Things to do in Canberra this week (8-14 November)

There’s lots on this coming week in the bush capital, whether you want wine, art, science, music or film – and if you venture just over the border you can experience the Queanbeyan Show! We’ve got your bases covered (yes, there’s even baseball).

Multiple Days

Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia

When: 8 to 14 November, during gallery opening hours
Where: National Gallery of Australia
Cost: Free, but bookings are encouraged.

This exhibition of historical and contemporary Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander works seeks to challenge popular conceptions about Australian popular history as well as Indigenous art itself through novel methods and mediums. With 260 works from more than 200 artists, it’s a broad exhibition.

Pattern Recognition

When: 8 to 14 November, Contemporary Canberra Art Space hours
Where: CCAS Lakeside, 44 Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes
Cost: Free.

Explore the relationships of colour, geometry and form, as well as space and perception, in this innovative exhibition. There’s always something going on in the Canberra contemporary art scene, and this exhibition shows off the creativity and inventiveness of Canberran artists.

Waru – Journey of the Small Turtle

When: 8 to 9 November, Friday 10:30 am and a school performance at 1 pm, Saturday 11 am and 2 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre
Cost: Tickets from $36. to $50.

Kids will delight in this immersive tale of a turtle returning to the starlit beach where she was born to welcome the new generation of hatchlings. Here, the audience will meet Migi, a newborn turtle. This story, intended for kids aged three to seven, seeks to educate kids about the environment, climate change and the values of respect. It will no doubt light a spark in the budding imagination of your kids.

Queanbeyan Show

When: 9 to 10 November (check program for event times)
Where: Queanbeyan Showground
Cost: Tickets are from $8 (children 6 – 17), adults $16, families $42, and children under six get in free.

Get ready for a whirlwind of excitement, where families come together to create memories that will be cherished forever. This isn’t just a show, it’s a tradition, a celebration of all the things that bring us joy and connect us as a community. With thrilling rides, dazzling entertainment, and endless surprises, every corner of the Queanbeyan Show is packed with fun for all ages.

While you’re at the show, spin by the Barn Yard and visit the Canberra Hospital Foundation Booth. Here, you can make a gold coin donation, purchase raffle tickets to go into the draw to win a Jumbo Christmas Raffle prize or purchase raffle tickets to win a CUPRA Born 100% Electric Car. Every contribution, big or small, will directly support the communities in southern NSW who need vital care from Canberra Hospital.

Friday

Round 2 WNBL: UC Capitals v Bendigo Spirit

When: Friday, 8 November from 5:30 pm onwards, tip off at 6:30 pm
Where: AIS Arena
Cost: $5 tickets for their home opener with password 5BUCKS, tickets available via Ticketek.

Be there as the UC Capitals make their big return to the AIS Arena when they go up against the Bendigo Spirit in their first home game of the Cygnett WNBL season.

To welcome Canberra back to the championship venue, the Caps are offering $5 tickets for their home opener! Use the password 5BUCKS.

The atmosphere at the AIS will be electric, with plenty of action on and off the court. Doors open at 5:30 pm and tip off at 6:30 pm.

Can’t make it this week? The Caps will be back at Bruce on Thursday, 14 November, against the Perth Lynx.

The Canberra & Region Wine Show 2024 tasting experience

When: 8 November, 6 pm to 8 pm
Where: Terrace Restaurant, Exhibition Park in Canberra Flemington Road, Mitchell
Cost: $50 per person.

Indulge yourself in local and regional wines this Friday and start the weekend off right. Celebrate local talent by trying the broad range of wines on offer. If you’re a connoisseur or a complete novice, it’s a fun way to learn and have fun with the blossoming Canberra fine wine scene.

Saturday

From Heatwaves to Moonwalks: Understanding Human Health and Movement

When: 9 November, 10 am to 12 pm
Where: UC Sports Hub (Building 29), University Drive North, Bruce
Cost: Entry is free, bookings essential. Grab your tickets via Humantix.

UC is proud to bring hands-on activities related to sport and human performance science to the community. The University of Canberra Research Institute of Sport and Exercise (UCRISE) demonstrates its fascinating work in connection with NASA, national sporting associations and elite-level sporting clubs.

Jump in UC’s heat wave chamber, a controlled environment used to simulate the conditions of extreme heat. This unique piece of kit is vital in the University’s work studying heat-related illnesses and the effects of heat on the mind and body.

Or experience the moon gravity bed, meant to replicate the weak gravitational pull of the moon. It allows UC, in conjunction with NASA and MIT, to study the brain’s response to the effects of off-world gravity. Wear sports clothing (including sneakers), bring a gym towel and some water.

Dog Beach book launch: Tales and tails with Story Dogs

When: 9 November 2024 from 10 am to 2 pm
Where: National Library of Australia
Cost: Entry is free but bookings are essential as spaces in the Reading Circles are limited, so please book in advance.

Julie Murphy and Annie White launch their book Dog Beach, a fun kids book about dogs enjoying themselves and the company of their owners at the beach.

The book has educational backmatter on farm dogs and working dogs in Antarctica, so the fun doesn’t stop when the story does. Kids aged 7+ are welcome to come to the reading circle alongside some canine friends, who will sit with them and help them relax in a stress-free environment that facilitates easy reading and stimulates the imagination.

KO Cup: Canberra Cavalry vs Sydney Blue Sox

When: 9 November 2024 with Game 1 starting at 3 pm for seven innings, then Game 2 at 6:15 pm
Where: EPC Solar Ballpark
Cost: Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.

A rivalry that goes all the way back to 2010 continues as the Canberra Cavalry and Sydney Blue Sox battle it out on Saturday. The seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, so the best seats will go to the earliest visitors.

Sunday

The Wizard of Oz at ARC Cinema

When: 10 November, 1 pm
Where: Arc Cinema, NFSA
Cost: Full: $12. Concession: $10.

The 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz is showing at the NFSA this Sunday. Join Dorothy on a trek to the Emerald City as the wicked witch plots and schemes for her downfall, as the young farmgirl picks up a cast of whimsical characters on the way. There’s a reason this film has remained a family favourite for 85 years – why not introduce it to a new generation?

Eternal Ikebana with Preserved Flowers

When: 10 November, 2:30 pm
Where: Canberra Museum and Gallery
Cost: Tickets are $50 for general admission and $45 for concession/CMAG Member (+bf) with materials included. Book your tickets through Humanitix.

Would you like to keep a display of your own Ikebana at home? Sachie Terasaki, a Canberra-based Ikebana artist and instructor, will help you create a beautiful flower arrangement using both natural and craft materials.

In this workshop, you will learn how to create a long-lasting Ikebana arrangement using dried natural materials to make your part of the world a prettier place.