Enlighten is back this weekend. File photo.
Canberra’s most glorious season—autumn—starts this weekend and that means it is time for the Enlighten Festival. Head to the Parliamentary Triangle for stunning architectural projections, the Night Noodle Markets and plenty of entertainment. This Friday, electronic pop duo Electric Fields are performing in front of the National Gallery. There are also satellite events associated with Enlighten. This weekend’s stand-out satellite event is the Haig Park Pickture Festival, an outdoor cinema screening three movies at the same time so you don’t have to agree with your family and friends as to which movie you’re going to watch! Women’s golf returns to Canberra this weekend with the ActewAGL Canberra Classic at Royal Canberra, local theatre-maker Christopher Samuel Carroll is performing his show, Icarus, at the Street Theatre and the Royal Lifesaving Society is hosting a fun-filled Day at the Lake on Sunday.
All weekend
ActewAGL Canberra Classic
Where: Royal Canberra Golf Club
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 9 am–5 pm
After a successful rebirth last year, the ActewAGL Canberra Classic—a women’s professional golf tournament—returns to Royal Canberra for a second year this weekend. The tournament will host 144 players from 30 countries, competing for $150,000 of prizes. Defending champion and former world number 1, Jiyai Shin from South Korea is returning, and Anne Van Dam from the Netherlands and Dame Laura Davies from England will be playing. Australians Hannah Green—who is looking to collect her first major trophy as a professional—Rebecca Artis, Sarah Kemp and Whitney Hiller will be also playing, along with local amateur players Isabelle Hawes, Amber Thornton and Adele Douglas who will test themselves against some of the world’s best. The tournament will be played over three days, tickets are $15 for a day pass, $40 for all three days and kids under 16 are free, book here.
Enlighten
Where: Parliamentary Triangle
When: 6–11 pm
Enlighten opens this weekend. See stunning architectural projections on Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, Old Parliament House, the National Library and Questacon. Eat at the Night Noodle Markets and enjoy live music and roving performers. The projections will be switched on at 8 pm this Friday and will be on each night until Sunday 11 March. The Night Noodle Markets start at 4 pm on weekends and 5 pm weeknights. Read up on some of the must-have dishes here. Most of the cultural institutions will be matching the colour outside with fun inside on Friday and Saturday nights. The National Gallery is hosting electric pop duo Electric Fields at its Fields of Love event this Friday, Questacon is featuring the moon in its newest gallery, and the National Library is inviting you to help paint a huge collaborative, paint-by-numbers artwork designed by Western Australian artist Melski McVee on Friday night and watch live-art demonstrations with local art and illustration company Welly’s Wonders on Saturday night. And Old Parliament House is inviting you to build a collaborative artwork from vinyl records! For a full run-down of events check out the Enlighten program here.
Haig Park Pickture Festival
Where: Haig Park, Braddon
When: From 4 pm
One ticket, three screens, pick your movie! As part of the Enlighten Festival, a unique outdoor social cinema experience is coming to Haig Park this weekend. From 4 pm, enjoy dinner, drinks and music in the park and when the sun sets three movies will be screened. Put on your headphones and pick your movie—it could be a different movie to your family and friends. On Friday night the cinema is screening Edward Scissorhands, Desperately Seeking Susan and The Lost Boys. On Saturday it is screening Labyrinth, Beat Street and The Fifth Element at the early session and Pulp Fiction and True Romance at a later session. On Sunday it is screening Purple Rose of Cairo, Romeo and Juliet and District 9. The movies start at 7:45 pm and the later session on Saturday starts at 10:15 pm. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for kids, bring your own headphones with a 3.5 mm jack or purchase at the event for $5. Book tickets, and check out the program here.
Icarus by Christopher Samuel Carroll
Where: Street Theatre
When: Friday & Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 4 pm
Physical-theatre artist Christopher Samuel Carroll has re-imagined the story of Icarus, the man who flew too high, to ask the question—what is the difference between recklessness and courage when the odds are impossible anyway? The performance starts in a city with a young man playing video games, looking after his cat, and shopping for groceries oblivious that the world outside his door is rapidly descending into a war zone. Eventually, he is forced to flee his home and rely on his wits to search for safety. Set against an evocative soundscape by award-winning designer Kimmo Vennonen, this wordless production moves between the worlds of reality and dreams. Tickets are $35 for standard, $32 for concession, $30 for under 30s and $27 for students, book here. Written and performed by Christopher Samuel Carroll, an Irish theatre artist based in Canberra who recently played the role of Malvolio in Shakespeare by the Lake’s production of Twelfth Night.
Saturday
David Stratton: A Cinematic Life
Where: National Film and Sound Archive
When: 3 pm
On Saturday, the National Film and Sound Archive is screening the film David Stratton: A Cinematic Life. Written and directed by Sally Aitken, this film tells film critic David Stratton’s story from his boyhood cinema experience of Australia in England, to his migration to Australia as a ‘ten-pound pom’ in 1963 and on to his present-day reflections on the themes that run through Australian films. These films helped David understand himself and his adopted country and in return, David has nourished the Australian film industry through its growth and development. David will introduce this screening on Saturday. Tickets are $10, book here.
Ocean Film Festival
Where: National Film and Sound Archive
When: 7 pm
There are a small number of tickets left for the Saturday night screening of the Ocean Film Festival which features a two hour curated selection of short films about the beauty and power of the ocean. The films feature captivating cinematography, complete with amazing underwater scenes and fast-paced wave sequences. Check out the program here. Tickets are $32 for adults and $24 for kids, book here.
Sunday
A Day at the Lake
Where: Black Mountain Peninsula
When: 12–4 pm
The Royal Life Saving Society is hosting a Day at Lake Burley Griffin this Sunday to teach us about all the things we can do to stay safe around inland waterways. This event was started to address the problem that most drowning deaths in Australia occur in rivers, lakes and dams. The Royal Life Saving Society believes we can all be lifesavers and wants to show us how. The day will include face painting, jumping castles, water safety demonstrations, CPR training, water sports, arts & craft activities, live music and a Duck Derby with $800 worth of prizes to be won! There will be food and drinks available to purchase including the opportunity to make your own pedal-powered smoothie. Bring your swimmers and towel for a fun day at the Lake.
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