CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY The Christmas celebrations in the city continue with night markets, concerts, camels, plus Canberra's Guinness World Record-breaking Christmas tree. From 5pm every night til December 29. See inthecitycanberra.com.au.

HOLLYWOOD RETRO FILM FESTIVAL Until December 13, Dendy Canberra is showcasing cinematic greats from the 1930s to 1960 including Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, It's a Wonderful Life and Singing in the Rain. Until December 13. Read more here. Tickets $12-$15 from dendy.com.au.

TOM ROBERTS EXHIBITION Opening this weekend at the National Gallery of Australia is the new Tom Roberts exhibition, bringing together his most famous paintings. Open daily 10am-5pm (except Christmas Day). $15.29-$20.39 from ticketek.com.au.

ART MARKET DAY AIATSIS is hosting the second Warlpiri Art Market Day on the lawns of Acton Peninsula bringing together original Aboriginal artworks from Yuendumu and Lajamanu communities from the Northern Territory. Friday and Saturday, 10am-4pm. 51 Lawson Crescent, Acton. Free entry. See aiatsis.gov.au.

GOLD CREEK CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL Gold Creek is celebrating the Yuletide season with three days of festivities. There will be music, food, jumping castles, a night light show at Cockington Green, Dinosaur Museum tours by torch, Christmas carols, and kids can write a letter to Santa. Friday evening 7pm - 9pm, Saturday 10am-9pm, Sunday 10am-5pm.

CHERRY FESTIVAL Head into the country for the National Cherry Festival at Young, a couple of hours away. Cherry pie eating competitions, pip-spitting contest, street parade, pick your own cherries excursions, farmers markets, Christine Anu and fireworks. Friday to Sunday. See visityoung.com.au.

From 4pm NIGHT MARKET CANBERRA is on again for their Christmas event – and also to celebrate their first birthday. More than 50 stalls selling fashion, food, homewares, pet accessories and children's wares. There will also be live music, a visit from the Christmas elf for the kids, plus pop-up food and bar stalls from the local restaurants, including brand new Buvette Bistro and Wine Bar. Hotel Realm, Barton. 4-9pm. Free entry. See facebook.com.

From 5pm ECO ELVES MARKETS Shop for local, ethical gifts at these new markets at the Canberra Environment Centre. There will also be live music, local beer, wine and food, plus activities for the kids. 5-9pm. Cnr Lennox Crossing and Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula. Free entry. See facebook.com.

From 5pm LA DE DA TURNS FOUR The Belconnen venue is celebrating its birthday with three stages of live music with acts including Foreign Kings, Young Monks, D'Opus & Roshambo, Idiots in Heels and more. From 5pm. Free entry til 9pm, then $10.

From 6pm GARDEN PARTY Gorman Arts Centre celebrates the end of the year with a free garden party with cocktails from Mint, art from Paul Summerfield and a No Lights No Lycra dance party. See facebook.com

6.30pm SUNSET CINEMA Watch a film under the stars at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Friday's movie is Aussie movie The Dressmaker, starring Kate Winslet. $11-$18 from sunsetcinema.com.au/canberra.

6.30pm WONDERLAND Classical Ballet Centre Canberra's production based on Alice in Wonderland is on at Canberra Theatre Centre. Suitable for all ages. Tickets $30-$44 + bf from canberratheatrecentre.com.au.

7pm GRIFFYN ENSEMBLE perform The Utopia Experiment, the story of colonial Australians who set out to establish a utopian society in the heart of South America in the 1890s, is told through electro-acoustic music from Latin America and the words of poet Mary Gilmore. Also on Saturday at 7pm. Tickets $10-$45 from griffyn.iwannaticket.com.au.

7.30pm LA BOHEME Puccini's opera about four poor friends and their journey through the highs and lows of love is performed by Canberra Opera at Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centre. Also Sunday at 2pm. Tickets $15-$25 from agac.com.au.

8pm SLOW TURISMO The local indie rock lads are playing at Transit Bar to release their new single. Supported by fellow Canberrans, Lavers. $10 from trybooking.com.

SUPER SATURDAY Westfield Belconnen and Woden are holding their pre-Christmas special shopping day with more than 200 discounts and offers across the stores, live entertainment, extended trading hours, egg nog stations, festive cooking demonstrations, roaming carollers and more. See westfield.com.au/supersaturday.

From 9am CITY SLIDER A massive 325-metre water slide will take over two lanes of Cohen Street in Belconnen. There's also a free 25m slide for kids under 110cm. There are six sessions between 9am and 8.30pm. $35+bf for a 90min session from thecityslider.com.au.

From 10am CHRISTMAS MARKET SALE The Old Bus Depot Market stallholders will be offering specials and deals at the venue's annual Christmas Stallholder Sale. The Old Bus Depot Markets are also on every Saturday and Sunday before Christmas in December. 10am-4pm. Old Bus Depot, Kingston. Free entry.

From 10am CHRISTMAS FAYRE All Saints Church on Cowper Street in Ainslie is holding a day of all things Christmas with puddings, mince pies, crafts and decorations, handmade gifts and activities for kids. 10am-3pm. Free entry.

