What's On

Australian arts organisation The Wired Lab was founded with a simple mission: to ensure people living in rural and regional communities don't miss out on cultural experiences their metropolitan counterparts get to enjoy. Now, 13 years later, artistic director and CEO Sarah Last says that as an artist herself, it's always been important to maintain a space for her practice...

The community is invited to help the banks of the Towamba River recover after the devastating Black Summer bushfires. An upcoming Green Shoots day of tree planting, kayaking and environmental education sessions will bring life back to the river in Kiah this month. Bega Valley Shire Council's Council’s environmental education officer Natalie Ryan said the bushfires burnt much of the riverbank trees...

Step inside Gunning Scout Hall on the right night and you may think you've been transported back in time to the middle of a Napoleonic battle. Meet Daniel Wise, Gunning's constable who trains the local sword fighter club. The group's six active members and three casuals are part of the Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) community and learn from a...

With a long weekend ahead, there's no time like the present to get out and explore the region. Food and wine lovers should check out the Creative Juices Festival at Contentious Character in Wamboin, or Truffle Infused Weekends at Mount Majura Vineyard. Near the South Coast or heading there? Merimbula WinterSun Festival will be running all weekend, as will the...

The country town of Binalong in the NSW Southern Tablelands has been struck by dance fever with village residents busy warming up ahead of the inaugural Dancing with the Locals. Ten locals or five dance partners will cha-cha-cha their way into the limelight during a three-minute routine on Friday, 18 June to raise funds for Binalong Community Club. Organiser and...

After an annual South Coast music festival was cancelled, organising for the WinterSun Festival began to bring entertainment and fun to Merimbula this upcoming Queen's birthday long weekend from 11-13 June. Named WinterSun in recognition of the beautiful, sunny weather the South Coast experiences during winter, the festival will feature a range of mostly outdoor activities from a group 'salty...

Peter Robinson, 91, has seen most of his life through a camera lens. His father gifted him a $2 box camera in his teens, however the film was reserved for special occasions such as family holidays. Home was South London and film was a rare commodity during World War II. Peter's passion truly developed when he joined the Royal Air...

It's shaping up to be a huge week across the region. The much anticipated Winter Bites Festival will roll into Tumbarumba for its first iteration, while the Aussie BBQ Festival in Queanbeyan will keep bellies full and hearts warm. A Merimbula Town Producers' Market will showcase the best of the area, while amateurs will have a chance to play golf...

A trip to Europe might be off the cards for the foreseeable future, but you can go one better and time travel to ancient Greece, thanks to a blockbuster exhibition at the National Museum of Australia (NMA) opening in December. Featuring 180 objects which explore the theme of competition through sports, politics, drama, music and warfare, the collection from the...

Get your napkins ready! It's time to celebrate the humble pie! And for the first time, Pie Time is branching out beyond the Southern Highlands to include Bungendore, Pambula, Braidwood, Bermagui, Merimbula and Kiama. Given a meat pie has become a road trip must-have, pie makers and bakers throughout the region have been busy creating unique and mouth-watering pies to tempt...

As winter descends on the Snowy Mountains, people are being asked to grab their warmest beanies and head west to take a bite out of the best the Snowy Valleys has to offer. Three festivals focused on food, wine and music have been arranged for the winter months of June, July and August to help buoy towns so heavily impacted...

They're the first to respond to our calls for help and to arrive when we're at our most vulnerable, but attending accidents and natural disasters can be confronting and traumatic for first responders. That's why a not-for-profit organisation that supports the mental health and wellbeing of first responders and their families is on a mission to get Australians to give...

The last weekend of autumn is here and there's no better time to head out into the region to see what's going on. For Reconciliation Day in Queanbeyan, there will be a guided cultural walk with Justine Brown on Saturday, 29 May. Music lovers can spend all weekend in Moruya for its Blues & Roots Festival, or in Batemans Bay...

It’s almost impossible to fathom the genesis of Jugiong Writers' Festival, a biennial event that celebrates reading, writing and really good fun in the inviting little village just 90 minutes down the Hume Highway from Canberra. Just one person, one idea and several conversations is how the shroud was lifted off the lives of several locals – to their delight...

More than a year after Spectrum Theatre's production of The Little Mermaid was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is back on and ready to delight Bega Valley audiences. The musical tells the story made famous by Disney and includes both familiar songs as well as some new ones, which director Amber Little says are very catchy and will...

Whether you're staying near or far to home, there's something happening to keep your weekend and week busy in our region. On the NSW South Coast, head to a weekend-long conference about issues to the area as a result of the Black Summer bushfires. Or listen to Out of Abingdon perform at Tathra, or meet the brewers from Stoic Brewing...