Friday 22nd August

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Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: It’s Friday, 22 August.

🌦️ Weather: 18° and a possible shower. 40% chance of rain, most likely in the early morning.

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👉 This Weekend in Canberra

Another quiet weekend in Canberra before things pick back up again leading into spring—events include Music on the Green in Whitlam, opera at The Street Theatre, a seed swap at the City Farm, and a new installation at the NFSA.

Get the full rundown of weekend events.

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Something to do:

Mangroves Felting Workshop: Learn how to make your own super cute needle-felted mudskippers with the artist behind Questacon’s Mangroves – Tales from the Tide exhibition. You’ll be guided by Darwin-based, nationally renowned textile artist Melanie Tribe, who specialises in vibrant 3D needle-felted sculptures. Details here.

K-Pop Demon Hunters Singalong: There will be sing-along sessions at Hoyts Woden and Belconnen this Saturday and Sunday. K-Pop Demon Hunters follows K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey who, in their downtime, use their secret identities as kickarse demon hunters to protect their fans from an ominous supernatural threat. The official soundtrack is currently the number one album on the ARIA charts.

Pocket Weaving: Use your own world to inspire pocket-woven artworks while discovering the basic principles of weaving at this Tuggeranong Arts workshop run by Canberra-based experimental weaver Melanie Olde. Details here.

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This Weekend: 🧔 Canberra Beard and Moustache Competition

This Sunday, King O’Malley’s will be holding their 2025 Beard and Moustache Competition. Categories include Moustache (styled or freestyle), Partial Beard (goatee, chops, sideburns), Creative (designs and styled), plus Full Beard with prizes for both longest and best natural. The event supports men’s health, including Movember & Skin Check Champions. It starts at 4pm on Sunday. And if you’ve got some competition-worthy facial hair, you can enter on the day, with $500 in prizes up for grabs. Details here.

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Further Afield: 🍇 Live Music at Tallagandra Hill Winery

Tallagandra Hill is the Canberra region’s live music venue in the vines. Just a 30-minute drive from the CBD, the winery is hosting a stellar line-up of Australian talent. Acts coming up include Clare Bowditch, FRENTE, and Ross Wilson. Details here.

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Tidbits:

Old Bus Depot Markets: The ACT Government has kicked the can down the road, extending the Old Bus Depot Markets’ licence until January 2026 while it decides whether the current operators will continue. That keeps the doors open through Christmas—but not everyone’s cheering. A group of stallholders has written to the Chief Minister calling for a change, arguing the markets have slid in recent years with fewer stalls and less buzz. They’d hoped the tender would bring in a fresh operator.

Rakali Wins: The Rakali was the landslide winner in ABC’s recent ‘Australia’s Most Underrated Animal’ competition. The remarkable amphibious rodent is native to the region and can be spotted across the ACT, including in Lake Ginninderra, Lake Burley Griffin and Sullivans Creek. More.

If the ACT ever gets an AFL team, we’ll be needing a mascot—Rakali anyone??? Way cooler than whatever “Giants” is supposed to mean.

Capitals Partnership Extended: The ACT Government has committed a record $1.7 million in funding to the UC Capitals program over the next four years. The funding will help the team meet new WNBL minimum standards, including an increase to the minimum player wage. The Capitals will be back in action later this year with their first home game at the AIS on 25 October.

Democracy Tees: If you voted at Old Parliament House during the last election, you may have seen staff wearing “Voting Compulsory, Sauce Optional” tees featuring artwork by Canberra artist Eleri Harris, with Old Parliament House reimagined as a democracy sausage. If you know an election tragic, they can now get their hands on one—MoAD’s shop has started stocking them. Details here.

Green Snags: Raiders fans can pick up some green sausages from Lindbeck's Butchery. The sausages are a tradition started by butcher Peter Lindbeck back in 1987. Best to call ahead to put in an order. Details here.

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Coming Up: 🏀 The NBL Blitz

The NBL Blitz is taking over Canberra next week and there are still plenty of tickets available. The pre-season tournament contains 5 nights of electric double headers at AIS Arena as all 10 NBL teams compete for the Loggins–Bruton Cup. Details here.

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Classifieds

Special: 🎨 studioMAP 50% Off Half-Term Bookings
SOME SPACES AVAILABLE for studioMAP’s after-school and Saturday art classes for children & teens in painting, drawing and illustration. Suitable for ages 6-10 / 8-14 / 11-15 / Teen only 15+. Book now

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Canberra Digest will be Back on Monday. Have a great weekend!