With only two weekends before Christmas, the year is definitely winding up. Christmas celebrations continue in Glebe Park; the Old Bus Depot Markets are on this Saturday and Sunday for more Christmas shopping; and there are Christmas carols playing at Lanyon Homestead on Saturday and the North Canberra Baptist Church on Sunday from 5:30 pm. Escaping Christmas is difficult — maybe catch a movie at the Sunset Cinema in the Botanic Gardens, check out Starstruck at the Portrait Gallery, or it is the last weekend for Mamma Mia at the Canberra Theatre. And speaking of last weekends, this is my final things-to-do-post for the year; I’ll return refreshed in the new year!
All weekend
Christmas in Glebe Park
Where: Glebe Park
When: Friday 5 – 10 pm, Saturday & Sunday 12 – 10 pm
Christmas continues this weekend in Glebe Park with a forest of real Christmas trees, Christmas lights, food vans, gingerbread cubby houses, a pop-up bar hosted by Capital Brewing, roaming carolers, and visits from Santa. This weekend there will be a free outdoor cinema screening of Elf on Saturday night, and Home Alone on Sunday night. And performances by Sophie Rainbow and Kate & Mark on Friday night; the Canberra Brass Band on Saturday and Sunday; the Canberra City Pipes and Drums on Sunday; and Nomad the Magician and the Boogie Buddies all weekend.
Sunset Cinema
Where: National Botanic Gardens
When: Friday & Saturday 6:30 pm
With the weather finally warming up, it’s a good weekend to catch a movie at the Sunset Cinema in the Botanic Gardens. This weekend, a preview screening of Paddington 2 is on Friday night and Bad Moms 2 is on Saturday night. The cinema opens at 6:30 pm, the movie starts at 8:15 pm and you can either take in a picnic, gather food from the food stalls on-site or have food delivered to your picnic rug by Menulog. Movie tickets are $19 for adults, $15 for concession and $12 for kids 12 and under. You can also hire bean bags or check-in to the Citroen Lawn Lounge for a bit more comfort.
Starstruck: Australian Movie Portraits
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: 10 – 5 pm
If you have finished all your Christmas shopping, this weekend could be a good time to drop into the Portrait Gallery and check out Starstruck, a collaborative exhibition being put on by the National Film and Sound Archive and the Gallery. Featuring an amazing collection of portraits of actors, Starstruck tells the story of Australian cinema from the early 20th century through to today. To encourage you to drop in, on Saturday between 2:30–4 pm, the Gallery is screening Australian classic movie, Bush Christmas (1983) staring a young Nicole Kidman; and on Sunday between 3–4 pm, the Gallery will be filled with the sound of singing when Tobias Cole presents Transcendence. Tickets for Starstruck are $12 for adults, $10 for concession, and free for under 18s. Book here. The screening of Bush Christmas is free of charge, but it is recommended that you book.
Friday
Darren Halon Christmas Tour
Where: Ainslie Arts Centre
When: 7:30 – 11 pm
If Christmas carols aren’t your thing, Darren Hanlon is returning to Canberra this Friday with a more contemporary Christmas tradition— his annual Christmas tour. It will be an intimate solo performance featuring songs from across his entire catalogue, a few new songs, and a couple of duets with guest performers. Supporting Darren on this, his twelfth annual Christmas tour, is The Space Lady in her first Australian performances. Darren saw The Space Lady perform in Portland earlier this year and invited her to join him on this tour. Tickets are $27, book here.
Saturday
Christmas Carols and Picnic
Where: Lanyon Homestead
When: 5 – 9 pm
Lanyon Homestead is presenting an evening of traditional Christmas fun this Saturday. The homestead will be lit by candles and decorated for a nineteenth century Christmas. At 7 pm the Sing Australia Choir and Tuggeranong Vally Band will be performing Christmas carols that you can sing along with, and there will be Christmas ornament-making activities for the kids and a sausage sizzle. Entry is $10 per car.
Groove Warehouse Annual Concert
Where: The Street Theatre
When: 6:30 pm
Groove Warehouse, a centre for all things drumming and percussion in Canberra, is having its annual concert at The Street Theatre this Saturday night. It will feature pop, rock, Caribbean, world and jazz grooves performed on a range of instruments. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for concession. Book here.