Things to do in Canberra this week (27 June - 3 July)

There’s so much to see, do, taste and experience this week in the Canberra area, including a chance to experience everything special about a winter Christmas.

If you’ve been jealously looking at photos of European snowy Christmases for years and yearn for some of the action, this week Christmas in July comes to town, bringing fire pits, spiced mulled wine, great food and a snow lane. Don’t miss out on this yearly event that turns the lakeside into a European alpine village.

Lush at the Grainger Gallery is an exhibition focusing on the much imitated but hard to perfect discipline of the still life. Artist Gatya Kelly beautifully renders the detail, light, shade and colour of various subjects such as fruit, flowers and the occasional moth.

And Bar Beirut offers the perfect way to finish off the week with some saucy, scintillating burlesque dancing, performed by a world-class dancer hot off the stage from Las Vegas.

Multiple Days

Questacon Presents: ZAP! CLANK! POW!

When: 27 June to 3 July, 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Questacon, The National Science and Technology Centre, King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Cost: Free.

Spark some scientific curiosity in your kids at Questacon this week with hands-on demonstrations of science.

This fun exhibit shows kids science in practical, fascinating ways, allowing them to safely interact with and understand forces such as electricity, machinery, gravity, magnetics and aerodynamics.

All ages are welcome to see science in action at Questacon. There are 17 interactive exhibits, so there’s plenty to keep the kids occupied.

LUSH – Art Exhibition at the Grainger Gallery

When: 27 June to 29 June, 2 July and 3 July, 11 am to 5 pm
Where: Building 3.3, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick
Cost: Free.

Gatya Kelly’s LUSH exhibition is an incredible exploration of light, shadow and vibrant deep colours through still life scenes.

Kelly’s technically stunning paintings have a depth and sophistication in their presentation. With minimal backgrounds, the focus is squarely on the subjects, from blueberries to flowers, oranges and flowers, revealing the detail and beauty in everyday objects.

The works, all oil paintings on either canvas or linen, are available for purchase from the gallery.

Día de San Juan: A Peruvian Cultural Weekend at Cypher Brewing Co.

When: 27 to 29 June, 11 am to 10 pm
Where: Cypher Brewing Co, 35 Hinder Street, Gungahlin
Cost: Free.

A three-day celebration of Peruvian and Amazonian culture awaits at Cypher Brewing to bring the spirit of Día de San Juan to Canberra.

There will be live music, traditional dishes, dancing, cultural storytelling, family activities, festivities and of course, beer, all to celebrate the cultures of the Amazon.

Special drinks like Peruvian-inspired lager and a Pisco Punch cocktail will be available and there will be face painting for the kids.

Christmas in July

When: 3 and 4 July, 4 pm to 10 pm, 5 July, 10 am to 10 pm, 6 July, 10 am to 8 pm
Where: Patrick White Lawns, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes
Cost: Free.

Christmas in July brings the magic of the holiday to the middle of the year. This mid-winter festival is for all those who want to experience the joys of a cold Christmas.

It will transform the lakeside into an alpine village, complete with European-style chalets hosting art, food, wine, live music and markets, all decked with themed lights. For a real winter experience, Snow Lane puts you right in the middle of a forest in winter with snow-topped pines and gently falling snowflakes.

Beat the mid-season chill with the festival’s fire pits, spiced mulled wine, marshmallows or check out the live music stages and get your body moving.

This week at the NFSA

When: 27 June to 3 July
Where: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton
Cost: Tickets from $8 to $16. Book online.

This week’s schedule at the NFSA starts on Friday with Alfred Hitchcock’s classic psychological thriller Vertigo.

Then on Saturday, there’s plenty of variety with The Adventures of Robin Hood, followed by cult horror film Paranormal Activity, which sparked a wave of low-budget horror.

On Sunday, Joan Crawford stars in Mildred Pierce. And to cap it all off, Thursday features Dance Me to My Song from 1998.

Friday

Lakeside at 5: Eric Ajaye & Lachlan Coventry

When: 27 June, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Bar open from 5 pm.
Where: Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street, Greenway
Cost: Entry by donation. Find out more through Tuggeranong Arts Centre.

Lakeside at 5 is a popular monthly after-work program of local live jazz at Tuggeranong Arts Centre. Come and relax by the lake with a glass of wine and live music by some of Canberra’s most treasured artists.

For the June Lakeside at 5 event, Eric Ajaye and Lachlan Coventry will present their own compositions as well as treatments on a few compositions by some of their musical influences.

Burlesque at Bar Beirut

When: 27 June, 8 pm to 9:30 pm
Where: Bar Beirut, 25 Garema Place, Canberra
Cost: Tickets $150. Book online.

There’s no better way to cap off the week than some burlesque at Bar Beirut.

Hot off the stage from Las Vegas, Jazida is a seasoned, passionate performer coming to Bar Beirut. It promises to be an unforgettable night of dinner, drinks and sizzling live entertainment that certainly beats sitting at home. Burlesque night is strictly 18+.

Saturday

Goulburn Farmers Market

When: 28 June, 8 am to 11 am
Where: Peden Pavilion, 45 Braidwood Road, Goulburn
Cost: Free entry, cash preferred by vendors.

Support local farmers and producers at the Goulburn Farmers Market, with plenty of vendors and stalls selling locally grown, fresh food and artisanal handmade products, all without the plastic packaging and harmful chemicals of mass-produced food.

Spice up your next meal with locally grown, organic food.

TEDxCanberra Adventure: The unsung women shaping history

When: 28 June, 4 pm to 7 pm
Where: National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Cost: Tickets $65 to $85, plus transaction fee. Tickets available from TEDxCanberra.

TEDxCanberra and the National Portrait Gallery partner for She Shapes History, an exclusive after-hours experience that brings the stories of more than a dozen powerful and inspiring Australian women to life.

You’ll begin with a self-guided walking storytelling trail – your inspiration trail – taking you to six pop-up stops from the High Court to the National Gallery.

At each location, She Shapes History guides will share short, surprising and moving stories of women who helped shape Australia in ways both quiet and bold.

The trail is self-paced and interactive, like a thoughtful scavenger hunt through Australia’s hidden history in the heart of Canberra.

After completing the trail, head inside the National Portrait Gallery for a special after-hours experience.

Latin Night

When: 28 June, 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm
Where: Cornerstone Pub, 51 Hinder Street, Gungahlin
Cost: Free, bookings required. Book your table online.

Head to the Cornerstone Pub for Latin Night on the last Saturday of the month, with $10 margaritas all night and a free dance lesson from Kokoloco Dance Studio at 7:30 pm.

Sheldon Keys and DJ Paisa are bringing the beat, so you better bring your dancing feet.

Enjoy great drinks at great prices from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm with Pre’s At The Pub.

Thursday

Unusual Varieties Wine Dinner

When: 3 July, 6 pm
Where: Les Bistronomes, 18 Blamey Place, Campbell
Cost: Tickets $190 per person, bookings required.

Les Bistronomes will host a special bespoke wine dinner, featuring five courses by executive chef Clement Chauvin, paired with unusual wine varietals from all over France. The evening will be presented by Christophe Rebut from French Flair. Prepare for a night of taste exploration and unforgettable pairings.

Upcoming events

• UC Capitals Holiday Camp – 7 July
• A Good Kind of Trouble with Brooke Blurton and Melanie Saward at the National Library – 8 July
• Bring Back My Wives: The Ultimate Housewives x Drag Live Experience – 13 July

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