1.30pm MAKE YOUR OWN Learn to make camp furniture from foraged branches and biodegradable plastic with nothing but your hands and a kettle in this workshop by Melbourne designer Dale Hardiman. Hotel Hotel, New Acton. 1.30-5.30pm. $60-$95 from hotel-hotel.com.au/fixandmake.

2pm FORDE PARTIES AT THE SHOPS There will be free pilates and yoga, health checks, kids craft, Christmas markets, a scavenger hunt, a visit from Santa, a Christmas cake competition, sausage sizzle, then carols in the park. Take your own picnic. Free.

From 2pm CHRISTMAS BUSHDANCE The Monaro Folk Society is celebrating Christmas at the Yarralumla Woolshed with three big events, kicking off with a kids' bushdance for ages 5-13, from 2-4pm. There's live music and calling by the TiNMuGs, and entry is free. From 4.15-7.30pm, there's the Merry Muse Blackboard concert, featuring various singers, musicians and poets. Entry via gold coin donation. Then there's the big bushdance from 8pm, with music by Bush Capital Band. Entry $22-$24, under 18 free. See mfs.org.au.

From 3pm HUSTLE AND SCOUT The twilight markets are on again at their new permanent venue – the carpark at the Little National Hotel, Barton. There will be stalls from 64 Australian fashion designers and makers, workshops, live art, plus the Forage will join them again with 30 street food vendors, boutique breweries and wineries. 3-8pm. Free entry.

6pm LEBANESE FILM FESTIVAL This one-night festival is on at Palace Electric Cinemas. Animated film The Prophet starring Liam Neeson, Salma Hayek and John Krasinski is on at 6pm. Then at 9pm there's Waynon, which tells the story of six Lebanese women awaiting the return of their sons, brothers, husbands or lovers, who have been missing since the Civil War. Tickets from palacecinemas.com.au.

6pm INSANE CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING is back at Belconnen Community Centre. Suitable for the whole family. $5-$10 (under 5 free) at the door.

6pm STRAIGHT OUTTA BOLLYWOOD The Canberra School of Bollywood Dancing is holding a concert in aid of the Ronald McDonald House Canberra. Over 60 dancers from young to old will perform. Expect colour, high-energy dancing and lots of music. ANU Arts Centre. $20-$25 from trybooking.com/JQEI.

6.30pm SUNSET CINEMA Saturday's movie is Steven Spielberg Cold War flick Bridge of Spies. $11-$18 from sunsetcinema.com.au/canberra.

7.30pm CANBERRA YOUTH ORCHESTRA will hold their final concert of the year, Folk Tales, featuring works by Grieg and Tchaikovsky. Conducted by the newly appointed Leonard Weiss. Llewellyn Hall. $10.20-$20.39 from ticketek.com.au.

7.30pm A VERY CANBERRA COMEDY FESTIVAL CHRISTMAS Two hours of stand up comedy from Tom Ballard, Nazeem Hussain, Sammy J, Luke Heggie, Chris Ryan and more. $37-$39+bf from canberratheatrecentre.com.au.

7.30pm AGENCY Canberra post-punk group Agency will launch their debut album The Stillness Of Speed at The Street Theatre. Supported by Primary Colours, Passive Smoke and more. $10 from thestreet.org.au.

8pm ANKLEPANTS is playing at Transit Bar. Supported by NayNay, Skinny, Aeon Knight, Thryve and Dante. Tickets $18.40 from moshtix.com.au.

10pm THE FIGHTING LEAGUE plus Bo Loserr and Mikey Shanahan play at The Phoenix. Entry $5. 18+.

From 10am A DAY AT THE LAKE Royal Life Saving ACT is holding a free day celebrating Lake Burley Griffin, with children's activities, demonstrations, food and a scavenger hunt. Near Regatta Point, in front of the Captain Cook's Memorial Jet.

From 10am FILIPINO CHRISTMAS Celebrate with the Filipino community at a special Christmas event, Pasko Sa Canberra. There'll be Filipino food, entertainment, and an appearance by Santa, at the Filipino embassy. Until 6pm. Free entry. 1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla. See filcca.org.au.

11am PEANUTS MOVIE PREMIER A special advanced screening of Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie is on at Event Cinemas Manuka. Tickets $10 with proceeds going to the Canberra Hospital Foundation. Tickets from eventcinemas.com.au.

From 12pm SANTA PAWS Mollie the husky kelpie is hosting a Christmas Dog Day at Murrumbateman Winery. Bring along a dog toy to add to the wishing bone and donate to the dogs at RSPCA ACT. 12pm-3pm. See murrumbatemanwinery.com.au.

12pm CHRISTMAS MARKETS The Belconnen Arts Centre also has their Christmas markets with local arts and crafts, plus live music and food and wine. 12-5pm. Free entry.

1pm DANCE CREW COMP The Australian Dance Crew Championships final is on in Canberra for the first time ever. The finalist dance crews from Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT will battle it out on stage at Canberra Theatre Centre. Tickets $22-$30 from canberratheatrecentre.com.au.

1pm DRAWN IN Pick up a pencil and draw while listening to harpist David Yardley. Suitable for all ages and abilities, all materials provided. 1-3pm. Free. See portrait.gov.au.

8pm NE OBLIVISCARIS The Aussie metal band return home following a European tour. They're playing at The Basement supported by Claret Ash. Tickets $30.60 from tickets.destroyalllines.com. 18+.