Hundreds of Canberrans both young and old gathered at the Campbell shops on Sunday afternoon to learn more about their neighbours and celebrate the distinct nature of the neighbourhood.
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The event was the latest instalment of the Parties at the Shops initiative, which has granted young families a chance to learn more about their communities for the last three years.
Parties at the Shops producer Amy Moon said the suburb played an important role in Canberra's military and defence history and the party was "about bringing the community together and connecting neighbours".
"It's about connecting the residential and business communities in suburbs and showcasing their talent and artists that live in the suburb."
The Parties at the Shops program was launched as part of the Canberra Centenary in 2013 and continued thanks to support from the ACT government and Bendigo Bank
"This is the third year the project has run and it's pretty exciting to be working on a centenary project that has continued," Ms Moon said.
"We've got seven parties happening in March, a sprinkling in May, and then a whole bunch of fun planned for the springtime."
Ms Moon said the parties hoped to raise the profile of small suburban shopping centres in an age of large supermarket chains and online shopping.
"These little shopping centres, where there are around half-a-dozen shops, are a unique part of the Canberra landscape," she said.
Local residents stretched their limbs in the sun while listening to the Canberra Primary School's senior choir, the Campbell High big bang, jazz musicians, and a pop group of girls in grades five and six.
In coming weeks, suburb parties will be held in Wanniassa, Theodore, Scullin, Lyneham, Crace and Kingston before pausing during the colder months.
While only a few hundred people turned out for the Campbell soiree, Ms Moon said events in Lyneham and Ainslie had attracted crowds of more than 1000 in previous years.
Ms Moon said close to 25 parties would be held this year and she called for more Canberrans to get involved.
"If you've got a great idea for an arts project at your local shops, or if you just want to get involved in planning a fantastic event in your suburb, get in touch now," she said.
