May 14

Hello Canberra,

Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: World Bee Day in Canberra + Lee Kernaghan.

⛅️ Weather: 21° and partly cloudy

🐝 Celebrate World Bee Day in Canberra

May 20 is World Bee Day, raising awareness about the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators. Here’s what’s happening around Canberra:

.befair: Each year the Belgian Embassy opens its doors for a bee-themed fair. This year, they’re teaming up with the French and Slovenian embassies for a fun day of bee-related activities on May 24. The Belgian Embassy is home to five beehives, and proceeds from the fair and honey sales support beekeepers in Ukraine. Expect hive tours, a jumping castle, food and drinks, embassy booths, market stalls, and live entertainment. Details here.

Parliament House Hives: Join Parliament House Volunteer Head Beekeeper, Cormac Farrell, for an insightful tour of the Parliament House beehives. You'll also get to enjoy honey and honeycomb tastings sourced from the hives. This tour is ideal for beekeepers, gardeners, and anyone keen on creating bee-friendly environments. Details here.

World Bee Day Farmers Market: The Capital Region Farmers Market is once again celebrating World Bee Day on May 24. Meet a beekeeper and try honey-themed treats at the Rotary tent, for kids there will be face painting and art activities and many producers will be offering honey-themed products. Details here.

The Pollinators: ANU Film Group and Canberra Beekeepers are hosting a screening of The Pollinators, a documentary following migratory beekeepers and their precious cargo of honey bees on an epic journey across the U.S. to pollinate the crops that become our fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Details here.

Looking Ahead: 🎶 Lee Kernaghan

Australia’s country music legend Lee Kernaghan is bringing his Boys From The Bushconcert to Canberra, performing at the Convention Centre on July 20. Most concerts I feature at the Royal Theatre are priced over $100, so I was pleased to see tickets to Kernaghan’s show are a more reasonable $60! Details here.

Coming Up: 🚂 Community Day at the Archives

The National Archives is holding a Community Day to celebrate the opening of their latest exhibition, Camel trains to steel wheels: life on the Trans-Australian Railway. The exhibition explores the fascinating history of the Trans-Australian Railway.

The Community Day is on Saturday, May 24, and will feature live music, delicious food, miniature train rides, guided tours, and more. Details here.

Classifieds:

🎻 Beethoven's Violin: Beethoven's Violin Concerto, live with full orchestra — a rare chance to hear this masterpiece in Canberra. Powerful, unforgettable, and performed by the Canberra Symphony Orchestra with guest soloist Anna da Silva Chen and conductor Carlo Antonioli. Don't miss out! Details here.

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Classifieds support Canberra Digest

🎸 Live Music This Week

Tonight

• Crazy Mistake @ The George
• Abigail / Stalker (metal) @ The Baso

Thursday

• Frog Imposter (folk) @ Smith’s Alternative

Friday

• The Femmes of Violence / Death by Pixies / XACTO @ Dissent
• The Magic Lantern (folk) @ Smith’s Alternative
• Machine on a Break (metal/rock) @ The Baso
• Dead Lazarus / The Black Souls / Simple Stone @ Pot Belly
• This Way Orchestra @ The Irish Club

Saturday

• dogworld @ Gang Gang
• Nora / Body Shirt / Dirt Nap / Nidium @ Dissent
• 90s and 00s Music Festival @ The Baso
• Magic Rob Universe / Snake Oil Preachers (rock/folk/country) @ Smith’s Alternative
• Jordan Brodie and Elias Bartholomeo (guitar) @ Smith’s Alternative

Sunday

• Fanning Dempsey National Park @ Canberra Theatre
• Dial M (jazz) @ Smith’s Alternative
• The Blooz (blues) @ Harmonie Club

Nightlife: Euphrates

Euphrates is an intimate warehouse party at The Circus event space in Mitchell. There’ll be live DJs and performances, fire dancers, henna art, and a carefully crafted Middle Eastern–inspired dinner. Details here.