Lime Cordiale comes to UC for an energetic up-close performance. Photo: Visit Canberra.
The long-awaited double-barrel long weekend is sadly over, but there’s lots going on in Canberra to soothe you back into the real 5-day-a-week world. Whatever you’re looking for in the next few days, we’ve put together a stacked catalogue of events all over the capital to keep things exciting, enlightening, physical or funny. From dance festivals to Aussie hit bands on tour, film festivals, comedy shows and a rolled-gold certified musical legend, there’s a lot to get excited about this week. Starting with …
Multiple Days
Just about every dance discipline is featured in Australian Dance Week. Photo: Ausdance ACT, Facebook.
Australian Dance Week 2025
When: 2 May to 5 May, various times
Where: Various locations; see website for more details
Cost: Ticket prices vary.
Ausdance ACT proudly hosts its annual celebration of local dance talent with a fully packed schedule of dance workshops, performances, inclusive fitness sessions, free lessons, lunches, and pointe classes. Dancers seasoned, aspiring and everywhere in between will find something to get out of Dance Week, as they have a broad range of styles and disciplines that dancers can experiment in, expanding their physical ability as well as their range of talents.
The program is really too large to summarise, so visit their website to see all the exciting events they have going on.
See the hidden world of Australia’s bush fauna in The Forest Passage. Image: M16 Artspace.
The Forest Passage by Alex Flannery
When: 2 to 4 May and 7 to 8 May from 12 pm to 5 pm
Where: M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith
Cost: Free.
Artist Alex Flannery conceived the idea for Forest Passage while bushwalking. He stumbled upon a family of wild pigs and scared them into the bush. Upon following the piglets and the sow, he noticed the intricate and intertwined paths that crisscrossed the bush, changing his perspective. Using digital and film cameras, Flannery captures a vision of these paths at eye-level, and they illuminate fascinating stories of the animals that use them. From scarred wombats, battle-worn rabbits, and tough old kangaroos, Flannery portrays the animals as pedestrians going about their day, revealing their history on their bodies.
Satu Vänskä (violin) and Erkki Veltheim (violin/viola) play in the Finnish Embassy on Friday. Photo: Canberra International Music Festival.
Canberra International Music Festival – Final Days
When: 2 May to 4 May, various times depending on the event
Where: Various locations; see website for more details
Cost: Prices vary; tickets are available on the CIMF website.
The Canberra International Music Festival is coming to a close soon, and it’s going out with a bang, bringing great music from a range of disciplines. There’s really something for just about everyone, from string performances from Finnish-Australian virtuosos in VIULUT: Vänskä and Veltheim to unique takes on bagpiping as a universal instrument in Urban Pipes, and in the LESS pavilion, a quartet of French pipers combine modernity and tradition in music in SONNEURS.
The wonder and adventure of the mountains on film at the NFSA. Photo: NFSA.
Banff Mountain Film Festival at the NFSA
When: 6 to 9 May, 7 pm
Where: Arc Cinema, 1 McCoy Circuit, Acton
Cost: $24 to $32. Tickets are available via the NFSA website.
Presented by World Expeditions, the 2025 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is a 3-hour celebration of the world of mountains and adventure sports. Sharing the most exhilarating short films from explorers, runners, mountain bikers, skiers, paddlers and climbers from around the globe.
The tour is hot on the heels of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world, the Banff Mountain Film Festival, which takes place every November in the mountain town of Banff, Canada.
More than 300 of the world’s best mountain sports, culture, environment, adventure and exploration films are shown during the week-long event. A selection of award winners and audience favourites then tours the globe, visiting 390 communities and 35 countries as part of the festival’s official world tour.
Saturday
Our triennial national sport is best played at the old seat of democracy. Photo: Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.
Vote at Old Parliament House
When: 3 May, 8 am to 6 pm
Where: Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, 18 King George Terrace, Parkes
Cost: Free.
Obviously, the most exciting thing happening this week is the election, just in case you managed to forget (it’s so short after all). If you’re feeling particularly patriotic and are in the right electorate, you can cast your vote at the place where Australian democracy began. Old Parliament House serves as a polling place this Saturday. There will be activities in the queue, free voting goodies, and snacks. Once you’re done voting, you can check out their exhibition on our history as a democratic nation.
Lime Cordiale returns to Australia after a whirlwind of packed arena performances. Photo: Lime Cordiale.
Lime Cordiale – The Love Is Off The Table Tour at UC
When: 3 May, 7 pm to 11 pm
Where: UC Refectory, building 1, level B, University of Canberra, Bruce
Cost: Tickets are $81.07 and can be purchased on the UC website.
Following last year’s sold-out arena tours, Lime Cordiale is returning to its roots, playing in intimate venues where the focus is on the music, energy, and crowd. With more than half a billion streams on Spotify, Lime Cordiale is a household name, and they’ve been bringing their signature cruisy sound to the world, but this year it’s all about the motherland as they tour Australia.
