30 August 2019

Seven things to do around Canberra this weekend (30 August–1 September)

| Zoe Pleasants
Yes, that is a giant whale kite and you can see it soar at the Googong Kite Fest this Father's Day! Photo: Facebook.

Yes, that is a giant whale kite and you can see it soar at the Googong Kite Fest this Father’s Day! Photo: Facebook.

If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s your last chance to see the National Gallery’s Monet: Impression Sunrise exhibition this weekend. The exhibition includes Monet’s painting Impression, Soleil levant which rarely leaves Paris but must leave Canberra this Sunday. It is also your last chance to see Shakespeare in Love at the Canberra Theatre and Metamorphosis at the Street Theatre, both shows finish this Saturday. It’s Father’s Day this Sunday and the township of Googong is inviting you to head over the border and fly a kite with your dad, while Pialligo Estate is celebrating the day with beer and bacon. The World Curry Festival is on in Civic this Friday and Saturday with a chilli eating competition on Saturday, 1 pm and the National Arboretum is hosting a couple of world-class bonsai artists for the weekend.

All weekend

Monet: Impression Sunrise

Where: National Gallery of Australia
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10 am–5 pm
It is your last chance to see the National Gallery’s Monet: Impression Sunrise exhibition this weekend as it closes this Sunday, with the Gallery extending its opening hours from 10 am – 8 pm on Saturday. The exhibition brings together paintings by Claude Monet, JMW Turner and other significant artists to examine a defining moment in art history—the establishment of Impressionism. The paintings are on loan from the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, the Tate, and Australian and New Zealand collections. Significantly, the Musee Marmottan Monet has lent the NGA Monet’s pioneering painting Impression, Soleil levant (Impression, Sunrise) 1872, from which the Impressionism takes its name. This painting rarely leaves Paris and this is the first time it has travelled to the Southern Hemisphere. Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for concession and $17 for Gallery members. Kids under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult. Book tickets here.

The Good Doctor

Where: 11 Whyalla Street, Fyshwick
When: Friday & Saturday 7:30 pm
Local theatre company, Honest Puck is putting on a production of Neil Simon’s The Good Doctor this weekend. The play is an adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s short stories for the stage and is set in the home of an unnamed writer who is suffering writer’s block. As the writer tries to rid himself of his affliction he tells a series of stories examining the humour and the heart of humanity. Tickets are $35 for adults, $25 for concession and $20 for Perform Australia/CADA Students, book here.

World Bonsai Masters

Where: National Arboretum
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday
The National Arboretum is hosting bonsai artists Master Kunio Kobayashi from Japan and Ryan Neil from the USA this weekend. There will be workshops, discussions, demonstrations and a cocktail evening on Saturday night. Workshops with the masters have already sold out but there are opportunities to hear them speak and watch them work across the weekend. Check out the program and book tickets for sessions here.

World Curry Festival

Where: Garema Place
When: Friday 11 am–11 pm & Saturday 10 am–10 pm
The World Curry Festival is back again this weekend. Warm up your insides with a curry while enjoying cultural performances and the traditional chilli eating competition—Saturday, 1 pm!

Friday

A Night in the Arms of Kafta

Where: The Street Theatre
When: 6:15 pm
It is the final weekend to catch Metamorphosis at the Street Theatre, the season finishes this Saturday. And this Friday, the Street is hosting a conversation about writer Franz Kafta between Dr Russell Smith, an expert in modernist literature and literary theory from the ANU, Ondrej Bohac from the Czech Republic Embassy and Jens Hoch from the German Embassy. Enjoy a drink and a good conversation and then catch a performance of the play at 7:30 pm. Directed by Adam Broinowski, the play is based on Franz Kafka’s seminal novel and has been adapted for the stage by Steven Berkoff. Tickets are $45 for adults, $42 for concession, $35 for students, book here.

Sunday

Kite Fest

Where: Rockley Oval, Googong
When: 11 am–2 pm
Celebrate Father’s Day at Googong’s uplifting Kite Festival this Sunday. Fly your own kite or enjoy watching spectacular kites soaring through the air including a giant whale kite, a stingray flag, dragon, rabbit and astronaut flags, and even and even a flying pig kite! Treat Dad to a Capital Woodfired Pizza, Boss Burger or sausage and beer, or pack a picnic. There will also be a DJ supplying the tunes.

World Beer & Bacon Day

Where: Pialligo Estate
When: 10 am–4 pm
For another Father’s Day option head to Pialligo Estate for beer and bacon. The Estate is very proud of its bacon and will be serving it up in a bacon bap this Sunday. Wash it down with a coffee or beer, depending perhaps on the time of day. There will be face painting and arm tattoos for the kids and Alex from the Estate’s Smokehouse will be running 15-minute Tastin’ Bacon talks.

Original Article published by Zoe Pleasants on The RiotACT.

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