Your guide to what's going on around the capital this weekend.
All Weekend
SUMMERSIDE FESTIVAL The Summerside Festival is a month full of dining events celebrating local and seasonal produce, opportunities to taste the best of the region's wines plus performances, events and exhibitions. Enjoy a lazy long lunch, twilight cinema, live music, a master class, champagne and wine tasting, evening tapas, a degustation dining experience or an evening horse ride. On until February 28. Visit thepoachersway.com.au/summerside-festival for a full list of events and prices.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING FESTIVAL Health Harmony Soul Canberra is on with more than 50 exhibitors, the psychic reader's room, plus leaders and specialists sharing their knowledge, products and services on stage. Book a psychic reading, browse health and wellbeing exhibitors and enjoy free performances, workshops and classes. National Convention Centre Ballroom. Open February 20 and 21 from 10am-6pm, and February 22 from 10am-5pm.
FOOD AND WINE EXPO Taste your way through the food and wine from producers across Australia at the National Convention Centre. MasterChef alumni Ben Milbourne will cook three special degustation meals over the weekend. Plus appearances from chef Shaun Arantz of Racine restaurant in Orange and ex reality cooking contestants Courtney Ralston and Rishi Desai. Tickets $21.49-$88.13. National Convention Centre, Constitution Avenue, Civic. Open Friday from 12pm-8pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, and Sunday 10am-5pm. See foodandwineexpo.com.au
Friday
5.30pm BLACK CHAT: THE SAPPHIRES The National Film and Sound Archives' Indigenous Connections team share their unique insights into the multitude of cultural layers that exist within the NFSA's Indigenous collections. This Black Chat focuses on the hit film The Sapphires (2012) and the real-life, all-female Indigenous singing group that inspired it. NFSA Theatrette. 5.30-8pm. Free.
From 6pm SUNSET CINEMAS Head along to American Sniper at the Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinemas. Gates open at 6pm, movie starts at 8.15pm. Patrick White Lawns, Parkes (in front of the National Library). Fridays are Aperol Spritz Sunset Sessions where all 18+ ticketholders can enjoy a complimentary Spritz sample. Online tickets Adults $19/Concession $15/Volkswagen Polo Class $27/Star Lounge $40 from openaircinemas.com.au. Tickets cost more at the gate.
7pm CANDLELIGHT OPERA Opera By Candlelight is an evening of exquisite music, food, wine and great company. International artists will join inspiring young Australian singers and musicians in a unique setting. Also on Sunday at 5.30pm. Tickets $80 including wine and nibbles from operabycandlelight.net.
7pm AFTERDARK TOURS Explore the National Botanic Gardens at night and combine it with a degustation dinner at their delicious AFTERDARK adults only tours. Four courses with matched drinks plus a guided tour. Tickets $75 from parksaustralia.gov.au/botanic-gardens. Also on March 13, 20 and 27.
8pm HIGH FIDELITY Based on the novel by Nick Hornby and the popular film, High Fidelity is the story of Rob, a slacker thirty-something record store owner, who has just been dumped by his girlfriend Laura. In an attempt to figure out what went wrong, he decides to revisit his failed relationships of the past. ANU Arts Centre. Also on Saturday at 2pm and 8pm. Tickets Adult $35/Conc $30/Child $25 from phoenixplayers.com.au.
8.30pm ADAM HARVEY Country music singer and eight-time Golden Guitar Award winner Adam Harvey is performing at Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden, joined by special guests The Sunny Cowgirls and Golden Guitar winner Chelsea Basham. Tickets show only $35/dinner and show $65 from ticketek.com.au.
9pm SHAMEEM Perth neo-soul songstress Shameem heads to The Basement as part of her national tour on the back of the release of her brand new sophomore album, The Second City. Supported by Cherie Kotek Lane. Tickets $15 from trybooking.com. Doors from 9pm. 18+.
Saturday
From 8.30am RELAY FOR LIFE The Queanbeyan Relay for Life is on this morning – walk or run to help find a cure for cancer, to support a loved one or friend, or just to show support. Glebe Avenue, Queanbeyan.
From 8.30am MINT OPEN DAY The Royal Australian Mint open day is on Saturday with live music, sausage sizzle, supervised factory walk-throughs, kids' activities. Free entry. 8.30am-4pm.
10am IS CYCLING NORMAL? That's the rather intriguing question that Daniel Oakman will ask during an event at the National Museum of Australia. He explores the role of cycling in Australia and invites you to join the conversation. $10-$15. Bookings essential on eventbrite.com.au
2pm IN THE FLESH FILMS The National Portrait Gallery is showing a series of free films that relate to concepts of humanness as explored in their summer exhibition In the Flesh. This Saturday, see Stranger Than Fiction (2006, M). Free entry.
