October 20

Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: It’s Monday, 20 October. Happy Diwali to those celebrating!

💨 Weather: 32°! and windy.

📆 This Week in Canberra

This week’s highlights:

Canberra Nara Candle Festival: A celebration of the sister-city relationship between Canberra and Nara, Japan—based on the much larger candle festival held in Nara. Expect Japanese art, culture, performances, activities for all ages, and the park illuminated with 2,000 candles. Details here.

La Fiesta: The city centre will come alive with the music, food and colours of Latin America. Canberra’s Latin American festival La Fiesta is back with an explosion of live Latin American bands, DJs, dancers, street food favourites, art and hands-on workshops—all packed into one unforgettable afternoon and night. Details here.

Canberra Writers Festival: A vibrant springtime program of masterclasses, author talks, panel discussions, workshops and book launches will be set against the backdrop of some of Australia’s most iconic national institutions. Details here.

Canberra Caravan Lifestyle Expo: Start planning your next adventure at the Canberra Caravan Lifestyle Expo at EPIC, showcasing recreational vehicles, outdoor gear, food and wine displays, and holiday destinations. Details here.

Paws Party: It’s the s-pooch-iest paws party ever. Bring your pup along to Haig Park this Sunday for a dress-up competition, trick or treat, live music, a photo booth and more. Details here.

City Farm Open Day: The City Farm is celebrating 10 years at Dairy Road with an Open Day packed with workshops, tours and stalls. Details here.

Oktoberfest: Enjoy a traditional Oktoberfest experience with German bier, food, music, dancing and games. There’ll be a strongman contest, wurst-eating competition, axe-throwing and much more. Details here.

RSPCA Shelter Open Day: Take a free tour, learn how to make enrichment games for your animals, ask staff questions and meet the animals. They’ll also be launching the community Pet Pantry—bring a bag of (unopened) pet food to donate. It’s running from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturday.

Urban Wine Walk: Take a wine crawl, meeting local winemakers from the region at eight different venues across the city. Details here.

🌭 Fetes This Week

Fete season is in full swing:

Majura Primary Tomato and Plant Sale: Majura Primary P&C is hosting the always-popular tomato and plant sale this Saturday. You’ll find tomatoes, beans, corn, cucumber, zucchini, capsicum, chillies, eggplants, herbs, strawberries, natives and more—plus a BBQ. Details here.

Campbell High Twilight Fete: Campbell High School is marking 60 years with a twilight fete this Friday. It’ll be an evening of fun, food, entertainment and nostalgia. Details here.

Good Shepherd Primary School Book Fair: Good Shepherd Primary School will be holding a community book fair on Sunday. Explore a wide range of books for readers of all ages, including children’s titles, games and puzzles.

Hawker Spooky Fete: Hawker Primary is hosting a spooky fete this Sunday from 10 am–2 pm. You’ll find craft, plant and book stalls, a sausage sizzle, cupcake decorating, a haunted house and much more. Details here.

Hawker Spring Community Markets: Hawker Community Landcare is hosting its annual Spring Community Markets at the Hawker Shops this Saturday from 9 am–1 pm.

Turner School Fete: Toys, games, books and plant stalls, and sausages, curries, cakes and more. It’s happening this Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm.

Plant Swap: Daughters at Hall is hosting a fundraising plant swap for the Friends of the Leadbeater’s Possum. Make a donation and bring your plants, cuttings, seeds or seedlings to share and swap with fellow plant lovers. Details here.

🏀 Local Sport This Week

UC Capitals v Townsville Fire: The Caps won their opening round on the road against the Southside Flyers and will be looking to keep the momentum going when they take on Townsville in their first home game of the season. They’re playing this Saturday at the AIS Arena. Details here.

Canberra Chill v Brisbane Blaze: Both Chill teams are in action this Sunday against the Brisbane Blaze at the Lyneham Hockey Centre. Details here.

The Australian Masters Games continues this week as well—a big welcome to all the athletes competing! Details here.

Classifieds

🪐 Cottis Conducts The Planets: The Canberra Symphony Orchestra performs 'The Planets', an expansive, spine-tingling musical suite that served as a source of inspiration for some of cinema's greatest composers, including John Williams and Hans Zimmer. Don't miss this epic orchestral masterwork that shaped the sound of cinema itself! Details here.

✈️ Qatar Airways: Starting 2 December 2025, enjoy daily flights with Qatar Airways from Canberra - via Melbourne and Doha - to over 170 destinations worldwide. Use the promo code QRAU10 to save 10% off your next flight. Details here.