The annual Australia Day celebrations is upon us – and Canberra is the place to be.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The weekend of festivities kicks off on Friday night with Australia Celebrates Live concert on the lawns of Parliament House.
Headliner Jimmy Barnes will be bringing his Aussie rock styles – and Canberra's own Timomatic will also be taking to the stage with his urban pop tunes and back-up dancers.
Guy Sebastian and The Presets will also be entertaining concert-goers – and with free admission there's no reason not to enjoy the Parliament House grounds.
TV personality James Mathison and actress Kate Ritchie will host the concert.
Gates open from 3pm – and those arriving early will also be able to watch the Australian of the Year Awards from 6pm before the live music kicks off.
The fun continues on Saturday, with a big Australia Day celebration in Commonwealth Park. It kicks off at 7.30am with a barbecue breakfast - then everyone's favourite big sister Peppa Pig arrives for a series of shows.
The day continues with the flag-raising and 21 gun salute, citizenship ceremony and thoroughbed races before culminating with the annual fireworks spectacular on the shores of the Lake Burley Griffin.
The best vantage points are at Regatta Point and at the Lake Foreshore – it all kicks off from 7pm.
Where to be and when...
What: Australian of the Year Awards
Where: Forecourt of Parliament House
When: From 6pm Friday
Details: www.australia.org.au/act
What: Australia Day Race Day
Where and when: Thoroughbred Park on Friday from midday to 5.30pm
Details: www.thoroughbredpark.com.au
Saturday, January 26:
What: Flag-raising, flyover and 21 gun salute
Where and when: Rond Terrace, 9am to 9.25am
What: Citizenship ceremony
Where and when: Rond Terrace, 9.25am to 10am
What: Museum on the Move: Family Festival
Where and when: National Museum of Australia, from 10.30am to 2.30pm
Details: www.nma.gov.au
What: Australia Day at BAC
Where and when: Belconnen Arts Centre from 10.30am to 4pm
Details: www.belconnenartscentre.com.au
What: Los Chavos
Where and when: Stage 88 at midday
What: Chief Minister's Regatta
Where and When: Canberra Yacht Club, from midday to 5pm
Details: www.canberratachtclub.com.au
What: Peppa Pig meet and greet
Where and when: Stage 88 at 12.30pm
What: Fireworks spectacular, with food vendors on the banks of the lake
Where and when: Regatta Point, 7pm to 9.30pm
What: Free Australia Day screenings
Where and when: National Film and Sound Archive from 1pm to 9.45pm
Details: www.nfsa.gov.au/arc
What: Fireworks display kicks off
When: Regatta Point, 9pm to 9.15pm
Details: www.australiaday.org.au/act