It happens every year: you’ve left the buying of Christmas gifts to the 11th hour. Well, now that hour is upon you. If you still haven’t got to the shops, there’s plenty of opportunities in the region to address the Christmas shopping situation.
Antiques from Bowning Antique Centre are coming out of storage to a pop-up shop in Yass, and an exhibition in Narooma will have handcrafted mosaics on sale. There will also be markets in Cooma at the railway station, and late-night shopping in Yass complete with Santa in a sleigh on a flatbed truck.
In all of the hustle and bustle, there will also be quieter moments where you can sit back, sip a wine, listen to a quartet perform, or do a spot of painting.
Friday
Bowning Antique Centre pop-up shop
When: Friday, 10 December, to Sunday, 12 December
Where: Church Street, Yass
Cost: Free.
The beloved Bowning Antique Centre is hosting a three-day pop-up shop at St Clement’s Hall in Yass. Items from their storage facility will be available for public sale just in time for that special Christmas gift. Items will include furniture, display cabinets, kitchen dressers, sideboards, antique mirrors and plenty of smaller collectables.
Saturday
Sticking Together exhibition
When: Saturday, 11 December, to Wednesday, 15 December, from 10 am to 4 pm
Where: School of Arts Cottage, 92 Campbell Street, Narooma
Cost: Free.
Sticking Together is an eye-catching exhibition of mosaic art presented by The Artful 9, a group of female artists who share a passion for making mosaics. From traditional to modern, the exhibition showcases a variety of mosaic techniques and a wide range of materials – stained glass, smalti, tile, recycled jewellery and upcycled china.
Many of the works are for sale and entry to the exhibition is free.
Affinity String Quartet
When: Saturday, 11 December, at 2:30 pm
Where: St Paul’s Anglican Church, 11 Tilba St, Narooma
Cost: $25 – book tickets online.
The highly acclaimed Affinity String Quartet from Melbourne presents music by Schubert and Debussy at St Paul’s Anglican Church.
Sunday
Cooma Monaro Railway Fresh Produce Markets
When: Sunday, 12 December, from 9 am
Where: Cooma Railway Station, Short Street, Cooma
Cost: Free.
The Cooma Monaro Railway Fresh Produce Markets run monthly at Cooma Monaro Railway Station. Head along to enjoy a lovely morning on the historical railway, and enjoy fresh fare from local producers. As a bonus, the recently restored Station Master’s Office and Signal Box are open for viewing.
Yarralaw Springs: Cellar Door Wine Tasting
When: Sunday, 12 December, from 11 am to 4 pm
Where: 133 Muffets Road, Quialigo
Cost: Free – email [email protected], or call 02 484 47188 to register.
Yarralaw Springs offers cool climate wines from the Southern Tablelands, just 30 minutes from Goulburn. Sample estate-grown classic varieties, using organic practices and produced in the unique Strawbale Winery. Experience the cellar door ambience and picnic grounds, and of course, fantastic wine.
Element Cheer and Dance presents Jewel of the Nile
When: Sunday, 12 December, from 11am.
Where: Moruya High School Auditorium, Bergalia Street, Moruya
Cost: $20 for adults, $15 for concession, $60 for family – book online.
Showcasing the Eurobodalla Shire’s amazing dance and cheer talent, Jewel of the Nile will take you on a journey to ancient Egypt and beyond, performed by local dance company Element Cheer and Dance.
Thursday
Paint and Pour
When: Thursday, 16 December, 2 pm to 5 pm
Where: Stony Creek Farm Distillery, 13594 Princes Highway, Stony Creek
Cost: $154.53 – buy tickets online.
Take a seat in the Gin Garden at Stony Creek Farm Distillery – home to North of Eden gin – and learn how to paint a gorgeous acrylic landscape under the expert tuition of practising fine artist Bonnie McArthur. Your afternoon of ‘ginspiring’ creativity goes for three hours.
There’ll be a complimentary gin and tonic on arrival, followed by all the paints and materials you need to create your acrylic masterpiece. Easy-to-follow expert instructions will have you painting like a pro.
Yass Valley Late Night Shopping
When: Thursday, 16 December, from 6 pm
Where: Comur Street, Yass
Cost: Free entry.
The Yass Valley community is coming together to celebrate Christmas and thank frontline workers with late night shopping in the main street of Yass. There will be outdoor markets set up so you can browse and buy from other local vendors.