2 December 2021

Ten things to do in Canberra this week (3 - 9 December)

| James Coleman
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Group of people chasing one person on the road

Collectors will be screening at the Korean Film Festival this week. Photo: KOFFIA.

The beginning of December means it really is time to start planning the Christmas family gathering. Fortunately, a whole array of local markets have you covered.

Over the coming weekend, the Capital Region Farmers Market, Haig Park Village Markets and Dairy Road Market are all putting a festive spin on all the traditional Christmas goodies. Think smoked ham and fruit mince, for starters.

If the thought of all that food makes you feel guilty, Tennis ACT is hosting an open court again where members of the public can dust off their rackets and enjoy a social game of tennis.

Dabble in the arts as the Korean Film Festival kicks off and the Canberra Symphony Orchestra takes to the stage for its final Australian Series concert for 2021. Meanwhile, just over the border, a new exhibition will showcase the Queanbeyan River in all its painted, impressionistic glory.

Hundreds of cars and motorbikes will also take to the Queanbeyan Park on Sunday for a day of tweed, leather, and gleaming machinery.

Friday

Lee Jung-jae

Deliver Us From Evil stars Lee Jung-jae, a South Korean actor in the popular Squid Game. Deliver Us From Evil is showing at KOFFIA on Monday, 6 December. Photo: KOFFIA.

Korean Film Festival

When: 3 December to 7 December, various times
Where: Palace Electric Cinemas, 2 Phillip Law Street, Canberra
Cost: $12 to $16; tickets available online.

The Korean Film Festival in Australia (KOFFIA) returns for its 12th year, bringing a line-up of exquisite new Korean films from across all genres. The Festival also coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and South Korea.

All films are presented with English subtitles. Find out more about the full program and schedule for Canberra at KOFFIA.

Tennis ACT Open Court Sessions

Tennis ACT Open Court Sessions. Photo: Tennis ACT.

Tennis ACT Open Court Sessions

When: 5:30 pm to 8 pm, Friday 3 December
Where: North Woden Tennis Club, 1 De Largie Place, Hughes
Cost: $5 per person; buy tickets online.

Get ready to kick off the summer of tennis with the first Open Court Sessions.

With Open Court Sessions, fun is the name of the game for players of all skill levels. Come for a casual hit, share a laugh, a rally, a post-game BBQ and a beverage. This event is open to all ages and abilities, and all tennis equipment is supplied. Find out more through Tennis ACT.

Saturday

Non-alcoholic cocktails

Non-alcoholic cocktails from the Altina Drinks stall at the Capital Region Farmers Market. Photo: Capital Region Farmers Market.

Christmas at Capital Region Farmers Market

When: 7 am to 11:30 am, Saturday 4 December
Where: EPIC Budawang (undercover building), Flemington Road, Mitchell
Cost: Free to attend.

For the first three Saturdays of December, Capital Region Farmers Market will be getting festive. All stallholders are eager to see the Canberra community bright and early on the weekends leading up to Christmas, and offer you their finest produce for gifts, food and everything in between for your festive season.

Henry Smith exhibition

Henry endeavoured to capture something of the essence of the Queanbeyan River in paint. Photo: QPRC.

‘Evocation’ artist’s talk – An exhibition of the Queanbeyan River by Henry Smith

When:2 pm, Saturday 4 December
Where:
Rusten House Art Centre, 87 Collett Street, Queanbeyan
Cost: Free; register on Eventbrite.

Artist Henry Smith endeavoured to capture something of the essence of the Queanbeyan River in paint, and all of his works are framed and for sale at the Rusten House Art Centre in Queanbeyan. He enjoyed the challenge of doing so and hopes visitors to the exhibition will also enjoy the journey.

Henry will be giving an artist’s talk about the exhibition and his process this Saturday. Light refreshments will be available.

TEDWomen promotional poster

Imagine new possibilities and explore new ideas to live and work better together. Image: TedXCanberra.

TEDxCanberraWomen 2021: What Now?

