Image: Foodie Day Out | www.tasteofsydney.com.au
Fun things to do this weekend, in capital cities around Australia.
Last-minute plane trip? Last-minute road trip? Check out these awesome things happening in a city near you this weekend (the 12th and 13th of March).
Things to do in Melbourne
Change the World: Get brave for the World’s Greatest Shave at QV Hair. Register for the event and you get a FREE shave or colour for just a $20 donation to the cause of fighting leukaemia and other blood cancers.
Family Fun: There’s something for every age group at the Moomba Festival, Melbourne’s big autumn community festival. It’s got everything from face-painting and carnival rides to extreme sports like wakeboarding and skateboard trick competitions.
Music Lovers: Inverloch Jazz Festival is running in Inverloch from Friday 11 until Monday 14 March. Tickets are available at the door or online from Ticketebo. Young people aged 16 and under get in for free when accompanied by a parent or other adult guardian!
Foodies: One of Melbourne’s favourite foodie festivals, the Port Phillip Mussel Festival at South Melbourne Market promises a feed from iconic Melbourne chefs, accompanied by live music. It’s a real seafood street party like you’d expect to see in New Orleans – without the long, expensive plane flight to get there. Entry is FREE.
If you’re a foodie who is tragically allergic to seafood, your next best bet is the South East Asia Festival in Argyle Square. With food prepared in traditional ways from countries including Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines, this is one drool-worthy food flourish not to miss. Entry is FREE.
Steam Train Enthusiasts: Steamfest is on again, the biggest event of the year for Scoresby’s National Steam Centre, the museum for all things related to steam engines, steam trains, and the Melbourne Steam Traction Engine Club. You can ride a train and learn all about trains from different eras and how steam makes things move. Children get entry for just $5.
Motorheads: The Lardner Park Motorfest is on at Lardner Park thanks to the Rotary Club of Drouin.
Dog Lovers: Doggy Drive-In is showing new release family movie Zootopia on Sunday night at the Coburg Drive-In, thanks to Village Cinemas Australia and the RSPCA Victoria. This is the one day of the year when it makes sense to leave your dog in the car – and you get to enjoy the movie, too!
Things to do in Sydney
Change the World: Give yourself some cleaner air to breathe, for FREE! The City of Sydney is giving away 1,000 trees on Sydney Park Road on Saturday. Staff can help you pick the best type of tree for your yard, and hungry world-changing-champions can enjoy a sausage sizzle lunch.
Family Fun: One of the best known art shows on the North Shore, the Lindfield Art Show and Fair is celebrating its 40th anniversary at Holy Family Primary School. The kids will love the face-painting and bouncy castle, and parents will be blown away by more than 300 stunning artworks from established and emerging artists.
Music Lovers: If you’re in the city on Saturday afternoon from 4 to 6pm, check out the ANZ Blue Stage Series, which is live indie and emerging music at Martin Place stages.
Foodies: Billed as “the greatest picnic on earth”, the Taste of Sydney Food and Wine Festival in Centennial Park would be hard to miss. Master classes with renowned chefs are available. Adult entry starts at $25 and meals cost $6-$12.
Get Moving: Come play table tennis with the group at Pyrmont Community Centre on Saturday from 3 to 4pm. All bats and balls are supplied, and entry is FREE.
Fashion Lovers and Shopaholics: There is simply so much on for fashion-lovers this weekend! The Round She Goes vintage fashion market at Box Hill Town Hall, the Indian Fashion Markets at Fairfield Showground, and Warehouse Sales of up to 75% and 80% off for designer brands Zimmerman in Roseberry and Camilla and Marc in Paddington. It’s also the last few days of the Designer and Vintage Pop-Up Sale in Paddington.
Book Lovers: Join the book club at Kings Cross Library for a delightfully informal discussion of literature and books of all kinds. Entry is FREE.
Brain Training: Do cryptic crosswords drive you batty? Join Patra the expert for the Cryptic Crossword Workshop at Waterloo Library. Entry is FREE.
Things to do in Brisbane
Family Fun: Take the kids to Nova 106.9FM’s Outlook Park Open Day at The Rise, Park Ridge, for a jumping castle and giant slide, an animal petting zoo, and Outlook Park’s new, fancy pants, state-of-the-art playground. Entry is FREE.
Get Moving: For simple and effective fitness training, try Back to Basics Fitness Training on Saturday mornings, bright and early at 7am in Perrin Park. Entry is FREE, but you need to phone Inclusive Fitness Solutions on 0433 975 766 to register. Other options on every Saturday morning include the Southbank Parkrun (entry is FREE if you register by 6pm on Friday), or Group Fitness at Gregory Park, also FREE with a booking through Fitness 4 U on 0412 552 885.
Want some less high-energy options? For increasing mobility and flexibility in the wheelchair-bound or ageing, try Chair Yoga at Bracken Ridge Hall on Saturday at 8:45am, which costs $5. Another option is aqua aerobics sessions such as Aqua Circuit at 8am in Bellbowrie Pool, which costs pool entry. Check out the Brisbane City Council What’s On website for even more low-key group exercise options.
Green Thumb: Gardening enthusiasts will have plenty to keep them occupied this weekend, with the Palm & Cycad Society of Australia Annual Show & Plant Sale at the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens (entry $3), the Beaudesert Districts Orchid and Foliage Society Autumn Show (entry $3), and the Ipswich Plant Expo (entry $7 for adults, FREE for kids).
Street Kids: Anyone who loves skateboarding but hasn’t done it in a while – or ever! – can come along to the Skateboard Revolutions class for beginners. It’s at Amazon Place Park in Jindalee, and there are two coaches present to keep things super safe. Entry is FREE.
