Celebrate the wine heritage of the regions this week. Photo: Visit Canberra.
There’s a lot going on across the regions this week, with town festivals celebrating artisan goods, food and wine, Youth Week expos for young people, live music, artistic workshops and even monster trucks.
Bungendore’s Harvest Festival is back with more than enough for the whole family to get behind, with plenty of stallholders, food trucks, live music, local artisan stalls from Bungendore craftspeople, fresh produce, wine, spirits, coffee, olive oil and special meals.
And the Canberra Wine District’s Stomp Festival celebrates local winemakers, with exclusive tastings, gourmet food, live music and interactive experiences to enjoy.
The regions are offering a whole lot of live music to enjoy too, from ARIA chart-featuring artists with decades under their belt to local musicians showing off their unique sound and classical guitar prodigies.
All this and more in our weekly guide to the best to see and do in the regions in the coming days.
Multiple Days
Bungendore’s celebration of agricultural heritage is here. Photo: Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council.
Bungendore Harvest Festival
When: 17 to 19 April
Where: Bungendore Harvest Festival, 23 Malbon Street, Bungendore
Cost: Prices may vary by event.
The Bungendore Harvest Festival is back, celebrating the agricultural character of the region with a bang. This particular festival will put regional women farmers front and centre.
The weekend’s celebrations start on Friday night with a special dinner at Scrumpers Kitchen Bungendore, with a three-course menu showcasing the best locally grown produce from women farmers. Each course is paired with drinks from female winemakers, such as Everyday Legacy Craft Distillery and Sapling Yard Winery. The evening will also feature a talk from Lucy Ridge about her new book Fed Up: A Chef’s Adventure in Food, Farming and Feminism.
Then on Saturday, the market features plenty of stallholders, food trucks, live music, local artisan stalls from Bungendore craftspeople, fresh produce, wine, spirits, coffee, olive oil, as well as face painting and fun activities.
While Sunday’s events feature farm tours and workshops.
Get the inside scoop on wine and the people who make it happen this weekend. Photo: Events Canberra.
Stomp Festival
When: 18 and 19 April
Where: Various locations around Canberra, including Gundaroo and Murrumbateman
Cost: Prices vary | Book online.
The Stomp Festival is inviting you to enjoy the world of wine with a full weekend of exciting events celebrating the art of winemaking, food and entertainment. Kicking off autumn the right way, this festival across various wineries around Canberra includes exclusive tastings, gourmet food, live music and interactive experiences.
Wine enthusiasts can even test their skills as winemakers to experience firsthand how the wine is made, stomping grapes, testing their palate and comparing local wines with international varieties.
Friday
Youth Week is bringing a lot of excitement and activities for those under 25 to get involved in. Image: Goulburn Youth Services, Facebook.
Youth Week Expo at Back To The Arcade
When: 17 April, 3 to 7 pm
Where: Back To The Arcade, 128 Finlay Rd, Goulburn
Cost: Free entry to the expo.
As part of Youth Week, Goulburn Youth Services is holding a great free event at Back To The Arcade, offering the ultimate hangout for young people in the area.
There will be plenty of games, activities, music, laser tag, bowling, roller skating, as well as local youth services, hosting stalls and services available for young people to check out.
Families are invited to come along and enjoy the atmosphere, celebrating regional youth.
Ross Wilson comes to the Goulburn Performing Arts Centre. Photo: Goulburn Performing Arts Centre.
Ross Wilson & The Peaceniks present Now Listen We’re Steppin’ Out!
When: 17 April, 8 to 10 pm
Where: Goulburn Performing Arts Centre, 163 Auburn Street, Goulburn
Cost: Tickets from $69 to $79 | Book online.
Ross Wilson and his band The Peaceniks are coming to the Goulburn Performing Arts Centre to celebrate more than 50 years of performance, presenting the very best from his almost six decades in show business.
As a solo artist, Wilson has no less than 26 ARIA Top 40 hits to his credit as a singer, songwriter and producer and he is putting his hits front and centre at this two-hour show.
This performance will include hits such as Cool World, State of the Heart, Chemistry, No Time, Come Said the Boy and more.
Saturday
Image: Monster Truck Promotions Australia.
Monster Truck Mayhem Thrills and Stunt Show Queanbeyan Showgrounds
When: 18 April, 4 to 5:45 pm
Where: Queanbeyan Showgrounds, 19-41 Farrer Place, Queanbeyan
Cost: Tickets from $38.26 | Book online.
The Queanbeyan Showgrounds are hosting an afternoon of incredible stunts and death-defying action sure to have you gripping your seats.
The Monster Truck Mayhem Thrills and Stunt Show is a high-energy show with plenty of entertainment, including freestyle motocross, stunt performers, novelty acts, FMX riders performing aerial tricks, huge jumps and of course, the raw power of the monster truck engines.
There will also be a visit from the Water Jetpack Show Entertainment Team, comedy cars, pyrotechnics, as well as giveaways and interactive components of the show.
Head to the Steampacket Hotel for an evening of relaxing music from a local performer. Image: Steampacket Hotel Facebook.
Amber Kenny Live at the Steampacket Hotel
When: 18 April, 6 to 9 pm
Where: Steampacket Hotel, 963 Kings Highway, Nelligen
Cost: Free entry.
Head to the Steampacket Hotel for a cruisy night of music from Southern Highland local Amber Kenny.
Kenny is well known for her blend of captivating melodies and raw lyrics. She has performed at the Tamworth Country Music Festival as a solo artist and she’s making a name for herself in the music industry, with a growing reputation for deep storytelling and a unique mode of expression.
Sunday
A recognised talent on the guitar, Tommaso Girotto, comes to Braidwood for a special concert. Photo: Humanitix.
Tommaso Girotto ‘All in Twilight’ classical guitar
When: 19 April, 3 to 4:15 pm
Where: Braidwood Uniting Church, 47 Elrington St, Braidwood
Cost: Tickets from $25 to $30 | Book online.
Tommaso Girotto is a classical guitar prodigy returning to Braidwood with a diverse musical program including works from Dean, Albeniz, Takemitsu, Crivici, Sculthorpe and Bach.
Girotto studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and he has won competitions around the country, competing in the finals of international guitar competitions such as the Istanbul Classical Guitar Competition and the Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition.
Come see a real talent this Sunday at the Braidwood Uniting Church.
Tuesday
Hone your artistic skills at the Royal Queanbeyan Hotel. Photo: Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council.
Life Drawing at The Royal Hotel Queanbeyan
When: 21 April, 6:30 to 9 pm
Where: The Royal Hotel Queanbeyan, 85 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan
Cost: Tickets are $35 | Book online.
This drawing and drinking session is a relaxed, safe place where artists and would-be artists get together and sketch real-life nude models in Queanbeyan’s Royal Hotel.
Test your abilities and hone your skills with a series of timed poses ranging from shorter two-minute sessions up to half an hour or more of deliberate, considered art.
Become a better artist or just have fun at this unique event celebrating the human body and the artistic process. If you have your own art supplies, you are encouraged to bring them, but materials and supplies will be offered. All mediums and abilities are welcome.