When: 2 pm to 4 pm, Saturday 4 December
Where:
Kambri Cultural Centre, ANU, Acton
Cost: $30 to $70; buy tickets here.

At TEDxCanberraWomen 2021, you’ll hear from Canberrans who are helping to move the conversation about the power of girls and women to be creators and change-makers in a meaningful way. You will learn the ‘what now?’ in fields including design, technology, science and culture to envision a future we can build together.

Sunday

Tuba and trombone players

Looking for the perfect picnic with delightful music? Haig Park has you covered this December. Photo: Haig Park Village Markets.

Haig Park Village Markets

When: 9 am to 2 pm, Sunday 5 December
Where:
Haig Park, Braddon
Cost: Free entry; register for CSO live performance on Eventbrite.

The Christmas Village Markets kick-off for December at Haig Park and promise to have your Sunday sorted with an amazing line-up of performances. In collaboration with City Renewal CBR, they bring you the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, the Canberra Chordsmen a cappella chorus and the Scribbly Strings string quintet, performing both on stage and within the markets.

Man with an E-type Jaguar

Secretary of the Jaguar Driver’s Club of Canberra, Mark Jasprizza, and his 1969 Jaguar E-Type Series 2. Photo: James Coleman.

Terribly British Day

When: 10 am to 2 pm, Sunday 5 December
Where: Queanbeyan Park, Lowe and Campbell Street, Queanbeyan
Cost: Gold-coin donation, proceeds to go Respite Care Queanbeyan.

This year, the Terribly British Day car show in Queanbeyan celebrates the 60th anniversary of the iconic Jaguar E-Type, not to mention the more than 200 other British cars and bikes flocking to Queanbeyan Park from across NSW and beyond. It’ll be smashing!

READ ALSO Putting the ‘E’ into Terribly British Day: Queanbeyan car show to celebrate 60 years of the Jaguar E-Type

The Dairy Road Markets promotional poster

The Dairy Road Markets return on Sunday, 5 December. Photo: Dairy Road Market.

Dairy Road Market

When: 12 noon to 5 pm, Sunday 4 December
Where: Dairy Road Gardens, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick
Cost: $12, free for under 18; buy tickets on Humanitix.

The Dairy Road Market brings together wine tastings by Cellar Door, a selection of art and crafts by CraftACT, works from Molonglo’s Art and Objects Collection, local produce, handmade objects, second-hand clothing, music by DJ Mark Mallett and all-ages play activities.

Many of the businesses at Dairy Road will also be open to the public as part of the market.

READ ALSO Local wine, design and play at the Dairy Road Market

Monday

Kate Freeman

Kate Freeman, founder and managing director of The Healthy Eating Hub, will be discussing alcohol, sugar and weight. Photo: Altina Drinks.

How to avoid the 3 pm slump

When: 7:30 to 8:30 pm, Monday 6 December
Where: Canberra Southern Cross Club, 92-96 Corinna Street, Phillip
Cost: $20 or free for Canberra Southern Cross Club members; tickets at Eventbrite.

Nutritionist Kate Freeman will discuss how to fuel your body to make it through the afternoon and avoid the 3 pm munchies. If you find you’re flagging in energy mid-afternoon, or you’re hunting around for a snack, you’re probably suffering from 3:30-itis.

Join a one-hour workshop in the Private Dining Room at The Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden, exploring the key food hacks that can get you through the afternoon and performing at your best.

Wednesday

Three people lying down

CSO ‘Reclaiming the Night’, the final Australian Series concert for 2021. Photo: Canberra Symphony Orchestra.

CSO Australian Series: Reclaiming the Night

When: 7 pm, Wednesday 8 December
Where: Streaming online
Cost: $24; book here.

Don’t miss ‘Reclaiming the Night’, the Canberra Symphony’s final Australian Series concert for 2021, now streaming on 8 December via Australian Digital Concert Hall.

After the disappointing cancellation of the live event in Canberra, the CSO is thrilled to bring this concert back to life digitally, performed by Melbourne’s tenacious plexus collective.

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