and installations created by local and interstate collectors and modellers. The Expo will feature hundreds of static, moving and robotic models of trains, planes, space ships, racing cars, monuments and sculptures and, of course, Star Wars! Tickets are $6 for kids (aged 4–14), $12 for concession and $24 for adults (aged 15+). There are also family tickets available, $24 for 1 adult and 3 kids, $30 for 2 adults and 2 kids. Book here. If you are interested in checking out the Expo without the crowds and the kids, perhaps consider the over-18s cocktail party at the Expo on Saturday evening. Enjoy food, drinks and music while viewing the models. Tickets are $50, book here.

Canberra Unscripted

Where: The Street Theatre
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, various times
Canberra Unscripted is a festival of unscripted theatre presented by Alchemists Improvisation, BnC Theatre and Lightbulb Theatre. The festival comprises six shows :

• Singin’ in the What? —an improvised musical;
• Truth or Dare —two teams square off in a seriously silly showdown;
• The Young and the Wrestlers —a behind the scenes look at the world of wrestlers;
• Chez Colette —a guilt-free serving of people watching;
• Escape Room Live! —a show about the thrills and fears of escaping from an escape room; and
• Outta the Box – an improvised variety show suitable for the whole family

Check out session times here. Tickets for each show are $19 for adults and $15 for concession and there is a discount if you purchase tickets to more than one show, book here.

Canberra Craft and Quilt Fair

Where: Exhibition Centre
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 4:30 pm
The Canberra Craft and Quilt Fair is on this weekend. See exhibitions of works by Canberra quilters, the best quilts from around Australia, and the entrants into the Australian Quilt Association’s 2018 Borders and Bridges challenge. Shop at the many craft stalls onsite, learn a new skill in one of the workshops, including a workshop on papercraft with Natalie May, workshops on rag rugs and dressmaking with Naomi Huntsman and a workshop on tapestry weaving with Natalie Miller. Pick up tips and tricks from the experts, see skilled craftsmen work including woodworkers in action, learn about the Japanese art of Shibori dyeing and much more. Check out the program of events here. Tickets for one day are $17 for adults, $16 for seniors card holders, $15 for age and disability pensioners, and $8 for kids aged 5–16 years. Tickets are cheaper if you book online here.

Two Zero

Where: Canberra Theatre
When: Friday 7 pm, Saturday 2 pm & 7 pm
QL2, Canberra’s youth contemporary dance company, is 20 years old. To celebrate, they are exploring what the next 20 years will look like for the company in its annual production, this year called Two Zero. The production will explore the themes of whether looking back helps us imagine the future, and whether imagining the future helps us be in the present. This production is performed by a group of talented young contemporary dancers and comprises three new works choreographed by QL2 alumni Sara Black, Steve Gow—who is the assistant director of QL2—and Eliza Sanders. There will also be two remounted pieces from past performances, a re-imagined work from 2006 and a new work choreographed by QL2 Director, Ruth Osborne. Tickets are $33 for adults, $26 for under 27s, $22 for concession and $15 for kids. Book here.

Saturday

Science in ACTion 2018

Where: Old Bus Depot Markets, Kingston
When: 10 am – 4 pm
It’s Science Week next week and to kick it off in Canberra, Science in ACTion: a huge free community science fair for all science enthusiasts, is on at the Old Bus Depot Markets this Saturday. There will be over 50 local STEM organisations exhibiting at the fair, along with national and international STEM organisations. And these organisations will have hands-on activities for you to experience how they use science in their every day work. Learn about the future of ecosystems, technology, medicine and the Earth. Discover how geologists and archaeologists uncover stories from the past, what you could see looking through a telescope, and what you can see peering down a microscope. Also, meet scientists who help to conserve iconic plants and animals. It’s one for budding scientists so don’t miss out.

AFL—Giants vs Adelaide Crows

Where: Manuka Oval
When: Gates open 4:30 pm, kick off 7:25 pm
The Giants are playing at Manuka Oval this Saturday night for the last time this season, against the Adelaide Crows. There will be family entertainment before the game including the Giants Academy playing at 4:40 pm. Tickets from $12, book here.

Sunday

National Library Open Day

Where: National Library of Australia
When: 10 am – 4 pm
It is 50 years since the National Library opened and to celebrate, the institution is having a party. There will be music, scrumptious snacks, balloons and cake. Explore behind the scenes of the Library to discover surprising and rare collections, and meet the robots who live deep underground within the Library’s stacks! There will be an inflatable obstacle course for the kids, as well as face painting, craft activities and storytelling. There will be talks, a workshop with Library ambassador Kaz Cooke, tours, film screenings and a party on the podium outside the Library. Check out the program of events here. It is also the last weekend to see the library’s exhibition 1968: Changing Times.

Light Rail Ready Event

Where: Gungahlin Village
When: 10 am – 4 pm
Next week, Canberra is having its first Rail Safety Week! This is an initiative of the Australasian Railway Association and TrackSAFE which aims to raise public awareness of safe behaviours around rails. To kick off the week, there will be a family event this Sunday in Gungahlin to get people ready for the fast-approaching introduction of light rail. The event will include autograph signings by the Brumbies and Canberra Giants Netball players, a drawing table and fun rail safety activities and a chance to see one of the new light rail vehicles—but unfortunately not get inside it yet.