Things to do in Canberra this week (26 September - 2 October)

There’s a lot to get excited about in Canberra this week, with a whole host of school holiday events, art, festivals, races, live music and more.

The National Zoo and Aquarium has a special school holiday program this week, with roving puppet shows, interactive storytelling and talks with the lion keepers.

The Hops & Hooves Festival Race Day combines great locally made beer, wine and spirits and a full day at the races. Sample some local drinks while cheering your lucky pick across the finish line.

Canberra’s Circus Festival brings a massive schedule of events to amaze you and your family this week, with heaps of performances, workshops, circus food and goodies.

Don’t miss out on Canberra’s best events this week.

Multiple Days

National Zoo and Aquarium school holiday program ‘Animal Mysteries’

When: 27 September to 12 October
Where: Scrivener Dam, Yarralumla, Canberra
Cost: Included in general admission. No bookings required for school holiday events.

Join the National Zoo and Aquarium from 27 September to 12 October for school holiday adventures galore.

Enjoy free activities including roving puppet shows, interactive storytelling, and special lion cub keeper talks.

With a focus on ‘animal mysteries’, visitors will delve into science and nature through interactive, educational, and entertaining programming that explores the mysteries of the animal kingdom.

The fun leads up to their main event weekend on 4 and 5 October, where they’ll celebrate with live music, lawn games, and plenty of surprises.

Canberra Circus Festival

When: 26 September to 2 October
Where: The May Wirth Big Top, Chifley Community Oval, 11 Shann Place, Chifley
Cost: Tickets from $20 to $50 | Book online.

The Canberra Circus Festival is bringing a great line-up of domestic and international circus acts to Canberra, with a fully packed schedule of outdoor performances, street artists, roving performers, food, workshops, strange and wonderful attractions and community stalls.

An all-ages event, the Circus Festival has something for everyone, featuring spectacular feats and captivating shows to suit all tastes. Don’t miss out on this circus extravaganza.

Lifeline Canberra EPIC September Bookfair

When: 26 September, 9 am to 6 pm, 27 September, 9 am to 5 pm and 28 September, 9 am to 4 pm
Where: Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), Cnr Northbourne Ave & Flemington Rd, Mitchell
Cost: Entry is available via a gold coin donation. Cash is preferred.

The Lifeline Canberra Bookfairs are the largest gathering of book lovers in Canberra. These events generate a significant portion of the funding required to sustain the local mental health crisis support service.

There is a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, including rare books and collectables, children’s books, textbooks and foreign language books. You’ll also find magazines and pamphlets, sheet music, comics, maps and atlases, talking books, records and CDs, DVDs, games and jigsaws.

Strathnairn Arts Small Sculpture

When: 27 September and 28 September, 1 October and 2 October
Where: Strathnairn Arts Woolshed Gallery, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt
Cost: Free.

The Strathnairn Arts Small Sculpture Prize exhibition showcases works from 38 finalists in the inaugural Strathnairn Small Sculpture Prize. Highlighting the talents and skills of sculptors working across a range of mediums and styles, this exhibition features a diverse array of works that demonstrate the breadth of the art form. Works displayed cover the gamut from the colourfully abstract to monochrome monoliths, uncanny depictions of people to representations of who-knows-what, made with a range of materials including plaster, acrylic, recycled materials, porcelain, and more.

Play Tennis Week 2025

When: 22 September to 28 September
Where: All tennis clubs around Canberra
Cost: Free | Book now.

Tennis clubs across the ACT and region are offering free court hire from 22 to 28 September 2025. So, grab a mate, family member or colleague and play some tennis!

No membership, no worries. All you need to do is book online via your local club – then the court is yours.*

*T&Cs; Promotion expires 28 September 2025. One 60-minute free court hire per user can be redeemed on bookings from 22 to 28 September 2025. Available at all clubs across the ACT & Region, excluding North Woden Tennis Club and Forrest Tennis Club.

A Chorus Line

When: 30 September to 2 October
Where: The Q, 253 Crawford St, Queanbeyan
Cost: Tickets from $55 to $70 | Book online.

A Chorus Line continues to resonate. It first appeared on Broadway in 1975. Among its many gongs are Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Olivier Award for Best Musical and the Helpmann Award for Best Musical. A Chorus Line is a stunning concept musical capturing the spirit and tension of a Broadway chorus audition.

Exploring the inner lives and bittersweet ambitions of professional Broadway performers, the show features one powerhouse number after another, such as ‘What I Did for Love, ‘One’, I Can Do That, ‘At the Ballet’, ‘The Music and the Mirror’ and ‘I Hope I Get It’. A brilliantly complex fusion of song, dance, and compellingly authentic drama, A Chorus Line is a classic of the genre.

Saturday

TAC Grand Day Out

When: 27 September, 10 am to 2 pm,
Where: Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street North
Cost: Free | all welcome.

On the first Saturday of the September school holidays, Tuggeranong Arts Centre will be buzzing with free activities for grandparents, mums, dads, kids and teens. Book in for a structured art, dance, or drama class, or drop in to enjoy a range of live entertainment and spontaneous art-making. Or simply, relax by the lake with a cuppa and enjoy a program of live music and dance on TAC’s outdoor stage.

