Your guide to what's going on around the capital this weekend.
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CANBERRA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Now in its 18th year, the Canberra International Film Festival celebrates cinema across an 18-day program, showcasing extraordinary films from around the globe. In addition to feature films and documentaries, enjoy Q&A sessions, and panel discussions with directors, producers, actors and the broad range of artists involved in the filmmaking process. Films at Dendy Cinema and the National Film and Sound Archive's Arc Cinema. For program and tickets visit ciff.com.au.
SCULPTURE FESTIVAL November 16, showcases the work of local and regional sculptors set against the backdrop of the school's historic grounds. The event forms part of celebrations to mark the school's 85th anniversary. Public open days are held every Saturday and Sunday across the festival, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the historically significant grounds for themselves. Entry by gold coin donation to Boundless Canberra. For more information visit cgs.act.edu.au
SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN GARDEN Visit the South African high commission's Mid-Spring Open Garden over the weekend of October 25 and 26 and help raise money for Marymead. Morning and afternoon tea, sausage sizzle, face-painting and manicured lawns which feature specimen trees plants by notable figures including Sir Robert Menzies and Dr Christiaan Barnard. 10am-4.30pm. South African high commission, Yarralumla. For more information visit marymead.org.au.
CANBERRA HOME SHOW Be inspired by exhibitors across home, leisure, caravan, 4WD and camping. EPIC, Mitchell. 10am-5pm October 24-25, and 10am-4pm October 26. Tickets Adults $15/Concession $12/Under 16 free. For more information visit canberrahomeshow.com.au.
NATIONAL GARAGE SALE TRAIL Garage Sale Trail is a national program that's about sustainability, community, commerce and fun. Communities all around the city will hold garage sales to promote reuse, reduce waste to landfill, enable new neighbourly connections, provide a platform for fundraising, inspire creativity and stimulate local economies. Register your sale or find the treasure in your neighbourhood by viewing sales in your area at garagesaletrail.com.au.
From 9am FETE The Kangara Waters Retirement Village Fete is on 9am-2pm. Cakes, crafts, gifts, books, photography, preserves, plants, music, face-painting, balloon twisting, Devonshire tea, sausage sizzle, raffles and lucky dip. 2 Joy Cummings Place, Belconnen.
From 9.30am FRENCH PHOTOGRAPHY The next week is the final chance to see a collection of Jacques Henri Lartigue's iconic images, loaned by the French Culture Ministry and William Mora Galleries. A rare chance to see work by one of the founders of modern photography in limited edition platinum prints. Free. Exhibition open Thurs-Sat 9.30am-2.30pm untilOctober 31. Manning Clark House, Forrest.
10am NATIONAL MOSQUE OPEN DAY Canberra Islamic Centre will open its doors to the public from 10am-4pm with tours of the centre, giveaways, multicultural food, a jumping castle for the kids and a Q&A session. Free entry. 221 Clive Steele Avenue, Monash.
10am DESIGN GATE Dickson College's Design Gate returns with a festival of ideas. Market stalls, food and drink, live music, performances and more. 10am-3pm. Dickson College. For more information visit dicksonc.act.edu.au.
10am STRATHNAIRN OPEN DAY Strathnairn Arts' will open its doors to the public for its annual open day. Visit the 18 open artists' studios, meet the artists and experience hands-on making, join the Big Draw activities, browse market stalls and the members' exhibition, a kiln opening, wheel throwing demonstration, riding for the disabled horse training demonstrations, kite making, tours of Strathnairn, gourmet sausage sizzle, and community displays. Free. 10am-4pm. Strathnairn Arts, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt.
10.30am WINE BLENDING Play winemaker for the day and learn the art of blending with Mount Majura Vineyard's winemaker Frank van de Loo as he takes you through the components of their multiple award-winning tempranillo, shiraz and graciano. Then make your own blend which will be judged by a panel. You can also take your blend home at a later date. Mount Majura Vineyard, Majura. Tickets $60 per person from mountmajura.iwannaticket.com.au/event/tsg-blending-day-Nzk1NA.
4pm ROLLER DERBY FINAL After coming third at nationals Canberra Roller Derby League presents a night jam-packed with action in its grand final spectacular Blockingjay, where all four home teams will duke it out with a mix of strength, speed, footwork, and flair. AIS Arena. Tickets $15.29-$61.17 from ticketek.com.au.
4.30pm NARA CANDLE FESTIVAL Join in the celebration of Canberra's sister city relationship with Nara, Japan. Live entertainment, delicious Japanese food, cultural activities, plus a display of more than 2000 candles in Canberra's very own Japanese garden, Canberra Nara Peace Park. Lennox Gardens, Yarralumla. 4.30pm-9pm. Free.
8pm AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY Set on the plains of modern day, middle-class Oklahoma, the Weston family members are all intelligent, sensitive creatures who have the uncanny ability of making each other absolutely miserable. When the patriarch of the household mysteriously vanishes, the damaged Weston clan gathers to simultaneously support and mercilessly attack one another. Running until November 2. Tickets Adult $37/Concession $30 from canberratheatrecentre.com.au.
