Things to do in the regions this week (2 to 8 May)

Are you looking at an empty calendar for the next few days? There’s no need to worry because we’ve put together a list of all the best events happening in the regions, with a great variety to fit just about anybody’s taste, from seafood festivals and special documentary screenings to horse shows, live music tribute performances and more.

Multiple Days

Narooma Oyster Festival

When: 3 and 4 May
Where: Quota Park, Narooma
Cost: Tickets start from $25. Purchase tickets here.

If you love adding rock oysters to the menu, it’s worth saving the date for the Narooma Oyster Festival on the weekend of 3 and 4 May.

Along with the excitement of Australia’s Oyster Shucking Championships, or ‘Shuckella’, where farmers vie for the chance to represent the nation in Ireland at the World Oyster Opening Championships, the festival offers a range of culinary, educational and entertaining experiences for oyster and seafood lovers.

Tickets are on sale, with visitors urged to book accommodation now to avoid missing out.

Sweet Charity

When: Until 18 May
Where: The Q, 253 Crawford St, Queanbeyan
Cost: $70 premium | $65 A Reserve | $60 B Reserve | See website for details on discounted prices. Book here.

Sweet Charity follows the adventures of Charity Hope Valentine, a hopeful dance hall hostess who is looking for love and a better life. Despite disappointments in her romantic endeavours, Charity remains resilient and continues to search for her happily ever after. Sweet Charity touches on themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the pursuit of dreams.

With a score by Cy Coleman, book by Neil Simon, and original choreography by Bob Fosse, Charity’s adventurous journey towards love is marked by some of the best-loved songs (If My Friends Could See Me Now, There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This) and most iconic dance numbers (Big Spender, Rich Man’s Frug, Rhythm of Life) in Broadway history.

Saturday

Braidwood Heavy Horse Show

When: 3 May, gates open at 8:30 am, classes start at 9:30 am
Where: Braidwood Showground, Kings Hwy, Braidwood
Cost: Free entry for spectators.

The Braidwood Heavy Horse Show is an annual community and family-friendly event celebrating the long history of Braidwood’s heavy horse industry and culture. Highlighting the historical connection through competitions, the Heavy Horse Show will feature class events for Clydesdales, shires and sport horses in a range of disciplines including led, ridden, harness and long-reining.

There will also be heaps of other fun events like the ‘horse most like its owner competition’, best moustache (on a horse), crowd favourite, as well as haybale races, the pumpkin snatch and a horseshoe toss to keep things interesting.

Bell Tower Tour at St Saviour’s Cathedral

When: 3 May, 10 to 11:30 am, 2:30 to 3:30 pm
Where: St Saviour’s Cathedral, 170 Bourke St, Goulburn
Cost: Free.

St Saviour’s Cathedral in Goulburn is opening its doors for an interactive tour to learn about the famous cathedral bells. Towering above Goulburn, St Saviour’s is a stunning white sandstone building, much beloved in the region as a symbol of community and faith. Starting this Saturday, once a month, St Saviour’s will provide this fascinating insight into how its now famous bells came to be.

Cooma Car Club Open Day and Boot Sale

When: 3 May, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Cooma Car Club, 11 Bolaro st, Cooma
Cost: Free entry.

To celebrate the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival, the Cooma Car Club is holding an open day for the public to see the amazing array of vehicles, memorabilia and paraphernalia that it’s collected over the years. This special open day will let visitors see some of the fascinating finds that members of the club have unearthed for their car boot sale.

This is a must for motorheads and mid-century enthusiasts to check out a real collection of classic cars as well as a fully functional, authentic 50s diner and other cultural artefacts.

Life Drawing Group

When: 3 May, 1 to 3 pm
Where: Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre, Vulcan St, Moruya
Cost: Tickets for $20.

Artists seeking to hone their skills, and others keen to learn, will gain a lot from the Life Drawing Group, where amateurs and pros come together at the Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre to draw live subjects. Artists are encouraged to bring their own sketchbook, charcoal, pencils or pens as they try their best to faithfully render one of the most difficult things to draw, the human body. Note that this is not an art class but rather an opportunity for artists to practise their skills with a live model.

Special screening of White Rock for the Narooma Oyster Festival

When: 3 May, 6:30 to 9:30 pm (doors open from 6 pm)
Where: Narooma Surf Club, 7 Ballingalla St, Narooma
Cost: Tickets $20, bookings required.

As part of the Narooma Oyster Festival, the Narooma Surf Club will host a very special screening of White Rock, a documentary about the local ecology, the threats that the environment faces and the ways that the community can help rehabilitate and care for sea country. The doco focuses specifically on the impact of long-spined sea urchins on kelp forests.

Following the doco showing, there will be a special panel and Q&A about the environment and community response featuring local Barunguba elder Uncle Wally Stewart, which will focus on science, culture and sustainable seafood, followed by a tasting of locally harvested urchins prepared by divers from the area.

An Evening Without Kate Bush

When: 3 May, 8 to 9:30 pm
Where: Goulburn Performing Arts Centre, 163 Auburn St
Cost: $40 for members | $60 for adults | $50 for concession/student/children. Book here.

An Evening Without Kate Bush is an award-winning cabaret show celebrating the singular, inimitable work and style of Kate Bush. An icon of weird, bold music from her original Wuthering Heights to a resurgence in popularity from Running Up That Hill, Kate Bush has been one of the most influential voices in pop music while maintaining her unique style. Enjoy and experience the wonder that is Kate Bush at the Goulburn Performing Arts Centre for one night only.

Sunday

Clubs Race Day at Sapphire Coast Turf Club

When: 4 May, gates open 12:15 pm
Where: Sapphire Coast Turf Club, 1695 Sapphire Coast Drive, Kalaru
Cost: $15 for adults | $10 for pensioners | Free for under 18s

A special day of thrilling races, fashion on the field and nail-biting finishes awaits at the Sapphire Coast Turf Club’s Race Day. Whether you look forward to race day for the frocks, the contest or the bets, it’s an exciting community day of fun and riding skill.

Thursday

The Burt Bacharach Songbook

When: 8 May, 8 pm
Where: Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre. 253 Crawford St, Queanbeyan
Cost: $69 for adults | $64 for concession holders, members and groups of 8+. Book here.

Immerse yourself in the songwriting talent of Burt Bacharach, renowned for his talent in creating the music behind well-known and much-beloved hits from artists such as Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield and Tom Jones.

Celebrate the best of Burt Bacharach’s contributions to the music world with performances of some of his best hits such as What The World Needs Now, Walk On By, Promises, Promises, Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head and many more.

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