September 29

Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: It’s Monday, 29 September. NightFest is running this week + pick up a unique gift at the Woodcraft Guild's annual exhibition.

⛅️ Weather: 21° and partly cloudy with light winds.

This Week: 🌷 NightFest

Explore Floriade’s Dark Side at NightFest, running Thursday to Sunday. Floriade will be illuminated by a dazzling display of lights, with a live entertainment program headlined by acclaimed Australian artists Ella Hooper and Josh Pyke. Details here.

📆 This Week in Canberra

This week’s highlights:

Canberra Circus Festival: A huge lineup of shows under the big top at Chifley Oval. Saturday is market day, with street performances, circus workshops, roving entertainment, food and drink vendors, and handmade goods. Details here.

Bugs Alive: Immerse yourself in the world of bugs at the Botanic Gardens and come face to face with giant stick insects, see the world’s deadliest spider, watch praying mantises hunt and more. There will be over 40 different invertebrate species on display, live bug talks, and kids’ activities. Details here.

Canberra Stamp Market: The Philatelic Society of Canberra is hosting an open day at the Baptist Hall in Kingston. A large range of stamps, coins and collectables will be for sale. Details here.

Canberra Psychic Fair: This Saturday and Sunday at Albert Hall, with stalls featuring crystals, handmade jewellery, witchy products, aura photography, beautiful handmade candles, tarot cards and much more. You can also have a reading with some of the best psychic mediums in Australia. Details here.

Woden Children’s Fair: The Woden Children’s Fair is back, bigger and better than ever. Expect a jam-packed day of toys, games, activities, support services, and so much more. Details here.

Open Gardens: There are two open gardens on the program this weekend from Open Gardens Canberra: Louise and Ian’s Garden and Cockle Street Garden, both in O’Connor. Details here.

South Canberra Community Markets: Feed the farm animals, join a scavenger hunt, or try your luck at sideshow alley games. Browse stalls for unique handmade gifts, tuck into loads of tasty street food, and enjoy the live music—all in the relaxed country setting of Westwood Farm, Kambah. Details here.

Hartley Hall Markets: The Hall Markets are back this Sunday, where you’ll find fresh produce, plants, jewellery, furniture, unique gifts and more. Entry is by a gold coin donation with all proceeds supporting Hartley Lifecare’s disability programs and services. Details here.

Murrumbateman Moving Feast: Enjoy a moving feast across the Murrumbateman region with some of the top foodie spots participating. Each venue offers a unique dish paired with a matching wine. Details here.

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki at Floriade: Say hi to Dr Karl at one of the meet-and-greet sessions and listen to his scientific insights at Stage 88 at Floriade this Saturday. Details here.

School Holidays: Looking for more school holiday activities? The full guide is available on the Canberra Digest website, including plenty of free options. Details here.

Long Weekend: Next Monday is Labour Day—the last public holiday of the year before Christmas.

Coming Up: 🪑 Woodcraft Guild Annual Exhibition

The ACT Woodcraft Guild is a community of people from the ACT and surrounding region who share a passion for woodcraft. From Friday to Monday, the Guild will hold its annual members’ exhibition and sale. Discover the finest work of the Guild, meet the members, and see them in action with a variety of woodworking demonstrations—including bowl turning, spoon and stool carving, pyrography and more. Best of all, there will be a large range of handcrafted items for sale, including kitchen utensils, chopping boards, bowls, toys, boxes and more. With Christmas fast approaching, it’s a great opportunity to find a unique, locally made gift! Details here.

Something to do: 🚶 Take a Walk

Three very different walks coming up:

She Shapes History for Kids: She Shapes History is holding its first tours for kids! This special tour, part of the Canberra Writers Festival, is designed for children aged 8–12. You’ll discover a hidden wartime communications bunker, a secret message carved into a statue, and a building without a loo for the women who worked there. It’s a 90-minute adventure through and around Old Parliament House. Details here.

City Night Walk: Join the women-led arts tour group Localjinni on a night walk to explore the ANU campus. The walk illuminates hidden laneways, local stories and iconic sites with a moving light-scape, celebrating Canberra’s little-known connection to abstract and experimental cinema. Details here.

Who’s Who on Mugga Way?: As part of Calthorpes House Open Day on 19 October, this walk introduces you to the Who’s Who of Mugga Way. Judges, scientists, the national librarian, newspaper men, captains of industry, senior public servants, and more all once called it home. Details here.

Tidbits

Lyric Theatre Designs: Detailed designs and drawings of the new lyric theatre have been revealed. The design includes seating for up to 2,000 and will feature a modern orchestra pit to accommodate a range of shows, including musicals, ballet and opera. Preparatory works are beginning soon, with main construction starting next year. Details here.

Spring Blossom Map: This map from City Services shows some of the spring blossom hotspots around Canberra. Details here.

Kite Fest Was Overflowing: The National Arboretum had to turn people away and refund tickets due to a lack of car parking for Sunday’s Kite Fest. Perhaps a shuttle from the city is needed for large events at the Arboretum?

Classifieds:

✍️ Women Writers' Workshop, Unleash Your Voice: 1 October, 9am-1pm, Pearce Community Centre. Ever feel too embarrassed to share your writing? Your words matter. Join us in a space where your story is safe to bloom. Gain clarity and confidence to write and sell with integrity. Connect with others reclaiming their voice. Led by local accredited Writer's Mindset Coach, Helen McCandless. Details here.

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Classifieds support Canberra Digest