Our pick of what's happening in Canberra this weekend.
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1. Tell me about it, stud
In 1978, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta sang the ever-catchy song, You're the One that I Want in the biggest film of the year, Grease. In 2019, the song was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia collection. Hear curator Thorsten Kaeding discuss the song and the other new additions to the list, as well as their significance. Saturday, 2pm. National Film and Sound Archive. Free event. Bookings can be made at nfsa.gov.au.
2. On stage
David Sedaris is no stranger to Canberra, having visited the capital a few times. This weekend he returns for An Evening with David Sedaris, an event filled with storytelling, observations, unpublished tales and Q&As from the audience as well as book signings. His best-selling book Calypso is a New York Times bestseller and The Washington Post's best book of the year. Throughout his career Sedaris has also penned many collections of personal essays including Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and Theft By Finding: Diaries (1977-2002). Sunday, 7.30pm. Canberra Theatre Centre. Tickets are $65 from canberratheatrecentre.com.au.
3. Dragons at night
Experience DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition after dark when puppet designer Philip Millar comes to discuss how he brings fantasy creatures to life using puppetry, animatronics and hydraulics. After, visit the exhibition or challenge your friends to a game in the inflatable lounge. There will also be a screening of How to Train Your Dragon and picnics available for pre-purchase. Friday, 6pm. National Museum of Australia. Tickets from $16.91 from Eventbrite.
4. Local heroes
Hear from Canberra's gaming legends in a series of lightning-round talks at the National Film and Sound Archive's Local Heroes of Gaming event. The event will feature Mark Schramm of Superhot VR, Uppercut Games and Elliot Schultz, who created a retro-styled game based on the look and feel of the 1980s Game Boy. There will also be a screening Sundance Film Festival winner Indie Game: The Movie. Friday, 5pm. Tickets are $25 from nfsa.gov.au.
5. Snakes Alive!
Get up close and personal with some of Australia's reptiles and amphibians, many of which are threatened, endangered or rarely seen. The team at ACT Herpetological Association will take over the Crosbie Morrison building at the Australian National Botanic Gardens for Snakes Alive! There will be live displays as well as feeding and handling of snakes, lizards, frogs, turtles and crocodiles. Friday-Sunday, 10am-4pm. Feeding times are at 11am and 2pm. Tickets are $6 for adults or $4 for kids from actha.org.au or at the door.