There’s loads of free events happening this weekend thanks to Wollongong City Council – from an outdoor film screening to an all-ages nature festival and a major new exhibition.
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There’s also some great ticketed events, including the Mouse Trap at the IPAC and Beats for the Blues at the Servo Food Truck Bar.
Here’s your guide to what’s on in the Illawarra from September 7 to 8.
Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition, Kanahooka
The shores of Lake Illawarra will play host to a free outdoor screening of short films by some of the city’s best young up-and-coming filmmakers.
Enjoy the best entries from this year’s competition, which was set around the theme of water.
When: Saturday from 5pm to 8.30pm.
Where: Lakeside Reserve, Kanahooka. Details here.
Dreams Nursed in Darkness opening, Wollongong
This major exhibition presents an array of artworks by people who know incarceration firsthand and are able to interrogate Australia’s prison system, past and present.
Curators Elizabeth Day and Claire Taylor will lead the exhibition preview from 1.15pm to 1.40pm, prior to the official opening from 2pm, with an introduction by the gallery’s new director Daniel Mudie Cunningham.
When: Sunday from 1.15pm to 4pm. Exhibition runs until November 24.
Where: Wollongong Art Gallery, 46 Burelli Street, Wollongong. Details here.
Nature Shake, Keiraville
This exciting new event – which is free and suitable for all ages – celebrates the natural environment with a stack of fun, hands-on activities.
There’s Aboriginal weaving with Gumaara, bird bingo with Illawarra Birders, build a bush-stick shelter with Bush Magic Adventure Therapies, the Dear Tree listening experience developed by Australian artist Rose Turtle Ertler and more.
When: Saturday from noon to 4pm.
Where: Wollongong Botanic Garden, 40 Murphys Avenue, Keiraville. Details here.
Wombarra Bowlo pop-up record fair
Dig through thousands of new, old, collectable and obscure vinyl records from all the genres, including rock, pop, hip hop, soul, funk, metal and electronic.
Bring the kids and stay for lunch at the club’s Thai restaurant.
When: Sunday from 11am to 4pm.
Where: Wombarra Bowlo, 578-582 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Wombarra. Details here.
Rhododendron Gardens guided rainforest walk, Mt Pleasant
To help open our eyes to the wonders of this little-known rainforest trail, the Rhododendron Gardens bush regen group is hosting guided walking tours throughout September.
Book at the volunteer table in the car park. Visitors should bring their own water, and pack a picnic to sit down and enjoy the beautifully maintained gardens after the walk.
When: Saturday and Sunday at 11am (and 2pm if needed) throughout September only.
Where: Illawarra Rhododendron and Rainforest Garden, Parrish Avenue, Mount Keira. Details here.
Illawarra Grevillea Park, Bulli
During the final public open weekends for the year, wander around the native gardens, enjoy the Vine Forest walk in the rainforest, get up close to a giant blackbutt tree, have a picnic and shop for plants. Dogs on leashes welcome.
Check out the great plants for sale, including 30 Kangaroo Paws from the Kings Park Botanic Gardens release (even some of the blue ones).
When: Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Where: Illawarra Grevillea Park Botanic Garden, Princes Highway, Bulli. Details here.
Orchid Society spring shows, Wollongong, Warilla
Orchid lovers have two events to choose from this weekend, with both promising a spectacular display of various types of orchids.
Growing advice and an orchid repotting service available at both.
Illawarra Native Orchid Society: Saturday from 9am to 4pm and Sunday from 9am to 3pm, at the Old Court House, Cliff Road, Wollongong. Details here.
Illawarra District Orchid Society: Saturday from 9am to 4pm and Sunday from 9am to 3pm at Warilla Senior Citizens Centre, Benaud Crescent, Warilla. Details here.
Beats for the Blues, Port Kembla
Dedicated to promoting mental wellbeing and fostering community connections, this event features live performances from local artists including the Midnight Feats, Michigan Water, CMYK, Ross Knight and Nick Blow.
In addition to the music, the festival will offer mental health wellness talks, Q&A panels, speakers from UBX Wollongong, Choice Mental Health, Top Blokes Foundation and more.
When: Saturday from 1pm to 10pm.
Where: Servo Food Truck Bar, 6-8 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla. Details here.
Urban Craft Beer Crawl, Wollongong
Enjoy an afternoon of bar-hopping and explore Wollongong’s vibrant craft beer scene.
Venues along the self-guided trail include 2 Smoking Barrels, Dusty Lizard Brewing, Five Barrel Brewing, His Boy Elroy, Howlin’ Wolf, La La La’s and Illawarra Brewery.
When: Saturday from noon to 5pm. Register from 11.30am to 12.30pm.
Where: Starts at Illawarra Hotel, 160-164 Keira Street, Wollongong. Details here.
Anthony Langlands exhibition, Shellharbour
Local landscape and seascape artist artist Anthony Langlands will have his work on display at the civic centre throughout the month of September.
Scenes include the kiosk at Lake South, the little bridge on the western side of Windang Bridge, the marina at sunrise and glorious Lake Illawarra.
When: Saturday from 9am to 3pm and Sunday from noon until 3pm. Exhibition runs until the end of the month.
Where: Civic Centre Shellharbour, 76 Cygnet Avenue, Shellharbour City Centre. Details here.
Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Wollongong
Don’t just see it … solve it.
This acclaimed new production – starring a collection of some of Australia’s finest stage talent – wowed audiences on a national tour in 2022. Now it’s Wollongong’s turn for the classic crime caper.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, various times. Runs until September 15.
Where: IPAC, 32 Burelli Street, Wollongong. Details here.
Music for Medicine, Wollongong
Enjoy a night of music with pianist Vivian Choi Milton and two emerging concert artists – sixteen-year-old Wollongong flautist Annabel Wouters, and 20-year-old harpist and composer Paul Nicolaou.
The WollCon flute ensemble will open the fundraiser concert for The Flying Doctors with a short medley of works.
When: Saturday at 7pm.
Where: Wollongong Town Hall, corner of Crown and Kembla streets, Wollongong. Details here.
Bulli Village Market
Browse the quality hand and homemade goods from more than 90 stall holders, grab breakfast or lunch at one of the street food vendors available and relax while listening to live music on the green.
Money raised via gold coin donation goes to a local charity.
When: Sunday from 9am to 2pm.
Where: Bulli Showground, Grevillea Park Road. Details here.
Bundanon Wild Weekend, Illaroo
“More than a party. A concept party. A fully immersive experience.”
Step back in time to 1986 at Bundanon this weekend as it serves up wild bush foraging, queer storytelling sessions, contemporary theatre, live art and “the bizzarro pièce de résistance” – the (Not So) Blue Light Disco.
When: All weekend, various times.
Where: Bundanon, 170 Riversdale Road, Illaroo. Details here.
Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour, Thirroul
Touring annually, the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour screens over two hours of the “most inspirational, heartwarming and entertaining films” celebrating women in adventure from independent filmmakers around the globe.
When: Saturday at 6.30pm.
Where: Anita’s Theatre, 264-270 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Thirroul. Details here.
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Source: illawarramercury.com.au
George Barham, an accomplished journalist and avid gambling enthusiast, serves as the esteemed Editor-in-Chief at fly-to-australia.com, Australia’s leading source for comprehensive gambling news and insights. With an unwavering passion for both the written word and the ever-evolving world of betting and gaming, George brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the helm of our editorial team.