Pegasus Riding for the Disabled – Open Day

When: 27 September, 10 am to 3 pm
Where: 119 Drake Brockman Drive, Holt
Cost: Free.

Pegasus Riding for the Disabled is an organisation that gives disabled kids a fun, uplifting experience by riding ponies in a safe environment. Riding ponies gives kids a sense of mobility, freedom and empowerment and Pegasus has been helping kids with disabilities in this unique, uplifting way for 50 years.

This Saturday, the Pegasus Open Day invites the community to come around for a day of joy, connection and community, where visitors can meet the horses, get a look at the grounds and better understand how Pegasus helps disabled kids.

South Jerrabomberra Dog Park opening

When: 27 September from 10 am to 1 pm
Where: 10a Violet Terrace, Tralee NSW 2620
Cost: Free | Find out more.

The long-awaited South Jerra Dog Park is finally opening and everyone is invited.

Explore 5 hectares of the South Jerra Dog Park, while also enjoying dog shows, markets and a complimentary BBQ.

The dog park features spaces for both small and large dogs to run freely, dog agility zones, a bone-shaped walking track, BBQ areas, treats, and entertainment.

Spring Family Day with Costa Georgiadis

When: 27 September, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Cost: Free | Find out more.

Celebrate the unveiling of our new portrait of landscape architect, environmental educator and TV host Costa Georgiadis!

Join Costa and artist Rob McHaffie for a day of creativity, community and connection. Enjoy Storytime, get crafty in our Spring Family Space, listen to live music and explore Costa’s portrait on an interactive family tour.

Hops & Hooves Festival Race Day

When: 27 September, 12 pm
Where: Thoroughbred Park, 1 Randwick Road, Lyneham
Cost: Tickets from $32.15 | Buy tickets.

The warming weather means local crafters, producers and artisans are gearing up for the 2025 Hops & Hooves Festival, and you should be too.

Thoroughbred Park has pulled out all the stops to deliver an action-packed schedule for this year’s race day.

Canberra’s favourite food trucks are set to join a curated showcase of local and regional craft beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages. Live music, market stalls and family-friendly activities mean there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Footy fans can also watch the AFL Grand Final broadcast live and loud on the big screen.

Taste of Italy: Tuscany 5-Course Regional Lunch

When: 27 September, 12:30 pm to 3 pm
Where: Restaurant Two14 (located inside Deco Hotel)
Cost: Tickets are $140 | Book online.

Step into the sun-soaked hills of Tuscany for the next chapter in our Taste of Italy series.

Curated by Head Chef Federico Pitasi, this five-course tasting experience celebrates the rich culinary heritage of Tuscany. Each dish highlights the region’s finest ingredients, with a focus on simplicity, balance, and bold, authentic flavour. Looking to take it up a notch? Wine pairing packages are available.

Make it an event with our Stay & Dine package from Deco Hotel and experience Floriade while you are here.

Tuesday

The Unofficial Taylor – A Tribute to the Eras

When: 30 September, 7 pm to 9:15 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra
Cost: Tickets from $65.50 to $76.50 plus transaction fee | Tickets available from Canberra Theatre Centre.

Calling all Swifties. Make a ‘sweet escape’ to the world of Taylor Swift with THE UNOFFICIAL TRIBUTE SHOW – TAYLOR: A Tribute to the Eras of Taylor Swift Music.

Showtime presents Josette with an international band and dancers in this joyous, effervescent concert experience, complete with sparkly costumes, cosmic stage production and over 20 renditions of Taylor’s biggest hits from every era of her career, including Shake It Off, Anti-Hero, Cruel Summer, You Belong With Me, Love Story, I Knew You Were Trouble, Blank Space, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, Bad Blood, Our Song, Lover and more.

Wednesday

School holiday activity: 1975

When: 1 October, two sessions: 10:30 am to 11:30 am and 2 pm to 3 pm
Where: National Library of Australia
Cost: $5 | Register for 10:30 am. Register for the 2 pm session.

Curious about daily life in the past? Join the National Library’s Education team as they time-travel back 50 years.

Participants will explore the new exhibition 1975: Living in the Seventies, then make creative responses to the fashion and food from the time. All craft materials will be supplied.

This activity is suitable for children aged 6 to 10 years. Each ticket is for one child workshop participant and costs $5 each.

Walk for Epilepsy 2025

When: 1 October from 9 am
Where: All around Canberra
Cost: Free.

This year’s theme, ‘Walk and Talk’, invites you to make every step count for the 1 in 25 Australians diagnosed with epilepsy – by raising vital funds and sparking meaningful conversations. Whether you live with epilepsy or are walking in support of someone who does, together we can help raise awareness and create lasting change.

Upcoming events

• Looking for Alibrandi – 3 October.
• UC Capitals Holiday Camp – 7 October to 10 October.
• Matthew Kelley Racing Race Day – 10 October.
• Pride & Prejudice – 15 October to 18 October.

Submit your event here to be considered for our weekly events guide.