April 9 2025 | CanberraDigest

Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: It's a kid-heavy issue today—if you know someone with kids, feel free to share it. But don't worry, I've thrown in some activities for the grownups too.

⛅️ Weather: 24° and partly cloudy.

This is a previous issue of Canberra Digest. Get Canberra news, events, culture and more sent to your inbox every morning. Subscribe for free.

🍁 Autumn School Holidays Activity Guide

There's so much happening around Canberra for kids (and teens) these school holidays!

Glassworks: Canberra Glassworks is running three exciting workshops: Glass Blowing for Teens, Holiday Glass Bowl making, and Seasonal Tile creation. Details here.

Quizzic Alley: Canberra's home of Harry Potter is hosting magical holiday workshops, including wand-making and potion-brewing. Details here.

Learn to Ride a Mountain Bike: Pedal Power is running mountain biking courses suitable for ages 9 and up. Kids will learn foundational MTB skills and manoeuvres for riding Canberra's great mountain bike trails. Details here.

Canberra Museum and Gallery: Get inspired by Sidney Nolan's theatre and costume designs and create your own original set design. Or, dive into art-making by crafting a ceramic coral reef using air-drying clay in the CMAG Studio. Details here.

School Holidays at MoAD: Take part in outdoor painting and drawing workshops, or visit the free craft area to create bird gliders, bird badges, wooden garden birds, and bird-watching packs. Details here.

Canberra Airport Tours: Canberra Airport is running exclusive behind-the-scenes bus tours. The Runway Tour is led by airport staff and includes info on aircraft operations, aviation facts, and more. Details here.

Creative Writing Workshops: Does your child dream of becoming a writer? The Book Cow, in partnership with local authors, is running creative writing workshops for kids aged 5 and up. Details here.

NFSA Screenings: The NFSA is screening family favourites Madagascar and Tarzan in the Arc Cinema these holidays. Details here.

Heritage Festival: The ACT Heritage Festival features lots of kids' activities, including Fossil Fun at the Arboretum. Details here.

Secrets of the Australian Bush: Discover the amazing secrets of native plants on this family-friendly tour at the Botanic Gardens, designed for children aged 4–10. Details here.

Ratburger & Madagascar the Musical: At Canberra Theatre, catch David Walliams' Ratburger, featuring a lovable dancing rat named Dapper, and DreamWorks' electrifying stage show Madagascar the Musical. Details here.

Fit to Print: To coincide with the Fit to Print: Defining Moments from the Fairfax Photo Archive exhibition, the National Library and PhotoAccess ACT are hosting a holiday workshop where kids can create their own cyanotype sun print. Details here.

Art Together: Art Together is a series of artist-led creative experiences at the NGA. Join artist Bruno Booth to contribute to a large-scale collaborative tapestry titled Abstract Snaps. Details here.

Portrait Play: Explore portraits and music at the Portrait Gallery. Designed for children aged 4–8. Details here.

Something to do: ☕️ Australian Grown Coffee Tasting

Bad Bunny Eatery in the city is hosting an Australian Grown Coffee Tasting event. Discover coffees that are redefining the local coffee landscape and experience innovations in fermentation, variety, and agronomy that will transform your perception of what Aussie-grown beans have to offer. Details here.

Further Afield: 🥦 Bungendore Harvest Festival

This weekend, Southern Harvest NSW—the local farmers' co-op—is hosting the Bungendore Harvest Festival, showcasing the region's food, wine, fibre, and farming enterprises. On Saturday, there's the Harvest Festival Market featuring local producers, and on Sunday, several farm tours are happening. Details here.

Coming Up: 🧬 Future Science Talks

This show features Canberra's best and brightest science professionals who have partnered with comedians to infuse humour and laughs into scientific talks. Laugh and learn at the same time! It's happening this Friday at Smith's. Details here.

🎸 Live Music This Week:

Thursday

Angela Lount & the Wayne Kelly Quartet (jazz) @ Smith’s Alternative
doris / Es Muss Sein @ Dissent

Friday

The Audreys (folk) @ The Street
Out of Abingdon @ Smith’s Alternative
Bad Patella @ Dissent
Lounge Baby @ Old Canberra Inn

Saturday

Stella Eve (pop) @ Live at the Polo
#crushbuzz / Salty Goodness @ Dissent
Old Rock Fest @ Old Canberra Inn
Tumbleweed / The New Christs (rock) @ The Baso
Volatile Ways (metal) @ The Baso
The Subterraneans (jazz) @ Smith’s Alternative

Sunday

Liz Stringer (rock/folk) @ Smith’s Alternative
Penelope Swales (folk) @ Smith’s Alternative
Sofa of Fools @ Smith’s Alternative
Twin Single @ Dissent

Have a favourite local band? Let me know so I can keep an eye out for their upcoming gigs.

Classifieds:

studioMAP: Bookings and early bird rates are now open for studioMAP Term 2 after-school and Saturday art classes for children & teens specialising in painting, drawing & illustration for 6-18 yrs years olds. Tryouts are available too. Term 2 commences on April 29 for ten weeks. Book Now & details : studiomap.com.au

studioMAP is located in studio 3, M16 Artspace / Community Arts Centre, Blaxland Griffith ACT. studioMAP is celebrating its 30th year of service in 2025.

Classifieds support Canberra Digest

Tidbits and News

Bulk-billed Health Clinic Closes: The Interchange Health Co-operative in Tuggeranong, a fully bulk-billed clinic, has gone into voluntary administration. It struggled to generate enough income and attract doctors. More.

Lake Arrest: Canberra's water police must have been excited to be called into action when a cross-border chase ended with the driver jumping into Lake Burley Griffin. More.

Wednesday 9th April