Canberra Weekender: What's on October 14-16

MURRUMBATEMAN FIELD DAYS On for its 37th year, this family day out combines local wines and produce with farming machinery and equipment. Murrumbateman Recreation Ground. Saturday 8am-5pm, Sunday 8am-4pm. $5-$16 from mfdays.com/buy-tickets.

JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL The Japanese Film Festival is on for its 20th year, kicking off a national tour in Canberra from October 14-23 with a program of comedy, samurai and yakuza action, manga adaptations, high school romance and more. Capitol Cinemas, Manuka. Tickets at japanesefilmfestival.net/city/canberra/.

ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL A program of films from socially conscious filmmakers from Australia and around the world. October 8-15 at Palace Electric Cinemas. Program and tickets at effa.org.au/canberra-program.

VETERANS FILM FESTIVAL The three-day program returns for the second year at the Australian War Memorial. Program includes dramas, comedy, animation and science fiction in feature-length, short film and documentaries from filmmakers from all over the world. All tickets $15 from veteransfilmfestival.com.

BOTANICA It's the final weekend of Bison Home's celebration of spring. On Saturday from 2.30pm, Australian Traveller magazine editor Leigh-Ann Pow will host a talk on how to incorporate colour and style into the home. 2.30-3.30pm. Free. Bison Home, Pialligo.

WILDLIFE ART EXHIBITION Artworks by some of the zoo's animals and well-known local and interstate artists will be on display and for sale. Studio Gallery - 57 Warragamba Ave Duffy. October 15-23, 11am to 4pm. All funds raised go to Free the Bears and TRAFFIC.

From 4pm NIGHT MARKET More than 45 stalls with accessories, jewellery, fashion for men, women and kids, and homewares products, plus live music and children's entertainment, all under the stars. Street eats available courtesy of food vans from Westside Acton Village, plus Maple and Clove will stay open, and has a licensed bar. 4-9pm. Hotel Realm, Barton. Entry is free. See nightmarketcanberra.com.

5.30pm LIGHT THE NIGHT The Leukaemia Foundation's annual fundraising walk to help Australians beat blood cancer by improving survival rates and quality of life. Join the lantern walk along Kingston Foreshore. There will also be live entertainment, food and face painting for the kids. See lightthenight.org.au/event/canberra.

6pm OBJECT THERAPY EXHIBITION The culmination of the Object Therapy design project, this exhibition features 30 broken or damaged objects that have undergone therapy – treated and "creatively" repaired by a designer or artist. Hotel Hotel, New Acton. Free. Showing until October 30. See hotel-hotel.com.au/fixandmake/events/object-therapy.

6.30pm TRAXION An evening of music at Teatro Vivaldi, ANU Arts Centre with this 18-piece jazz big band. Show only or dinner packages available. Bookings on (02) 6257 2718.

7.30pm OTHELLO Bell Shakespeare's production of this tragedy stars Ray Nee Chong as the jealous warrior Othello and Yalin Ozucelik as his colleague Iago who manipulates and betrays him. The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre. On until October 22. $37.50-$93.50 from canberratheatrecentre.com.au.

8.30am NATIVE PLANT SPRING SALE The popular plant sale is on at the Australian National Botanic Gardens with a large range of Australian plants, including many local species. Take a bag or box. 8.30am-1.30pm or until sold out. Southern car park, Clunies Ross Street, Acton. List of plants available at nativeplants-canberra.asn.au.

10am and 1pm MEDITATION MASTERCLASS Vedic Meditation master teacher Gary Gorrow is in town for two meditation masterclasses at Canberra Centre. Get an insight into meditation and mindfulness, and walk away with a series of easy techniques that you can use every day. Held at Eden, Level 1 next to Country Road. $23 from moshtix.com.au.

10am and 2pm BEAUTY MASTERCLASS Beauticate founder Sigourney Cantelo will host two classes at Westfield Belconnen, sharing her business story and all her beauty tricks and favourite products. Free.

11am RIESLING CHALLENGE Taste the entries from the 2016 Canberra International Riesling Challenge at Albert Hall. Entry $45 which includes souvenir Riedel tasting glass. 11am-3pm. See rieslingchallenge.com.

1pm DANCES FOR DAVID Inspired by David McAllister, artistic director of the Australian Ballet, dancers Anca Frankenhaeuser, Patrick Harding-Irmer, Julia Cotton and Elle Cahill have choreographed four dances that relate to different aspects of life and to dance in general. National Portrait Gallery. Free, no bookings required. Also at 3pm and on Sunday at 1pm and 3pm.

2pm WICKED Free-Rain presents the Canberra premiere of the musical about the untold story of the witches of Oz at Canberra Theatre. Also 8pm. $40-$90 from canberratheatrecentre.com.au.

2pm TODDLERS' PROM This concert presented by ANU Music Society for children aged from two to eight at Ainslie Arts Centre gives kids an opportunity to experience music performed by a live ensemble, from movie music to classics to jazz. $20 family/$10 adult/$6 child from eventbrite.com.au.

7.30pm KITTY FLANAGAN If you've ever wondered how comedians come up with their material, Kitty Flanagan is going to be standing in front of an audience with a whiteboard full of ideas and talking until people start laughing. Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre. Sold out.

8pm SUPERMUSICIAN Die Roten Punkte's award-winning post-punk musical cabaret comedy show is on at The Street Theatre. $30-$39 from thestreet.org.au.

1pm OTHELLO IN CONVERSATION Ahead of Bell Shakespeare's production of Othello at Canberra Theatre Centre, join the cast of the production in a free In Conversation event where they will share the challenges of touring one of Shakespeare's most devastating productions, and what performing for audiences across Australia is like. 1-2pm. Hotel Hotel. Free but RSVP to marketing@bellshakespeare.com.au.

1pm ASHY BINES The fitness star is in town for her booty tour. Lennox Gardens. $28 from ashybines.com/bootytourcanberra.

2pm DRAWSOME Accompanied kids can explore the possibilities of digital drawing using iPads, inspired by the gallery's works of art at the National Gallery of Australia. iPads provided. Meet at information desk. $8 per person. nga.gov.au.

2pm FRAGRANCE-FILLED COURTYARD A concert to celebrate the ANU Chinese Classical Music Ensemble's 10th anniversary. Half the funds raised will be donated to Project Hope, which aims to bring schools to the poorest rural areas of China. Ainslie Arts Centre. $5-$30 from eventbrite.com.au.

Do you have an event? Email us at canberralife@canberratimes.com.au.