Hello Canberra,
📆 Today: It's Tuesday, July 1. And just like that, we're already in the second half of 2025.
🌦️ Weather: 12° and a medium chance of showers. 70% chance of rain, most likely in the late afternoon and evening.
Looking Ahead: 🏀 NBL Blitz
The National Basketball League (NBL) will host its pre-season tournament, The Blitz, in Canberra this year. Over five days in August, the AIS Arena will welcome all 10 teams as they make their final preparations for the NBL 26 season. Tickets are on sale now, with free entry for kids aged 4–14. Details here.
July in Canberra
Some dates for your diary:
Warm Trees (July 1–10): Visit the arboretum to experience a whimsical display of trees wrapped in colourful scarves. Each year, the Friends of the Arboretum partner with an embassy to showcase their unique culture. This year, it's South Korea. Details here.
Megafauna at Botanic Gardens (July 1–31): Discover massive statues of the megafauna that once roamed Australia, hidden throughout the Botanic Gardens.
Winter in the City (July 5–19): For 15 days, the city comes alive with daily fire performances, circus acts, theatre, and musical comedy shows. Details here.
Philatelic Society Open Day (July 12): Dive into the world of stamps and coin collecting. You'll see a diverse array of stamps and materials for sale, plus coins. Details here.
Forage (July 19): The Forage Street Food Festival returns to the city centre. Bundle up and enjoy food and entertainment on City Walk. Details here.
Geek Markets (July 19): Celebrate all things geeky and nerdy at Geek Markets. Enjoy cosplay competitions, tabletop and video game events, trading card tournaments, and market stalls offering comics, merchandise, vinyl, LEGO, collectibles, and more. Details here.
Winter Schnappsfest (July 19): Experience the ultimate schnapps party! Enjoy a selection of fine schnapps, piping hot glĂĽhwein, German beers, wines, ciders, and winter-warming foods. Entertainment will be provided by the Sydney German showband, The Masters of Oompah. Details here.
Canberra Vintage Computer Exhibition (July 19–20): Join the Canberra Vintage Computer Enthusiasts on a journey through computing history, featuring iconic machines from the 1960s to the early 2000s. Play classic games, explore vintage software, and discover how today's maker community is keeping retro technology alive with modern enhancements. Details here.
Winter Festival Market (July 26): Celebrate seasonal produce at the Dairy Road Winter Market, hosted by the Southern Harvest Association. Explore the finest cold-climate produce, including truffles, wine, garlic, olives, and much more. Details here.
Whisky Show (July 26): Sample over 80 whiskies from around the world, including selections from Scotland, the USA, Australia, and more. Favourite brands and distilleries will be present, along with several bottlings new to the Australian market. Details here.
Arts Around Canberra
This week's art wrap:
Elegance in Heritage: A curated selection of works by proud Jawoyn and Kala Lagaw Ya man Thomas Coen Bonson, showcasing contemporary First Nations–inspired jewellery. Wearable by all, each piece tells a unique cultural story. These stunning works were made locally on Ngunnawal land. Details here.
The Glass Skin: This exhibition features a series of sculptural and performative glass works by early-career artists Bronte Cormican-Jones and Megan Wilkinson. It explores the role of glass in architecture and the relationship between architecture and the body through space, material, and perception. Opens Friday at Platform by Canberra Contemporary. Details here.
The Pirates of Penzance: The Queanbeyan Players' production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance opens at The Q on Thursday—a swashbuckling show for the whole family. Details here.
Bastille Day Celebrations: Fresh from performing in Paris and Berlin, gypsy jazz greats Nadya (vocals) and Leonid (accordion)—joined by Julian Van Leer on guitar—breathe new life into time-honoured French classics. Details here.
Wild Places: Canberra artists Emma Wiadrowski, Amy Beggs-French, Andrew and Penny Deacon share their love of wild and rugged Australian landscapes and ecosystems. Now showing at the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre Gallery. Details here.
Nutcracker in July: Adult ballet dancers from studios across Canberra have come together for The Nutcracker in July—perfect for families and lovers of ballet. Matinee shows are family-friendly, with a 30-minute interval featuring activities for kids. Details here.
Intentos de procesar una(s) vida(s): Artist Zoya Godoroja-Prieckaerts threads together three years of drawings, collagraphs, lithographs and monoprints into a raw meditation on the many "lives" we live—from elation to the everyday grind. Opens Friday at Megalo Print. Details here.
Classifieds
🧑‍⚖️ The Jury Experience: Step into the heart of a high-stakes trial with The Jury Experience. In this live theatre show, you are the jury—the power to deliver justice is entirely in your hands. You'll examine every piece of the puzzle, from witness testimonies to forensic data, and ultimately decide: guilty or innocent? Details here.
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