8pm BJORN AGAIN Warm up those vocal chords and put on your best dancing shoes for Björn Again - the only ABBA show endorsed by the members of ABBA. The special 25th Anniversary Tour will feature some of ABBA's biggest hits, as their timeless songs will once again be seen and heard. Canberra Theatre. Tickets $49.50-$69.50 from canberratheatrecentre.com.au. Family tickets also available.
8pm LIKE THIEVES Fronted by Butterfly Effect vocalist Clint Boge, Like Thieves are a four-piece progressive rock band out of Brisbane. Their national tour includes a stop at ANU Bar. Tickets $24.82 from ticketek.com.au. 18+.
8pm ROY ORBISON AND DEL SHANNON Relive the classic hits of two of the world's greatest and most successful rock'n'roll music legends of all time. Canberra Theatre. Tickets Adult $69.90/Concession $64.90 from canberratheatrecentre.com.au.
8.30am WALK FOR PREMS Take part in a 5-kilometre walk around Lake Tuggeranong, Greenway, to raise awareness and funds for the Life's Little Treasures Foundation, which supports families of premature and sick babies and their families. Also enjoy a variety of other children's entertainment, live music, food stalls and more. To register visit walkforprems.org.au.
9am BUNGENDORE RODEO The annual Bungendore Rodeo is back, attracting some top-class competitors throughout Australia and overseas. Bungendore Rodeo Equestrian Sports and Recreation Reserve, 5 kilometres from the Bungendore Village on the Kings Highway. 9am-4pm. Tickets Adults $20/Seniors $15/Juniors 12-16 $10/Under 12 free. For more information visit bungendorerodeo.org.au.
9.30am WALK TO CURE DIABETES Walk 5 kilometres around the iconic landmarks of Canberra in a family fun event with lots of entertainment, food stalls and children's activities to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Starts at Rond Terrace at 9.30am. Prizes awarded for best dressed, lucky walker prizes, raffles, tug of war and more. Register online at jdrf.org.au/walk or on the day.
10am ACT RURAL FIRE SERVICE OPEN DAY Learn all you need to know about bushfires ahead of the bushfire season. Plus helicopter, firefighting demonstrations, children's rides, fire trucks, food stalls, face painting and more. ESA Helicopter Base, David Warren Road, Hume. For more information about this event visit esa.act.gov.au.
From 10am QBN ART TRAIL Take a self-guided tour around Queanbeyan's many art studios and galleries, meet the artists, tour the studios, watch demonstrations and add to your private collection with original artwork available for sale. 10am-4pm. You can also join the Art Trail Bus Tour, with tickets $25 from The Q Box Office on 6285 6290. For full information and maps visit qcc.nsw.gov.au.
10.30am BIG DRAW Experiment with different approaches to drawing with an afternoon of events including artist-facilitated workshops, drawing to music and cartooning. In Terrace Room 2, get drawing with crazy drawing tools in a total paper environment. In the gallery corridor, join UC architecture students drawing light and shadow in the interstitial spaces of the NPG. In the Galley forecourt, draw while listening to a variety of live local musicians and interact with cartoonist Andrew Hore. Or in the Gordon Darling Hall, draw or write your wish and add it to the indoor forest. At the entrance ramp, take part in be part of making an enormous face using glamourous green tape. For all ages and abilities. All materials provided. 10.30am-2.30pm. Free, no bookings required. National Portrait Gallery. For more information visit portrait.gov.au.
11am SNOW WHITE Get lost in the world of Snow White with an all-singing, all-dancing contemporary version of the classic. Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden. Tickets $21.05 from ticketek.com.au.
From 11am ANEW Today is your last chance to check out Canberra company boyandgirlsco's first exhibition Anew at Nishi Gallery in New Acton. It celebrates the humble wood palette and how something that would normally be discarded can be repurposed. Free entry. Open 11am-4pm.
12pm SPRING WINDS FESTIVAL The very first Spring Winds Festival will be a day of community celebrations on the banks of Lake Ginninderra, adjacent to Belconnen Arts Centre. Kite making workshops, kite parades, kite flying, drum making and playing workshops, drumming parades, origami activities, kinetic art works, bird and fish installations, Cars that Paint, guerrilla knitting, bike displays, a jumping castle, face-painting, food and dance and music performances. For more information visit belconnenartscentre.com.au.
3pm SPRING CONCERT Twelve Wesley Music Scholars will perform works for voice, violin, cello, piano, flute, bassoon, guitar and harp at the 2014 Wesley Music Scholars' Spring Concert. Wesley Music Centre, Forrest. Tickets Adult $20/Concession $15/Student $5/Under 12 free, available at the door. For more information visit wesleycanberra.org.au.
7.30pm WHERE I END AND YOU BEGIN Light years apart, two private detectives investigate missing person cases. Polly is in a cafe interviewing a client who has been experiencing mysterious blanks ever since he met the girl of his dreams and Whatshisname is tracking a missing woman in outer space. The Street Theatre. Tickets $30 from thestreet.org.au. Dinner and show tickets also available.