29 November 2018

Eight things to do around Canberra this weekend (30 Nov–2 Dec)

| Zoe Pleasants
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sunset cinema.

Nothing like a movie at sunset. Head over to the Botanic Gardens this weekend for the Sunset Cinema. Photo: Sunset Cinema website.

Summer, Christmas and comedy are the themes for this weekend. Pack a picnic and head to the Botanic Gardens this Friday or Saturday for the Sunset Cinema, or to Government House this Saturday to listen to the Canberra Symphony Orchestra perform outdoors on the lawns. Gorman House will also be revelling in summer this Saturday with its family festival featuring music, art, market stalls and performances. The Canberra Comedy Festival is having its Christmas show this Saturday evening at the Canberra Theatre, and Grapes of Mirth is on at Pialligo Estate this Sunday afternoon. Both shows feature a huge line-up of comedians.

All weekend

Sunset Cinema

Where: Australian Botanic Gardens
When: Friday & Saturday, 6:30 pm
Sunset cinema returns to the Eucalypt Lawns at the Botanic Gardens this weekend. On Friday night, the family film Smallfoot is screening and on Saturday night, it’ll be Crazy Rich Asians. Gates open at 6:30 pm and the movie starts when the sun sets. Pack a picnic or buy food from the vans on site. Arrive early to enjoy the sunset. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for concession, $13 for children aged 4–12. You can also hire bean bags, back rests or sit in the lawn lounge for $40. Check out the full program and buy tickets here.

Friday

Ghost Tour@NFSA

Where: National Film and Sound Archive
When: 8 pm
Join Tim the Yowie Man for a tour of the spooky history of the NFSA. Discover the strange, the ghostly and the disturbing stories lurking in the NFSA basement and under the stairs! Tickets are $70, book here.

Saturday

Summer Revel

Where: Gorman Arts Centre
When: 11 am–4 pm
Gorman Arts Centre is celebrating summer this Saturday with a free family festival featuring food, market stalls, performances, interactive art and music. Mulgara is curating the music. The line-up includes Jamie Leone, Buddy Dingo, Hamish White, Cathy Diver and The Burley Griffin. There will also be performances by Left Lane Outreach Theatre, the Luminescence Chambers Singers and a bunch of people playing ukuleles. There will be a flash mob, Roving Performances by Sweaty Pits, talks by artists, film screenings, art exhibitions and tours. Activities will include:

  • Tunnel Book Making with Caren Florance;
  • Films for Everyone—make your own 16mm scratch film—with Louise Curham;
  • Come and Sing with Tobias Cole presented by Music for Canberra;
  • Drawing Workshop with Gorman Arts Centre resident Genevieve Swifte;
  • The Show Off Show—paper costume making—with Heidi Lefebvre;
  • Custom Poems from Lucy Alexander;
  • Family-friendly dance workshops with Ausdance ACT; and
  • Garden games like Giant Connect 4, Giant Noughts and Crosses, Giant Jenga, Ping Pong and Twister.

A Very Canberra Comedy Festival Christmas

Where: Canberra Theatre
When: 7:30 pm
The Canberra Comedy Festival is having its Christmas show this weekend featuring acts from the 2018 festival. Get into the festive spirit with Anne Edmonds (MC), Nick Cody, Randy, Ivan Aristeguieta, Sammy J, Geraldine Hickey, Luke Heggie, Emo Parsonson and Frankie McNair. Fill up on enough laughs to last you until the Comedy Festival returns in March next year. Tickets are $44.90, book here.

Renewable energy community bus tour

Where: ACT Legislative Assembly
When: 9:30 am–3 pm
Take a bus tour around our region’s diverse renewable energy infrastructure this Saturday. Leaving from the ACT Legislative Assembly, this tour will take you to the Mount Majura Solar Farm, the Woodlawn Bioreactor and the Capital Wind Farm. ACT Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Shane Rattenbury will also give a talk while at the solar farm. Tickets are $16.50, book here.

Beer Day Out

Where: Thoroughbred Park
When: From 12 pm
Celebrate beer at the Beer Day Out this Saturday. The festival will feature more than 20 Australian and International breweries and street food from Temporada, What the Pho, Selli’s, Mr Papa and Jono’s Jerky. There will also be music by The Brass Knuckle Brass Band and The Groove and master classes to learn more about beer! This is an 18+ event, tickets are $18, book here.

Canberra Symphony Orchestra Shell Prom

Where: Lawns of Government House, Yarralumla
When: Gates open 4:45 pm, concert starts 6 pm
The Canberra Symphony Orchestra will be performing on the lawns of Government House this Saturday evening. Bring a picnic and enjoy beautiful music in a relaxed, family-friendly environment. The orchestra will be performing music by Mendelssohn, Grieg, Vivaldi, Puccini, Tchaikovsky—a selection from the Nutcracker—as well as Climb Every Mountain from the Sound of Music and the Overture from Westside Story. Check out the full program here. The orchestra will be conducted by Guy Noble and feature Soprano, Morgan Balfour. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for concession and $70 for a family. Book here.

Sunday

Grapes of Mirth

Where: Pialligo Estate
When: 12–7 pm
Pialligo Estate is hosting an afternoon of comedy, music, food and wine. Hosted by Merrick Watts, the afternoon will feature Dave Hughes, Rhys Nicholson, Dilruk Jayasinha, Anne Edmonds, Anthony Lehmann and Mel Buttle. There will also be food, wine and beer. This is an 18+ event, tickets are $65, book here.

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