Nine things to do in the region this week (15-21 April)

There’s plenty to do in the region this Easter long weekend, especially if you love festivals, live music, entertainment and lots of family fun.

Running from Friday to Monday, the Huskisson Hotel will be hosting a four-day celebration of fresh seafood, live music and plenty of entertainment for kids.

Across both days of the weekend the This is Just a Tribute music festival in Jindabyne will treat festivalgoers to all the greatest bangers from the past five decades.

On Good Friday, Moss Vale will be holding a family fun day of market stalls, food, rides and activities for kids.

And Saturday is action-packed. Tilba’s hosting its annual festival, there’s a Charity Easter Cup in Moruya, a South Coast Chilli Championship and the Then and Now concert with Hayley Jensen and Jason Owen in Nelligen, The Batemans Bay Soldiers Club will have world-class comedians performing and the Eurobodalla Botanic Garden is unveiling a new exhibition.

All weekend

Easter Long Weekend at Huskisson Hotel

When: Friday 15 April 12 pm to 10 pm, Saturday 16 April 11 am to midnight, Sunday 17 and Monday 18 April 11 am to 10 pm
Where: Huskisson Hotel, 75 Owen Street, Huskisson, NSW
Cost: Free entry to venue; book here to reserve a table for dining

Huskisson Hotel will be offering Easter festivities for all the family this weekend. Kicking off on Friday, there will be fresh seafood specials at the Pavilion Bar & Kitchen available at lunch and dinner and DJ sets from 1 pm to 9 pm. On Saturday, there will be DJs playing from 1 pm – late and Easter Sunday follows with kids’ face painting from 1 pm to 3 pm, a visit from the Easter bunny at 2 pm, live music at the Pavilion from 12 pm to 4 pm and DJ sets from 5 pm to 9 pm. On Monday there will also be DJs playing from 1 pm to 8 pm.

This is Just a Tribute

When: Saturday 16 April and Sunday 17 April from 1:30 pm (gates open at 1 pm)
Where: Clay Pits Park, Jindabyne, NSW
Cost: Tickets are from $89 each and can be purchased here

This is Just a Tribute invites all music lovers of all generations to come together for a brand new music festival experience. Celebrated tribute musicians and bands will perform your favourite songs from the past five decades. Grab your family and friends, don your best vintage rock attire and get ready to sing and dance the Easter long weekend away to classics from U2, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, INXS and more.

Friday

Moss Vale Good Friday Family Fun Day

When: Saturday 16 April from 9 am to 3 pm
Where: Moss Vale Showground, 16 Illawarra Hwy, Moss Vale, NSW
Cost: Gold coin donation upon entry

This Good Friday at the iconic Moss Vale Showground is a family-fun market day featuring handmade crafts, jams, relishes, soaps, candles, giftware, art, coffee, fresh food stalls, pastries, fresh flowers and more. There will also be plenty to see including live music playing throughout the day and kids rides and activities, with all funds raised going towards helping build community infrastructure in the Moss Vale area.

Saturday

Tilba Festival

When: Saturday 16 April from 9 am to 4 pm
Where: 2 Bate Street, Central Tilba, NSW
Cost: Tickets from $5 can be purchased here

If you’re after a fun day for the whole family this Easter, consider the South Coast for the return of the annual Tilba Festival. There will be art and craft stalls, clothing, jewellery makers, ceramics, local kelp and seaweed products, beauty and health products, kids’ face painting, stilt walkers, magic shows, doughnut-eating competitions and a variety of traditional street games including cheese rolling, egg tossing, boot throwing and more.

Moruya Easter Cup Race Day

When: Saturday 16 April from 12 pm to 6 pm
Where: Moruya Races, Donnelly Drive, Moruya Heads, NSW
Cost: Tickets are $10, under 18s are free; book here

The Moruya Easter Cup Race Day is back for another year of horse racing and Easter fun. With gates opening from noon, the first race kicks off at 12:44 pm, inviting people of all ages to come and watch and over 18s to place bets. Great food options will include a Rotary-run kiosk, coffee van, ice cream van, Cut ‘n’ Run Pizza and Mr Salubrious (Mexican cuisine). Kids will enjoy pony rides and fashionistas can enter the Fashion on the Field best-dressed competition in male and female over 50, under 50 and boy and girl categories.

South Coast Chilli Championship

When: Saturday 16 April from 2 pm to 5 pm
Where: Steampacket Hotel, 963 Kings Highway, Nelligen, NSW
Cost: Free entry, register via [email protected] or by calling 0424 092 146

Can you handle the heat? This Saturday, the first Inaugural South Coast Chilli Championship takes place at the Steampacket Hotel in Nelligen, inviting anyone over the age of 18 to participate and attempt to win some great prizes valued at more than $1000. With registration spots almost booked out, get in quick and show Nelligen what you’ve got.

Stand up comedy night featuring Julia Wilson & Mick Meredith

When: Saturday 16 April from 7:30 pm to 11 pm
Where: Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, 4-6 Beach Road, Batemans Bay, NSW
Cost: Tickets from $25 and can be purchased here

Be prepared to laugh your socks off as the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club returns with another comedy night, brought by Wollongong Comedy. This weekend’s lineup features two world-class Australian comedy stars – Julia Wilson and Mick Meredith.

Mick is known for his comical commentary of stories, songs, gags, guitarings and humour with broad appeal.

Julia Wilson is described by many as one of the most brutal women in comedy and has headlined comedy events across the globe.

Natural Resources Exhibition Opening

When: Saturday 16 April from 6 pm to 8 pm
Where: Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden, Deep Creek Dam Rd, Batemans Bay, NSW
Cost: Free entry, register here

This Easter Saturday the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden will celebrate its official opening of the Natural Resources Art Exhibition in the Banksia Room. This exhibition will feature more than 100 works from talented artists around the region inspired by forests and created with natural materials including wood, textiles, paper and ceramics. Some of the works at the exhibition will also be for sale with a portion of the funds going towards the Garden’s further development.

The Superstars of Country: ‘Then & Now’ Starring Hayley Jensen & Jason Owen

When: Saturday 16 April from 7 pm
Where: Steampacket Hotel, 963 Kings Highway, Nelligen, NSW
Cost: Tickets are $21.50 and can be purchased here

Hayley Jensen and Jason Owen are two of Australia’s most popular and loved singers coming together for the first time this weekend at the Steampacket Hotel for a two-hour showcase.

They will be performing songs by some of the biggest country music stars including Dolly Parton, John Denver, Slim Dusty, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and more, as well as originals from these multi-award winning stars.