Sammy J – The Kangaroo Effect, playing at the Canberra Theatre Centre on 3 May 2025. Image: Canberra Theatre Centre.
Sammy J – The Kangaroo Effect
When: 3 May 2025, 7.30 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra
Cost: $42.00 – $48.00, plus transaction fee. Tickets available from Canberra Theatre Centre.
Sammy J returns in a time-bending memoir that bounces through the life of a recovering attention seeker via song, stories and VHS tapes.
A butterfly flaps its wings and four decades later, Sammy J accidentally turns up to a 40th birthday party dressed as a kangaroo. Who is to blame? What moment led to this?
Welcome to the Kangaroo Effect.
Comedian, author, composer, and broadcaster, Sammy J is one half of the man/puppet comedy duo Sammy J & Randy, had a sitcom on Netflix, created satirical sketches for ABC TV and hosted the ABC Radio Melbourne breakfast show for five years.
Sunday
Hartley Hall Markets are on the first Sunday of each month. Photo: Hartley Hall Markets.
Hartley Hall Markets
When: First Sunday of every month, 9 am to 2 pm
Where: Hall Showgrounds
Cost: A gold coin donation is required upon entry.
The Hartley Hall Markets, organised by Hartley Lifecare, are one of Australia’s largest home-made and home-grown goods markets.
Held on the first Sunday of the month, the Hartley Hall Markets are open from 9 am to 2 pm. You will find stalls offering a variety of products including food, locally grown vegetables and fresh produce, baked goods, plants, furniture, clothing, pottery, children’s toys, arts and crafts, unique gifts and more.
Stroll among the trees, stay for lunch and enjoy the fresh air, live entertainment and children’s activities.
A great Sunday spread awaits at the Yacht Club. Photo: Tenele Conway.
Tipsy Tea at the Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club
When: 4 May 2025 at 3:00 pm
Where: Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club, Mariner Pl, Yarralumla
Cost: $95 for members, $115 for non-members. Tickets are available via Canberra Southern Cross Club.
Enjoy a relaxed afternoon by the lake with bottomless prosecco and three signature cocktails paired with a grazing station of traditional finger sandwiches and a selection of desserts at one of the best venues in Canberra to kick back and relax.
Tuesday
Make a night of it and enjoy a two-course meal in a private dining area. Photo: Canberra Southern Cross Club.
Gilbert O’Sullivan at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden
When: 6 May 2025, 8 pm
Where: Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden, 92-96 Corinna St, Phillip
Cost: Dinner and Show, 6 pm, $137 | Show only, $92. Tickets available online.
Direct from the UK, Gilbert O’Sullivan, the iconic Irish singer-songwriter, is set to enchant Australian audiences in May 2025.
Known for his remarkable ability to blend melodic pop with heartfelt, introspective lyrics, O’Sullivan rose to fame in the 1970s with chart-topping hits such as “Alone Again (Naturally),” “Clair,” “What’s in a Kiss,” “Nothing Rhymed,” and “Get Down”.
His unique sound, characterised by its tunefulness and unpretentious sentiment, earned him a special place in the hearts of music lovers around the world.
Wednesday
Help Geocon raise money for Menslink with their annual High Society Stair Chase. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
Geocon Stair Chase 2025
When: Wednesday, 7 May
Where: High Society, Grazier Lane, Belconnen
Cost: Sign up to enter!
Geocon’s annual High Society Stair Chase is back again in 2025. Will you help Geocon reach its goal of raising $25,000 for Menslink?
On Wednesday, teams from businesses across Canberra (including Region Canberra) will be sprinting up the 25 flights of stairs at Geocon’s High Society building in Belconnen. They’ll be running for the glory of being crowned champion, but more importantly, to raise money for Menslink (there’s also a sausage sizzle at the top!)
Every dollar you give today will make a difference to Menslink’s ability to support young men in Canberra. One way or another, get involved!
Thursday
Friendlyjordies tries to convince his audience that aliens are real in Alien Hunter. Image: Friendlyjordies/Facebook.
Friendlyjordies presents Alien Hunter
When: 8 May, 7 pm
Where: The Baso, 2 Cohen Street, Belconnen
Cost: Tickets are $50 and can be purchased here.
Firebrand political commentator, comedian and live performer Jordan Shanks (Friendlyjordies) is coming to Canberra to perform his newest live show, Alien Hunter, in which the headline-making comedian stakes his reputation on his sincere belief that the US Government is hiding aliens. Better known for his political journalism and skits, Jordies has performed a growing catalogue of live shows on various subjects, such as the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and Malcolm Turnbull.
Upcoming events:
- Mothers’ Day lunch at the Yacht Club – 11 May
- Beethoven’s Violin at ANU School of Music – 14 May and Thursday, 15 May
- Psychology of Serial Killers at the CTC – 25 May
Submit your event here to be considered for our weekly events guide.
