A special string quartet comes to Goulburn this week. Photo: The Australian Haydn Ensemble Facebook.
The regions are alive this week with a whole lot to see and do. We’ve put together the best events across the area in our weekly event guide.
The River of Art Festival brings art, sculpture, writing, music, workshops and classes to the South Coast, with something for everyone of all ages. Whether you create art yourself or not, there’s a lot to enjoy.
This week, Goulburn will get to enjoy the Australian Haydn Ensemble as they perform a special musical schedule of Mozart, Purcell and Haydn.
Two plays are set to wow the region, with an adaptation of a beloved Australian children’s classic and another being an original work about recovery and resilience in the face of trauma.
Don’t miss out on the best activities across the regions.
Multiple Days
The whole South Coast transforms into one big art exhibition this week. Image: River of Art.
River of Art 2025
When: 26 September to 2 October
Where: Various locations across the South Coast
Cost: Prices vary depending on event | More information online.
The River of Art festival brings a huge schedule of events, workshops, exhibitions, creative sessions, marketplaces and more to the South Coast region.
No matter where you are on the South Coast, there’s something to get into, whether you want to meet local artists, marvel at great locally made works, learn more about art to fuel your own creativity or even purchase some art yourself to remember the festival. There’s a whole lot to see and do across a variety of mediums. Don’t miss out on this local celebration of writing, painting, photography, sculpture, community and more.
Hone your writing skills in a special workshop this week, inspired by the River of Art fest. Image: Humanitix.
Ekphrastic Writing Workshop
When: 27 September, 1 pm and 28 September, 1 pm
Where: Monarch Hotel, Moruya, and Well Thumbed Books, Cobargo
Cost: Tickets are $50 | Book online.
This writing workshop interacts and correlates with the River of Art exhibition, which serves as inspiration for writers to think about, play with and comment on.
Starting off with a discussion about art writing, the facilitator, Linda Godfrey, will talk about the River of Art writing competition, then the group will walk together to the gallery to view images to inspire the writing. Then, coming back to the space, the group will be guided through writing exercises where they will form their piece, whether short fiction or poetry, for entry into the River of Art writing competitions.
Dragon Dreaming returns to the shores of Lake Burrinjuck. Photo: Visit NSW.
Dragon Dreaming Festival
When: 26 to 29 September
Where: Dragon Dreaming Festival Site, Lake Burrinjuck, Wee Jasper, NSW
Cost: Ticket prices vary | Book online.
Escape for four days of fun at the Dragon Dreaming Festival at Lake Burrinjuck.
This multi-stage, music and arts festival is bringing heaps of music, performance, arts, markets, installations and lifestyle workshops to the Yass area, with a focus on providing a unique, underground experience.
Dragon Dreaming is putting genres such as techno, psytrance, drum and bass and ambient in the spotlight with artists travelling far and wide to perform. The diverse music offering comes alongside an art gallery showing off works from local creatives and plenty of special performances – check out the program sheet for more info.
The groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize-winning concept musical set a new standard for Broadway and remains relevant, poignant, provocative and highly entertaining. Image: Free-Rain Theatre.
A Chorus Line
When: 30 September to 2 October
Where: The Q, 253 Crawford St, Queanbeyan
Cost: Tickets from $55 to $70 | Book online.
A Chorus Line continues to resonate. It first appeared on Broadway in 1975. Among its many gongs are Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Olivier Award for Best Musical and the Helpmann Award for Best Musical. A Chorus Line is a stunning concept musical capturing the spirit and tension of a Broadway chorus audition.
Exploring the inner lives and bittersweet ambitions of professional Broadway performers, the show features one powerhouse number after another, such as What I Did for Love, One, I Can Do That, At the Ballet, The Music and the Mirror, and I Hope I Get It. A brilliantly complex fusion of song, dance, and compellingly authentic drama, A Chorus Line is a classic of the genre.
A story of resilience and empowerment from a local creative. Image: Lieder Theatre Company.
Through the Embers – Play
When: 26 September, 7:30 to 9 pm and 27 September, 2 to 3:30 pm and 7:30 to 9 pm
Where: The Lieder Theatre, Goulburn NSW
Cost: Tickets from $20 to $35 | Book online.
Through the Embers is a play that follows the journey of two young friends overcoming trauma and following the road to healing through friendship and connection. It’s a heartfelt exploration of pain and the ways that people, especially young people, can overcome that pain and rise above it.
Through the Embers was written and directed by local creative Cara Robinson and is being performed by the Lieder Theatre Company.
Be warned that though this play contains no physical depictions of violence, violence is discussed throughout the play.
Friday
A special string quartet comes to Goulburn. Image: Goulburn Performing Arts Centre.
Haydn’s Sunrise at the Goulburn Performing Arts Centre
When: 26 September, 7:30 to 9 pm
Where: Goulburn Performing Arts Centre, 163 Auburn Street
Cost: Tickets from $40 to $60 | Book online.
Haydn’s Sunrise is a performance showcasing the best string quartets by the masters – Mozart, Boocherini, Haydn and Purcell.
Playing on period instruments, the Haydn Ensemble seeks to bring listeners as close as possible to the sound that the composers themselves would have created. Delightful, artistically rewarding and moving, this is a great way to experience classical music this Friday.
Saturday
Three Hours South, an Ulladulla musical duo, come to the Steampacket this week. Photo: Steampacket Hotel.
Three Hours South live at The Steampacket Hotel
When: 27 September, 5 pm
Where: The Steampacket Hotel, 963 Kings Highway, Nelligen
Cost: Free.
Three Hours South is a musical duo focusing on beloved popular songs with an acoustic twist. They play their relaxed, cruisy music all across the South Coast, performing across pubs, cafes and breweries. Their visit to the Steampacket this Saturday will provide the perfect backdrop to an afternoon soaking up the sun with some cold ones.
Sunday
The monthly Wyndham Village Market is here. Photo: Visit NSW.
Wyndham Village Market
When: 28 September, 8:30 am to 1 pm
Where: School of Arts Hall, Gordon Street, Wyndham
Cost: Free entry.
The Wyndham Village Market has everything on offer, from locally grown produce, preserves like pickles and jams and home-baked goodies, to plants for sale, organic skin products, essential oils, a coffee cart, as well as cards, toys, collectables, jewellery, books and live music from local performers, providing the backdrop to a chilled Sunday out with the community.
The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie leap off the page into the Botanic Gardens. Photo: Humanitix.
The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie – Performance at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden
When: 28 September, 11 am to noon
Where: Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden, Batemans Bay
Cost: Tickets from $17 | Book online.
Adapted from the classic Australian kids’ book, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, this children’s play from the Eaton Gorge Theatre Company brings the original to life with all the wonder and magic of the original.
The Gumnut Babies are on a mission to venture to the big city and see a human. On their intrepid quest, they’ll meet all manner of fast friends and devious foes such as Mrs Kookaburra, Mrs Fantail, Mr Lizard and Mrs Snake.
Iconic Australian characters come to life in an outdoor setting perfectly fit for the story in this wonderful adaptation. Bring the whole family along to enjoy.