Dog Lovers: Raise a glass of the best and newest beer brews of Brisbane to raise funds to help animals in need. The Pints for Paws afternoon event (2-6pm) will be held at the Bloodhound Corner Bar and Kitchen in the Valley. Entry is FREE; beer is not free because it is a charity event.
Brain Training: Learn to play Mahjong (in the Western style) at Mitchelton Library on Saturdays at 9:30am. Entry is FREE and new members are always welcome.
Vintage Swing: The Redlands Rockabilly Revival is one not to miss for any lovers of vintage fashion or swing dancing, the Lindy Hop, and the jive. Come dressed in your best vintage gear for dancing, then join in the fun with live music from 10am to 5pm. The Pinup Parade is at 1:30pm. It’s on Sunday at the Cleveland Showgrounds and costs $10.
Things to do in Adelaide
The Adelaide Fringe Festival and Womadelaide are both on this weekend, so we’ll just mention a few of the highlights outside of that:
Change the World: Oxfam Secondhand Bookshop Adelaide is having a massive 50c book sale on Saturday from 9am. As always, 100% of proceeds from the sale go to the world-changing work of Oxfam Australia, raising people out of poverty around the world.
Family Fun: The Tanunda Show features everything from Pony Club exhibitions to the snake educational reptile display, to face-painting and the Gum Boot Throwing Competition (I kid you not), and even a traditional Scottish pipe band.
Foodies: Adelaide’s Central Market is just as delicious as always, and the unique variety to be found in the weekend food stalls is impressive. A trip to Hahndorf is equally drool-worthy, as these German and Bavarian pubs and hotels date back to the 1830s, and so do their traditional meals.
Digital Natives: Try out the virtual reality equipment and the amazing Cube by Google’s Creative Lab, at the Adelaide Fringe Festival’s Digital Playground. It’s in the State Library and entry is FREE.
Things to do in Perth
Change the World: The World’s Greatest Shave is happening in Perth at Forrest Place at 11am, thanks to hit92.9FM. You can get your head shaved for a $20 donation or get it coloured for just $5! Contact the WA team on 1800 500 088 for more information.
Family Fun: Everyone will enjoy the Corymbia Multicultural Festival in Kalamunda Shire from 2pm on Saturday and from 9am on Sunday.
Another great option is the Waterbank Festival, which is on for one day only on this Saturday from 9am, along the Swan River. You can find it on Trinity Avenue opposite Trinity College, and there will be street food, a free outdoor Pilates class, and live local DJs.
Wedding Bound: The Perth Bridal Fair is a must-see for brides-to-be, and it’s on this Saturday and Sunday. Award-winning local and international fashion is accompanied by 250 various exhibitors keen to meet all of your wedding needs. Entry is $19 for adults and FREE for kids.
Young Explorers: Asteroid: Mission Extreme is on at the Perth Scitech Planetarium. The show focuses on the possibility of an asteroid colliding with Earth, and how it could be prevented. It’s produced by National Geographic and narrated by Sigourney Weaver. To book a seat for the next showing, phone the planetarium on 9215 0700.
Vintage Swing: Head to the Retro Rewind festival on Saturday and you’ll find the Vintage Collective Markets, a pin-up parade, vintage hot rods, and free workshops for the whole family to enjoy. It’s on from 1pm at Yancheap National Park. Entry is FREE.
Things to do in Canberra
Foodies: The Enlighten Festival is on this Saturday so don’t miss the Night Noodle Markets for amazing Asian eats. Entry is FREE.
Family Fun: If you love the mayhem of roller derby or you just really loved the movie Whip It! get the whole family along to the Capital Carnage vs. Victorian Vanguard roller derby match. It’s on Saturday at 6:30pm at Southern Cross Basketball Stadium. Entry is FREE for kids under 12 accompanied by an adult.
Music Lovers: In celebration of the movie Babe‘s 20th birthday, come to Stage 88 on Commonwealth Avenue at 7:30pm to hear the Canberra Symphony Orchestra play the iconic soundtrack from this movie. Entry is FREE.
Crafty Folk: Shop for unique gifts at the award-winning Handmade Market in Exhibition Park. It’s on from 10am on Saturday and Sunday and entry is FREE.
Things to do in Hobart
Change the World: Join the World’s Greatest Shave on the Parliament House Lawns from 11am on Saturday. Entry is FREE and you can get your hair coloured for just $2 or shaved for a $20 donation.
Foodies: Do not miss A Taste of the Huon on Sunday at Ranelagh. It has fine food, wine, entertainment, and arts and crafts from the Huon Valley and Channel region. Entry is FREE for kids under 12.
Steam Train Enthusiasts: Steamfest is on again, with Kids vs. Steamroller Tug-of-War, plenty of kids’ entertrainment, and exhibitions of pionerring skills such as blacksmithing. Children get entry for just $5.
Things to do in Darwin
Family Fun: Head to Bunnings Darwin, where are children are welcome to join in the Woodwork Fun Workshop on Saturday from 9:30am. It’s also on at Bunnings Palmerston.
Get Moving: She Skates Saturday is on to celebrate International Women’s Day, which was this week! The skate comp is on Saturday from 3pm at Leanyer Skate Park. Join the Facebook event for more information.
Wedding Bound: Planning a wedding? You can’t miss the Enchanted Moments Darwin convention on Saturday from 4pm and Sunday from 10am.
Want a Laugh: The RAW Comedy Festival is on Saturday from 8pm, at the Darwin Entertainment Centre. It’s a national open mic comedy competition organised by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival – but you don’t have to go to Melbourne to join in.
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The post What’s happening in your city this weekend? appeared first on Canstar.