A lunar weekend to be had in the nation’s capital, with an array of events marking the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. File photo.
In case you’ve been hiding under a moon rock, it’s the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing this Sunday and there are plenty of ways to mark the occasion.
The National Museum is displaying equipment from the Honey Suckle Creek Tracking Station in its atrium, the National Film and Sound Archive is screening a program of recordings and films including the three-hour Apollo 11 broadcast in its entirety and the movies The Dish and First Man, and Questacon has a gallery dedicated to The Moon.
Back down on Earth, Bangarra Dance Theatre is in town with its production 30 Years of sixty-five thousand celebrating 30 years of this incredible dance company, Warm Trees continues at the National Arboretum, and Wintervention—Canberra’s Winter Festival in Civic Square—finishes this Sunday. On Saturday play outside in Haig Park, make kimchi at the Canberra Environment Centre, learn about traditional and contemporary Indigenous design at Parliament House, and enjoy a whisky at Pialligo Estate. On Sunday celebrate Chinese culture at the National Museum.
All weekend
Bangarra—30 Years of sixty-five thousand
Where: Canberra Theatre
When: Friday 7:30 pm & Saturday 1:30 pm & 7:30 pm
Bangarra Dance Theatre is in town this weekend with its 3oth anniversary production. The show, 30 Years of sixty-five thousand features three contemporary works:
- Unapion choreographed for Bangarra by Frances Ring in 2004. This work is a portrait of Ngarrindjeri man David Unaipon who features on our $50 note and was an inventor, philosopher, writer and storyteller. Music composed by David Page.
- Stamping Ground was created by Czech choreographer Jiri Kylian in 1983 after he attended a gathering of Indigenous dancers on Groote Eylandt, an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. This work is Kylian’s homage to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and is an original production for Bangarra.
- To Make Fire curated by Bangarra Artistic Director Stephen Page. This work is a highlights package of Bangarra’s works made between 2002 and 2011.
Tickets from $49 for adults, $39 for concession and $30 for under 27s. Book here.
Tracking Apollo—50 years since the moon landing
Where: National Museum of Australia
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 9 am–5 pm
To mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing the Museum is displaying equipment from the Honeysuckle Creek and Orroral Valley Tracking Stations at its Gandel Atrium until 18 August. The Honeysuckle Creek Tracking station was located just outside of Canberra and its signals were used to relay to the world the first seven minutes of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. See the antenna’s trackball, a tracker’s headset and commemorative memorabilia from the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station and a large console from Orroral Valley Tracking Station.
Moon Landing: 50 Years
Where: National Film and Sound Archive
When: Friday & Saturday
This weekend the National Film and Sound Archive is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing with a program of films and recordings.
- Friday & Saturday 10 am–4 pm, see Live from the Moon: Restored Broadcast, Australia’s official copy of the Apollo 11 broadcast recently donated to the NFSA by CSIRO and NASA. This broadcast runs for three hours but if you’re patient you’ll see Neil Armstrong take his small step into history on the big screen. It will be screening in the NFSA’s theatrette.
- Friday 6 pm, see the French mockumentary Dark Side of the Moon (2002). Directed by William Karel, this film considers whether the moon landing was actually filmed in a studio by the CIA under the direction of Stanley Kubrick. Tickets are $10, book here.
- Saturday 12 pm, see the classic Australian moon landing film, The Dish (2000). Tickets are $10, book here.
- Saturday 6 pm, listen to The Loneliest Journey: A Record of Man’s Greatest Adventure – The Apollo 11 Mission a recording that was broadcast on 2GB radio and features speeches by John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon, a report of the Apollo 11 launch by Derryn Hinch live from Cape Canaveral, and a report of the Apollo 11 spacecraft flying over Australia. Tickets are $10, book here.
- Saturday 7:30 pm, see First Man (2018) the Oscar-winning film directed by Damien Chazelle about the life of Neil Armstrong starring Ryan Gosling. Tickets are $10, book here.
Kids Outdoor Play Day
Where: Haig Park
When: 11 am–3 pm
As part of the City Renewal Authority’s push to bring new life to Haig Park, this weekend it is hosting a Kids Outdoor Play Day. There will be a range of activities on offer in the park for kids to try out including tree climbing, slacklining, an obstacle course, nature play, circus skills and aerial sports. There will also be arts and crafts, live music and performances and food stall. Enjoy a fun day out in our city’s backyard.
Doll and Animal Making Workshop
Where: Parliament House
When: 10:30 am–12 pm
Join Kalkadoon woman Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Jordan to make a doll or animal using traditional Indigenous techniques at this workshop for kids aged 5 to 12 accompanied by their parents. This workshop is presented in association with the free exhibition Indigenous Design Now showing at Parliament House until 11 August which showcases contemporary Indigenous design in the fields of graphic and interior design, jewellery, fashion, sculpture, textiles, architecture and furniture. Tickets to the workshop are $22, book here.
Making Kimchi
Where: Canberra Environment Centre
When: 2–3:30 pm
Learn how to make kimchi with Nil Barcode Food’s Evangeline Lam. Kimchi is a staple Korean dish made with cabbage, spring onion, chilli, radish and a variety of seasonings. Also learn, why fermented foods are beneficial for gut health and ways to use kimchi. Pack a glass jar to take a sample of kimchi home at the end. Tickets are $35, book here.
Mini Festival of Whisky
Where: Pialligo Estate
When: From 6 pm
Pialligo Estate is celebrating whisky this weekend with a mini tasting festival on Saturday night. Hosted by Phillip Jones, enjoy a glass of whisky on arrival, taste four whiskies from around the world, snack on Pialligo Estate’s charcuterie boards and join in interactive games with a prize for the winner at the end of the night! Hang around afterwards for live music, good food and more whisky. Tickets are $60, book here.
Sunday
Chinese Festival Day
Where: National Museum of Australia
When: 10 am—1 pm
It is the final weeks of the Museum’s Historical Expression of Chinese Art exhibition which features artworks from the National Museum of China and to celebrate the exhibition the Museum is putting on a free family festival this Sunday. There will be calligraphy, dragon and lion dancing, food, tea ceremonies, music and arts and crafts with artisans from the Chinese community in Australia. The Historical Expression of Chinese Art exhibition will be in the temporary gallery until 28 July and is free to attend.
Outdoor portrait conversations
Where: GIO Stadium, West entrance
When: 1:30–3:30 pm
Meet a member of the National Portrait Gallery Access and Learning Team to look at and sketch Cathy Weiszmann’s bronze statue of Mal Meninga at the GIO Stadium. Then head somewhere warm to share your thoughts over a cuppa.
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