Monday 21st July

Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: Giralang Shops are opening + This week in Canberra..

⛅️ Weather: 16° and partly cloudy.

Around Canberra: 🏗️ Giralang Shops

After nearly two decades of delays and community disputes, Giralang Shops will officially reopen this weekend. The original supermarket closed in 2004, leaving residents without a nearby grocery store. Multiple development plans were rejected, and a Supreme Court challenge stalled the project until TP Dynamics took over and construction began in 2022. The new complex features a supermarket, several specialty stores and apartments above.

The grand opening is happening this weekend. There will be a free BBQ, kids' face painting, wine tasting and $1 coffees. Details here.

📆 This Week in Canberra

There's so much happening this week—here are the highlights:

Winter Festival (Postponed): Dairy Road is hosting the Winter Festival this Friday–Sunday—a celebration of locally produced winter fare: wine, olives, garlic, truffles and more. Expect a bonfire night on Friday, a winter market on Saturday, and workshops plus a long lunch on Sunday. Details here.

Due to the wet weather expected on the weekend the festival has been postponed.

Illume: Only a few tickets remain for Bangarra Dance Theatre's new, critically acclaimed theatrical experience Illume—a fusion of dance, music and visual art that celebrates First Nations peoples’ timeless relationship with light while confronting the ecological threat of modern light pollution. Details here.

Raiders v Knights: The Raiders sit atop the NRL ladder and will look to maintain their form when they take on the Knights at GIO Stadium this Sunday. Details here.

Canberra Polo Record Fair: The Winter Edition of the Canberra Polo Record Fair returns this Sunday at the Polish Club in Turner. Browse a massive collection of records from local and interstate sellers, and grab a waffle, egg-and-bacon roll or kransky hotdog. Entry by gold-coin donation. Details here.

Frozen Furstival: Bundle up your pup and head to Haig Park this Sunday for the Frozen Furstival Paws Party. There will be snowy photo ops for pups, live music, hot drinks for humans and puppicinos for dogs. Details here.

Canberra Fair: A wedding, event and lifestyle fair at Old Parliament House. Discover the region's finest stylists, planners, venues, fashion, beauty and photography. Details here.

The Whisky Show: Sample over 80 whiskies from around the world—including Scottish, American and Australian selections—as well as bottlings new to the Australian market. Details here.

ECHO: One actor and a script they've never seen—that's the premise of ECHO from acclaimed Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour. Each night, a different actor performs straight from a sealed envelope. Playing July 24–26 in Canberra. Details here.

Kambah Market: There's a Christmas in July-themed market happening in Kambah this Saturday with locally made craft stalls, bric-a-brac and upcycled trash and treasure. Details here.

An Idiot's Guide to Wine: Comedian and wine expert Merrick Watts brings his hit show to Pialligo Estate this Friday and Saturday. Details here.

Nightlife: It's a busy weekend for nightlife with Peace Maker turning one, Mooseheads celebrating its 21st, a Silent Disco at the NMA and more. Check out our roundup from last Thursday's issue.

Coming Up: 🦹 Comic Con

Oz Comic Con is coming to Canberra on August 9 and 10 at EPIC. Expect a huge lineup of comic artists, authors, and cosplayers, plus live performances (include a lip-sync battle, music, and cosplay parade), rooms for tabletop gaming (40+ titles) and video games, creative workshops and activities and much more. Details here.

Classifieds

🎨 Art Classes for Children and Teens: Bookings now open for studioMAP's After School and Saturday Art Classes for Children & Teens. Painting, Drawing & Illustration classes suitable for: 6–10 yrs / 8–14 yrs / 11–15 yrs / Teen-only (15+) studiomap.com.au · est. 1995. Phone enquiries: 0438 003 492. studioMAP is based at M16 Artspace, Griffith ACT.

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