Your guide to what's going on around the capital this weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
SPRING AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE Parliament House is celebrating the season with a series of weekly events. Every Saturday, until October 11, go behind the scenes of the iconic building on a 60-minute guided tour. Tours are also held some weekdays: 9.30am, 11am, 2pm and 3.30pm. Tickets Adult $18/Concession or Child $13/Family $45 from canberraticketing.com.au.
FLORIADE This is your last weekend to check out Canberra's month-long celebration of spring at Floriade. It showcases 1 million flowers in bloom at Commonwealth Park along with cooking demonstrations, children's activities and more. Admission is free. For a schedule of events and more information, visit floriadeaustralia.com.
TULIP FESTIVAL The Tulip Top Gardens spring festival offers a 10-acre display garden of tulips and other spring flowers. Open 7 days a week, 9am-5pm until October 12. Admission Adults $14/Seniors $13/Under 16 free. Old Federal Highway, Sutton. Visit tuliptopgardens.com.au for more.
BONSAI SHOW The Canberra Bonsai Society Annual Show showcases a high quality selection of bonsai. Demonstration sessions held at 11am and 2pm daily, covering aspects of designing and maintaining bonsai, and beginner sessions at 10am and 1pm daily for novice bonsai-ists. Daramalan College, Dickson. Open 9am-5pm Saturday, and 9am-4pm Sunday. Entry Adults $5/Concession $3/Under 12 free. For more information visit cbs.org.au.
From 11am ANEW Opening today at Nishi Gallery in New Acton is Canberra company boyandgirlsco's first exhibition Anew, celebrating the humble wood palette and how something that would normally be discarded can be repurposed. Running until October 26. Free entry. Open 11am-3pm weekdays, and 11am-4pm weekends.
From 11.30am STUDENT RACE DAY Join with students from Canberra's five institutions for a day of racing and fashions on the field, and help YouthCare Canberra raise funds for the homeless. Free entry. Snack bar, bookies and tote facilities available.
1pm AN.I.MATE Learn to create your animated self-portrait through a combination of old school drawing and simple digital editing. Ideal for 12 - 15-year-olds. Child $20. Members $15. 1-4pm. Bookings essential, places are limited. National Portrait Gallery. To book visit portrait.gov.au.
7.30pm DOWN THE ABBOTT HOLE THE ANU Arts Revue returns for 2014, with a trip down the Abbott hole, where no subject matter, no politician and no Canberran is safe. An evening of parodies, skits and songs. Tickets Adults $20/Concession $15. 7.30pm. Also showing Saturday October 11 at 7.30pm. Canberra Theatre. Tickets from canberratheatrecentre.com.au.
7.30pm MISSY HIGGINS Aussie songstress Missy Higgins is touring in support of her new album of Australia covers plus matching book of essays, Oz. Canberra Theatre. Sold out.
8pm CHUPAROSA Described as, "a new musical force of reggae grooves and funky vibes", Chuparosa is touring ahead of their upcoming new EP. Free. Transit Bar.
7.45am BREAKFAST WITH THE BIRDS Spend a morning spying on the many bird species that call the Australian National Botanic Gardens home. Breakfast with the Birds guided tours are on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12, followed by a hot breakfast at Floresco in the Gardens. Tickets $35 which includes tour and breakfast. Suitable for ages 8 and over. Wear comfortable footwear, warm clothes and bring binoculars if possible. For bookings visit friendsanbg.org.au or phone (02) 6291 6396.
9.15am BIGGEST BOOT CAMP Take part in the city's largest free outdoor boot camp. Join former Raiders captain Alan Tongue as he puts you through your paces at Stage 88. Free. 9.15am-10.15am. Visit floriadeaustralia.com for more information.
From 10am FASH'N'TREASURE Shop the wardrobes of other fashionistas plus the wares of local designers, ships, milliners and stylists at Fash'n'Treasure. Shop for clothes, shoes, bags, hats and accessories. 10am-3pm at EPIC, Mitchell. Entry $3 per adult.
From 10am GUNDAROO MUSIC FESTIVAL Daryl Braithwaite headlines the 2014 Gundaroo Music Festival. Live bands, food and wine, local arts, kids' activities, mechanical bull, roaming entertainment and motor clubs. Fundraising for motor neurone disease. 10am-10pm. $25 per person/$50 family pass. Tickets from ticketek.com.au or at the gate.
From 10am SPRING SWAP Take your old clothes, books and shoes to swap with others at the Canberra Environment Centre's annual spring swap. $5 to register to swap. Registration opens at 10am and swapping starts at 11am. Cnr Lawson Crescent and Lennox Crossing, Acton. 10am-1pm. For more information visit ecoaction.com.au.
From 10am HIGHLAND FAIR Embrace all things Scottish at the Canberra Highland Gathering. Massed pipe bands, highland dancing, clan tents, Scottish stalls and tartan warriors. 10am-5pm. Kett Street, Kambah. Free entry. For more information visit gathering.canberracollegepipesdrums.org.
10am and 2pm PETE THE SHEEP Brand new musical based on Jackie French and Bruce Whatley's quirky and quintessentially Australian picture book. Directed by Jonathan Biggins. The Street Theatre. 10am and 2pm. Tickets $11-$19 from thestreet.org.au.
2pm DEATH BECOMES HER National Portrait Gallery Curator Joanna Gilmour presents a talk on the complex dress codes surrounding death and mourning observed during the Victorian Era and the evidence of them in costumer and portraiture. 2-3pm. Free entry. National portrait Gallery.
6.30pm SCAVENGER HUNT Set out after dark with a series of clues to discover an array of night-time plant, insect and animal activity across the National Botanic Gardens. Finish the night with an open-air fire, toasting marshmallows and supper in the gardens. Starts 7pm - gates open 6.30pm. Tickets $26 Adult/$21 Child (5 – 16 yrs) from anbg.gov.au – bookings essential.
6.30pm ALLDAY Rapper AllDay will perform at UC Refectory as part of his massive national tour. Supported by Remi and Baro. Tickets $28.50 from uclive.oztix.com.au.
8pm OLYMPIC AYRES Sydney duo Olympic Ayres return to play tracks from their new EP live. Tickets $13.30 from moshtix.com.au. 18+.
8.30pm FOURPLAY Acclaimed string quartet and indie rock band FourPlay have developed an international reputation as an eclectic and diverse musical experience. See them perform songs from their new album, This Machine. The Street Theatre. Tickets $29-$39 from thestreet.org.au.
From 10am LIVING GREEN The 2014 Living Green Festival is back for its fourth year at Albert Hall in Yarralumla. The vegan festival has market stalls selling plant-based foods, cruelty-free products and services plus live entertainment and free kids activities with a rock climbing wall, face painting, children's performers storytellers and more. 10am-4pm. Free entry. For more information visit lgf.org.au.
From 10am RETRO MARKETS Dust off your platforms for a retro-themed Old Bus Depot Markets, celebrating all things retro cool. Browse fashion, homewares, furniture, jewellery and accessories. Free entry. 10am-4pm. obdm.com.au.
From 10am POTTERS OPEN DAY Check out potters in action at the Canberra Potters' Society 2014 open day. Have a go at working with clay, or buy a soup bowl and get the soup for free. 10am-2pm. Watson Arts Centre. Free entry.
3pm WOODLOCK Melbourne trio Woodlock are hitting the road with a 17-show tour, including a show at Smiths Alternative. Tickets $13.30 from moshtix.com.au. 18+.