2pm LEGO ROBOTS The Australian National University's Robogals group will hold a hands-on session where you can program Lego robots. It's a fun taste of engineering – and it's suitable for 10- to14-year-olds. National Portrait Gallery. Free, but bookings are essential. 6102 7070 or bookings@npg.gov.au
4.30pm NITRO CIRCUS LIVE Action sports star Travis Pastrana is back on the dirt bike and bringing the adrenalin-charged, live action sports show, Nitro Circus Live, back to Australia. Joining him will be 40 of the biggest stars in FMX, BMX and skate and more, including the newly crowned X Fighters champion Josh Sheehan, Blake 'Bilko' Williams, the Nitro Circus crew members – Jeremy Rawle, Streetbike Tommy, Jolene, Dusty Wygle and Erik Roner. GIO Stadium. Tickets $49.96-$192.69+bf from ticketek.com.au.
From 6pm OPEN AIR CINEMAS Head along to Nightcrawler (MA) at the Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinemas. Gates open at 6pm, movie starts at 8.15pm. Patrick White Lawns, Parkes (in front of the National Library). Online tickets Adults $19/Concession $15/Volkswagen Polo Class $27/Star Lounge $40 from openaircinemas.com.au. Tickets cost more at the gate.
6pm POSTCARDS FROM PRAGUE Australian jazz musician Andrea Keller performs a program that combines Janacek, the touchstone of all Czech music, with Martin Wesley-Smith. The concert is rounded off with songs by the inimitable Iva Bittova, and a number of new songs by Andrea Keller written in Prague during the spring of 2002. The Street Theatre. Tickets $20-$60 from thestreet.org.au.
Sunday
8am COLOR RUN Start out dressed in white and then get blasted with colour as you run a 5km course near Lake Burley Griffin. Starts at Stage 88, Commonwealth Park. Tickets $65 from thecolourrun.com.au/canberra.
From 8am GUNNING SHOW Enjoy a family day out at the annual Gunning Show. Yard dog trials, shearing, cattle and alpacas, dog show, horse events, Crocodile Encounters show with lizards, snakes and crocodiles, trampoline display, face painting, soccer speed cage, treasure hunts and patting paddock. Tickets $5-$25. See gunningshow.com.au.
From 8am STAND UP PADDLE RACES Head to the Kingston Foreshore for a morning of racing on Lake Burley Griffin, with competitors standing up on paddle-boards, using a long single oar to manoeuvre on the water. Registration starts from 8am. Racing at 9am. $5-$25. All welcome and all equipment provided. See facebook.com
From 9am MUSTANG SHOW Hot rods and classic cars on display on the West Lawns at Old Parliament House. Check out Mustangs from across the ages and chat to owners. Plus kids entertainment. Free. Corner of Parkes Place West and King Edward Terrace, Parkes. See canberramustangshow.com.au
From 11.30am PREVIEW RACE DAY An afternoon of horse racing at the Winning Edge Presentations Preview Race Day. Take part in fashions on the field with categories such as Classic Ladies Racewear. 11.30am-5.30pm. Local racing starts approximately 12.30pm. Thoroughbred Park.
From 1pm DRAWN IN Let your creative juices flow at the National Portrait Gallery. Pick up a pencil and enjoy the experience of drawing while listening to local musicians, The Night Cafe Jazz Trio. Free. Ideal for all ages and abilities. All materials are provided. 1-3pm.
1.30pm SUNDAY JAZZ Make your summer weekends last longer with Sunday afternoon jazz in the House of Representatives courtyard. Get a share platter and two glasses of sangria for $30, a rose-themed high tea, plus a full summer menu is also available. Every Sunday 1.30-3.30pm until February 22. Free entry. Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House. For more information visit moadoph.gov.au/events/sunday-afternoon-music.
From 2pm STEAMY SUNDAY Head to the Museum Bar at the National Museum of Australia and chill out on the deck with drinks and live music from Stereotype with trumpeter Jonty Hall.
From 5pm SUNDAE SESSION Head along to Wild at the closing night of the Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinemas. Gates open at 5pm, movie starts at 8.15pm. Pre-movie entertainment by Canberra musician Angus Murphy from 7.15pm. Patrick White Lawns, Parkes (in front of the National Library). $19-$40. See openaircinemas.com.au. Tickets cost more at the gate. And Sundays mean Sundae Sessions, which include unlimited free Ben & Jerry's ice cream.
5.30pm C.W. STONEKING Enigmatic performer C.W. Stoneking performs tunes from his latest album, Gon' Boogaloo. The Street Theatre. Tickets $44 from thestreet.org.au.
