Festivals and celebrations

Australia Day is this country’s ultimate celebration! Come and celebrate what's great about being an Aussie in the nation's capital. If you’re visiting from overseas, come and learn more about Aussie culture. Enjoy something for everyone, from bush picnics and live music festivals to children's ...

Australia Day Live is a national tribute to everything that is great about Australia and being Australian. It brings together the Australian of the Year Awards and some of Australia’s hottest home-grown music talent. Celebrate underneath the national flag at the apex of Parliament House, which is ...

Learn about sustainability, climate change and the environment at the 2010 Australian Science Festival. Take part in over 50 different science events. Features include An Evening with Dr Karl, a cartoon workshop and a session with two young Australian aerospace engineers who have built satellites t...

Mosey on down to Country Music's annual three day festival in the national capital. Witness great performers, workshops, instrument and technology displays, talent quests, dancing, and industry forums. Enjoy Bluegrass, Bush Ballads, Country Rock, Western, Swing, Country Blues, Gospel, Alternate ...

Join in the celebration of Canberra's sister city relationship with Nara, Japan. Take part in origami, calligraphy, didgeridoo and boomerang painting. Make your own Japanese lantern for the evening procession. Purchase Japanese cuisine and beautiful designer Japanese handicrafts. At dusk marvel at m...

The 2010 Canberra Short Film is recognized as one of Australia's premier film competitions. Now in its 15th year, the Festival is firmly fixed in the cultural calendar of the nation’s capital. Its film selections represent the boundless talent of Australia's film industry, including national and i...

This festival celebrates all things truffle. Find out about the mystery and magic of truffles in Australia's premier truffle growing area. Take part in truffle tastings, truffle hunts, degustation dinners, cooking demonstrations, workshops and more. Don't miss the Grand Truffle Dinner at The Hyatt...

The Irish Woolfest is a free street festival celebrating all things wool and Irish. Experience the heart of the country and an amazing culture only 90 minutes from Canberra. Don't miss the incredible Running of the Sheep. Watch the Street Parade and the Blessing of the Fleece. Be entertained by w...

Venues around the Canberra region are turning up the heat this August for the capital’s annual celebration of winter – Fireside Festival 2010. Sip on exquisite cool climate wines, taste the delicacies from the region, meet local artists with a passion for their craft, or just relax and warm yoursel...

Unlock your imagination in 2010 with Floriade, Australia’s celebration of spring. See over a million flowers bloom; setting the scene to stimulate your imagination – the theme for Floriade 2010. Be intrigued by the inspired garden bed designs. Get captivated by the artistic entertainment. Take par...

NightFest returns to Floriade with style in 2010! Experience an array of live entertainment and great activities set amongst spectacularly lit garden beds. See breathtaking views of the park and our city at night from the top of the giant ferris wheel. Shop for something special at the bustling ...

Don't miss Canberra’s premier music event on the foreshore of Lake Burley Griffin. See some of the biggest national and international artists perform at what has been described as Australia's most astonishing festival location. There's no better way to celebrate the end of exams, the start of summer...

The Murrumbateman Moving Feast offers a weekend of premium local wines matched with scrumptious food to tantalise your taste buds. Local wineries and cafes offer exceptional wines matched with gastronomical delights! Murrumbateman is just a 30 minute drive from the centre of Canberra, or a two and a...

Honour the memory of police officers who have given their lives in the line of duty. This annual commemorative service recognises all Australian police jurisdictions and police members from the South-West Pacific Region including Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Solomon Islands. Pl...

Welcome in 2011 with a giant street party in the heart of the city. See fireworks over City Hill with the children at 9pm, or stay later for the midnight display. Enjoy live, family friendly entertainment in Civic Square, or dance the night away at a dance party in Garema Place. These celebrations a...

Visit this inspiring festival of art, culture, film and connections at the National Museum of Australia. Celebrate the opening of the Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route's groundbreaking exhibition. Hear artists featured in the exhibition sing their art to life. Watch them dance. Hear them share...

At 11.00 am on 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. This year marks the 92nd anniversary of the armistice on 11 November. Australians pause to remember those who fought and died for Australia’s cause in all wars and armed conf...

Party all day and into the night this Halloween at Stonefest, Australia's largest campus music festival. You’re in for a jam-packed 12 talent-filled hours! See Pendulum, Bliss N Eso, Does It Offend You, Yeah, Spiderbait, Airbourne and Operator. Rock out with Bluejuice, Clare Bowditch and The New S...

Join national and international car enthusiasts for the Street Machine Summernats car festival to see the best street machines, hot rods, sport compacts and special interest vehicles. Experience four days of high octane entertainment including burnout and driving competitions, bands, stunt spectac...

Soak up the best of Thai food and culture at the Royal Thai Embassy. Taste delicious Thai food and fruits. See intricate fruit and vegetable carving demonstrations. Buy beautiful silk and handicrafts. Experience Thai culture through classical dance, boxing and massage. The Royal Thai Embassy w...

Tulip Top Gardens is 15 minutes from Canberra on the Federal Highway. Their 10 acre garden of tulips, daffodils, and other spring flowers creates a spectacular display. Hundreds of blossom trees provide a magic pathway to the cascading waterfall and watercourse. Classical music wafts through the air...

Wine, Roses and all that Jazz celebrates the art of the grape in Canberra. Get out to one of the 25 wineries and local businesses. Sample award-winning wines, indulge in gourmet food, relax to live music in the vineyards, and take a wine tour and meet Canberra's passionate vignerons. Tell your frien...