Wednesday 19th February

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Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: Here's a sporty issue featuring AFL, rugby, beach tennis, kayaking and competitive eating!

⛅️ Weather: 27° and partly cloudy.

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Sport: 🏉 The Giants in Canberra

They may be a controversial addition to Canberra's sporting scene, but Giants games in Canberra are always a sell-out. So if you're keen to catch an AFL game, now's the time to grab tickets. The Giants are playing three regular-season games here, plus a pre-season match against Carlton next Friday. Details here.

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Something to do: 🛶 Balloon Spectacular Kayaking

Every year, kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders get some of the best views of the Canberra Balloon Spectacular as the balloons skim just above the water. The YMCA Sailing Club hires out kayaks during the event, providing all the necessary equipment, including a life jacket, head torch, kayak, and paddle. A safety boat will also be on the water if you need assistance. Details here.

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This Weekend: 🐔 Chicken Wing Festival

Reload is hosting a Chicken Wing Festival this Saturday, featuring an all-you-can-eat wing challenge, chicken trivia, a fastest hot wing contest, and even a chicken dance competition. Your ticket includes a pint of beer, a side of fries, and unlimited chicken wings for 60 minutes. Details here.

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Sport: 🏉 Brumbies v Western Force

The Brumbies' first home game of the 2025 season is this Saturday, with kick-off at 7:35 pm. They'll be looking to build on their strong start after a narrow win over Fijian Drua last weekend. Details here.

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Something to do: 🎾 Come and Try Beach Tennis

Did you know Canberra has a beach tennis league? No? Neither did I! This weekend, Tennis ACT is hosting a free come-and-try beach tennis day at the Beach Volleyball Courts in Lyneham. Just bring sunscreen and a water bottle. Details here.

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Tidbits

Rakali: Yesterday was Rakali Awareness Day. The rakali is a native water rat that you may see swimming around Canberra's lakes and rivers. Most of the reported sightings around Canberra are in Tidbinbilla and the Jerrabomberra Wetlands. They are pretty cute!

Microchips Shutdown: The pet microchip registration company HomeSafeID recently shut down. The ACT Government is advising pet owners whose pets are registered with HomeSafeID to transfer their microchip registration to another provider before the website is taken offline. Pets adopted from the RSPCA are more likely to have been registered with HomeSafeID. Details here.

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🧑‍🎤 This Week's Gig Guide

ARIA award-winning artist Alex Lloyd will be playing at this weekend's Smiths@Belco session. There are a few tickets left to the Goo Goo Dolls tomorrow night, and The Baso is throwing Festival 15 again with 15 bands doing 15-minute sets.

Thursday

• The Goo Goo Dolls @ AIS
• Shivi’s 3 (jazz) @ Smith’s Alternative

Friday

• The Dalmations (indie/folk) @ The Irish Club
• Mixed Bill Madness @ Pot Belly
• Paverty Bush Band (folk) @ Mount Majura
• Phil & Trudy Edgeley @ Smith’s Alternative
• Festival 15 (15 bands, 15 min sets) @ The Baso
• Lounge Baby @ Burns Club
• Black Owl Quartet (jazz) @ Dickson Taphouse

Saturday

• Alex Lloyd @ Belco Arts
• 90s and 00s Festival @ The Baso
• The Schnapperheads @ Smith’s Alternative
• NeonHoney @ The Old Canberra Inn

Sunday

• Greenleaf (rock) @ The Baso
• Merak Machine (balkan) @ Smith’s Alternative
• Tom Waters & Geoff Achison (blues) The Irish Club
• Charles Maimarosia (folk) @ Smith’s Alternative
• NeonHoney (alternative) @ Dickson Taphouse
• Capo Creek @ Canberra Bowling Club
• Tim McNally @ The Old Canberra Inn

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