Thursday 1st May

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Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: May is here, and with it the cold weather has finally arrived! Heaters on?

⛅️ Weather: 17° and partly cloudy, with a low of 1° tonight.

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📆 May in Canberra

Some highlights for the month of May to put in the calendar:

Canberra International Music Festival (Until May 4): A program of classical music featuring local, national, and international musicians at venues across the city. Details here.

Canberra Theatre Centre Open Day (May 10): As part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, Canberra Theatre is throwing open its doors and giving the public an exclusive backstage pass to the iconic venue. Stand on the Playhouse stage, wander through the dressing rooms, and discover how your favourite productions come to life. Details here.

Oz Feline Fair (May 10–11): Celebrate cats at the inaugural Oz Feline Fair & CATstravaganza, the ultimate convention for everything cat! Details here.

Roundabout Great Lego Sale (May 11): Roundabout's Great Lego Sale is back, with box sets, minifigures, Duplo and more. Details here.

Canberra Wool Expo (May 17–18): Meet and speak with wool producers, craftspeople, and artists. See a range of demonstrations from hand-spinning to weaving, and browse and buy hand-felted garments and accessories, designer knitwear, weaving, beanies, and farm-label knitwear. Details here.

Canberra Treasures Market Day (May 18): Held at Blundells Cottage by the lake, the Canberra Treasures Market Day is filled with workshops, children's activities, live music, and market stalls. Details here.

Bricks @ Woden School (May 24–25): Hosted by the Canberra LEGO User Group, Bricks @ Woden School is a fete-style event with dozens of LEGO displays. The money raised goes directly to projects for the students at the specialty school. Details here.

Million Paws Walk (May 25): RSPCA's final ever Million Paws Walk will be happening around Lake Burley Griffin later this month. Details here.

Mount Stromlo Observatory Night (May 30): Mount Stromlo Observatory, in conjunction with the Canberra Astronomical Society, invites you to attend the free public observing nights. Come and see the craters of the moon, planets, and beautiful star clusters and nebulae. Details here.

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Cause: 🚗 The Sh!tbox Rally

Starting in Canberra, the Sh!tbox Rally drivers will make their way to Townsville in cars worth just $1500. It's not a race but a challenge to get your car to the finish. The event raises money and awareness for cancer research and the Cancer Council. Around 250 cars will leave from Thoroughbred Park on Saturday morning. Come along to check out the cars and see them off. Details here.

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Coming Up: 🎶 The Rat Pack

Take a trip down memory lane with this tribute to the Kings of Cool, the Rat Pack. Swing into a night of Rat Pack glamour with big-band renditions of Sinatra, Martin, and Davis Jr. favourites—think "Fly Me to the Moon," "Mr Bojangles," and more—brought to life by five local singers and the Canberra Jazz Orchestra in their debut performance. It's happening May 10. Details here.

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Comedy: 🤣 Broden Kelly

Broden Kelly, from Aunty Donna, Fisk, and Colin From Accounts, is bringing his solo comedy show to The Street this July. Details here.

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Tidbits

South Tuggeranong Health Centre: Construction has begun on the South Tuggeranong Health Centre in Conder. The centre will provide paediatrics, pathology, dementia care, diabetes clinics, and chronic disease management. Construction is expected to be completed in August 2026.

Cube Nightclub Closing: The queer-friendly nightclub Cube will be closing after more than 20 years in business at the end of 2025. The venue manager cited the cost-of-living crisis and fewer people drinking as key reasons behind the closure.

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Classifieds

🎶 Vinyl Records Sale: new/mint and used original LPs. Private sale of 15 crates of retro music from the 1930s–1980s: Pop, Rock, Jazz, Folk, Soul, Funk, R&B, Blues, Reggae & more. Saturday 3 May, 10am–3pm at Dickson Community Market (outside Library/Woolworths, under shelter). All cards accepted. Enquiries: Julian – [email protected]

🇮🇹 Gala Dinner - An Evening in Italy: It's time to say "arrivederci" to the 2025 'Viva Italia in Canberra' festival at its final event, 'Gala Dinner - An Evening In Italy', at the Hotel Realm Ballroom for a truly delicious three-course Italian meal, featuring live opera, a DJ and auction. Happening Saturday, May 10. Details here.