Things to do in Canberra this week (16- 22 December)

With Christmas fast approaching, there are so many events on in the capital to get you into the festive spirit (or distract you, it’s up to you).

What will you go to first?

Canberra Gin Festival

When: Friday 16 December, from 4 pm, Saturday 17 December, from 12 pm and Sunday 18 December, from 3 pm
Where: National Convention Centre, Canberra, 31 Constitution Avenue
Cost: Tickets from $58.16 and can be purchased here.

Calling all gin lovers in Canberra, a Christmas Gin Festival is coming to the National Convention Centre this Friday.

Attending distillers include Broken Heart Spirits, Threefold Distilling, The Farmer’s Wife Distillery, South Coast Distillery, Prohibition Liquor Co, Clark and Kealey, Hillmartin Distillery, Willing Distillery, The Still Co, Wolf Lane Distillery, Gindu, Camden Valley Distilling, Critters Distillery, Manly Spirits, Wolf and Woman, Heathcote Gin, Heaps Good Gin, Burly Gin, Larrikin Gin, SoHi Spirits, Dad & Dave’s Brewing, Full Circle Spirits and many more.

Each ticket includes a choice of freebies. Check out all the event details here.

Canberra Cavalry v Brisbane Bandits

When: Friday, 16, Saturday, 17 December and Sunday, 18 December
Where: MIT Narrabundah Ballpark, Kyeema St, Narrabundah
Cost: General Admission Adult $20, Concession $15, Child $10, Family $50. Get tickets here.

It’s all happening at the MIT Narrabundah Ballpark this weekend when Canberra’s own Canberra Cavalry will compete against the Brisbane Bandits for a game you won’t want to miss.

Christmas on the Rails

When: Friday, 16 December to Sunday 18 December, 5:30 pm to 9 pm
Where: Canberra Miniature Railway, Southern end of Jerrabomberra Ave, Symonston
Cost: $15; kids two and under are free.

Over three nights, the Canberra Miniature Railway is holding its Christmas On the Rails extravaganza, their most significant and most spectacular event of the year.

Rides begin at 5:30 pm so the younger kiddies can enjoy them and still get home to bed in time, but the real fun starts at dusk when Canberra’s largest computer-controlled animated light show comes alive.

You can ride the trains to Santa’s grotto, visit him, and then ride the trains back again! It’s a Christmas experience not to be missed.

A Luminous Christmas

When: Friday 16 December, from 7 pm, Saturday 17 December, from 5 pm and Sunday 18 December, from 3 pm
Where: Wesley Uniting Church, 20-22 National Circuit, Forrest
Cost: Various ticket prices per event

If you love listening to Christmas classics, come along to the ‘A Luminous CHristmas’ event at the Wesley Uniting Church from this Rfriday.

Running across three days, you’ll get to listen to some of Canberra’s finest christmas music, preseted by Luminescence Chamber Singers in collaboration with Canberra International Music Festival and Wesley Music Centre.

On the Friday, there will be the ‘Christmas Classics’ event, where you’ll get to hear beautiful carols from around the world.

On the Saturday, there will be ‘An Italian Christmas’ event, where you eill get to listen to Vivaldi’s much loved Gloria, performed by young treble voices, and on Sunday, there’s a ‘Christmas in Ukraine’ event where the Phoenix Collective Quartet joins forces with Larissa Kovalchuk, vocalist and bandura player from Ukraine.

Purchase your tickets here.

The Cottage Christmas Markets

When: Sunday, 18 December, 9 am to 1 pm
Where: Rose Cottage Canberra, Corner Isabella Dr & Monaro Hwy
Cost: Free entry.

If you love markets and you love Christmas, we’ve got the perfect event for you.

Come along to Rose Cottage this Sunday for the Cottage Christmas Markets, which will offer a variety of handmade arts and crafts, plants, books, clothing and many more interesting items.

There will also be plenty of food, live music and a fun atmosphere that you won’t want to miss.

Super Christmas Sunday

When: Sunday, 18 December, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm
Where: Old Bus Depot Markets, 21 Wentworth Ave, Kingston
Cost: Free entry.

‘Tis the season to get into the festive spirit and buy everyone gifts for the most wonderful time of the year.

Whether you’ve yet to start Christmas shopping or are still after a few more last-minute gifts, the Bus Depot Markets have got you sorted.

Indulge yourself this Sunday in the vibrant atmosphere, with many holiday-themed high-quality handcrafted products and a variety of food to taste while doing so.

UC Capitals v Southside Flyers

When: Sunday, 18 December at 1.30 pm
Where: National Convention Centre, Canberra
Cost: Tickets are from $15 and can be purchased here.

Bring your friends and family to the National Convention Centre this weekend to watch Round 6 of the Women’s NBL.

Canberra’s most successful national sporting team, the UC Capitals, will go head-to-head against the Southside Flyers as they fight for their tenth Championship.

The height of Alex Bunton, Bec Pizzey and Rae Burrell will be paramount to shut down the towering LJ, Abby Bishop, Bec Cole and Sara Blicavs.

Off the back of last season’s abrupt ending, players and fans alike are ready for a season of stability and success. Be part of a bigger and better season with the UC Capitals.

This one’s going to be huge, and tickets are selling fast. To find out more information and to purchase your tickets, visit the UC Capitals website.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

When: From Tuesday, 20 December, to Saturday, 24 December, 2 pm & 7 pm, 24 December, 10:30 am
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre
Cost: Tickets are from $76 and can be purchased here.

The award-winning stage spectacle is set to premiere at Canberra Theatre Centre.

Packed to the brim with song, humour, love and lashings of festive joy, A Christmas Carol is a magical, grand-in-scale production perfect for the entire family. It’s Christmas Eve, and deeply entrenched in his own misery, Ebenezer Scrooge receives a visit from four ghosts. They’ll whisk him away on a journey through Christmases past, present and future on a search for redemption before it’s too late.