Festivals and celebrations

Make sure you are in Canberra for this 12 day celebration of film at Dendy Cinemas and Arc Cinema at the National Film and Sound Archive. See an exceptional selection of feature films and documentaries from around the world plus the best Australian new releases and retrospectives. Passionate...

Canberra’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service is one of the nation’s most moving ceremonies. Gather with thousands of Australians in the pre-dawn light to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the first military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. Experience the...

The Australian Running Festival is back for its second year in the nation's capital. Featuring the prestigious Canberra Marathon, the festival also includes an ultra marathon category, a half marathon, along with 5km and 10km fun runs. The Australian Running Festival offers an event for all...

It's retro, it's vintage, it's our story, it's part of our everyday life. The Canberra and Region Heritage Festival theme for 2012 is Innovation. Celebrate the importance of our heritage as we approach Canberra's 100th birthday in 2013. With over 100 events, most free, you can enjoy tours, open...

Celebrate autumn in the vineyards. Grapes are harvested and turned into wine at this beautiful time of year. Visit the Canberra District Wineries to see the vineyards at their best. Discover all the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of harvest. Engage your senses with special wine tastings or...

The Canberra Festival celebrates Canberra's city, its culture and its people with 17 days of events and activities throughout the ACT region. The Festival celebrates the 99th Birthday as the countdown to the Centenary of Canberra in 2013 continues! Highlights of the Canberra Festival include...

Experience hot air, hot entertainment and hot brekkie! See the Lawns of Old Parliament House fill with a flurry of colour and movement, as giant balloons inflate around iconic attractions and slowly drift into the Canberra sky. The action is not just in the sky. There's live entertainment each...

Don't miss one of Australia's most innovative and inspiring music celebrations - the Canberra International Music Festival. Experience the sheer magic of music soaring through Canberra's iconic spaces over 10 days. Choose from a sparkling program of over 30 events featuring classical, jazz and...

Join in the celebration of Canberra's sister city relationship with Nara, Japan. Enjoy four hours of free entertainment, delicious Japanese food, cultural activities. The event peaks with a stunning evening display of more than 2000 candles in Canberra's very own Japanese garden, Canberra Nara...

Discover the magic of truffles at the Capital Country Truffle Festival. The region celebrates these highly prized gems from late June to early August. Learn from celebrity chefs and other truffle experts. Join a truffle hunt or simply indulge in the special flavours and intoxicating aromas of the

Celebrating Canberra's 99th Birthday, Celebrate in the Park is Canberra's birthday party, and you are invited. Enjoy local and national artists, the kids concert, rides, amusements, activities, art and craft and delicious multicultural cuisine. The flagship event of the Canberra Festival,...

Visit the historic village of Collector for their annual Pumpkin Festival. The village is better known for fine wool, fat lambs, prime beef and bushrangers but once a year the residents go crazy for pumpkins. Visit this charming little family festival for some good old fashioned fun. Delight in...

Celebrate art, music and the environment over two and a half days at Corinbank Festival. This critically acclaimed, award-winning festival features roots, reggae, ska, rock, electronica, hip hop, folk, bluegrass and late night funk. Corinbank is only 40 minutes from Canberra City. Pack a tent and

Over four exclusive evenings see Canberra in a whole new light at ENLIGHTEN. Be entertained by spectacular lighting projections and late night openings at 11 world-class attractions. See blockbuster exhibitions combined with live music, outdoor bars and an eclectic array of special performances.

Venues around the Canberra region are turning up the heat this August for the capital's annual celebration of winter - Fireside Festival. 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 yourself on

Floriade, Australia's celebration of spring, transforms Canberra's Commonwealth Park into a tapestry of colour every year. Over a million colourful bulbs and annuals bloom on cue, creating a vibrant display unrivalled by any other event of its kind. Enjoy lively entertainment, children's...

Experience spectacularly lit garden beds, live entertainment and bustling night markets at Floriade NightFest. See breathtaking views from the giant ferris wheel and grab a bite to eat and a drink as you wander through Commonwealth Park. Floriade NightFest will serve up five fun-filled evenings....

See a magnificent display of fireworks set to a soundtrack simultaneously broadcast on FM 104.7. Canberra lights up on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin's central basin. See great free live entertainment from the Regatta Point Stage before the fireworks explode! Check the website for...

Enjoy over eleven hours of live music! The lineup includes 360, Adrian Lux (SWE), Andrew W.K. (USA - One Man Party Tour), Beni, Big Scary, Bluejuice, Chiddy Bang (USA), City and Colour (CAN), Digitalism (GER), The Getaway Plan, Gold Fields, Hermitude, Hilltop Hoods, Kaiser Chiefs (UK), Kimbra,...

Visit Australia's only Jane Austen Festival for four days of all things Regency. Head down to Canberra oldest church, St Johns Church Hall in Reid. Learn some of Jane Austen's dances, dress up for the ball! Take part in the archery competition, promenade around Commonweath Park and enjoy a Regency

Join the 20th annual screening of Movie Extra Tropfest! Stage 88 at Commonwealth Park will host the largest Tropfest event outside Sydney, complete with live music and entertainment, plenty of great food and licensed areas and of course the 16 finalist short film entries. The new Reserved Lawn is

Tantalise your taste buds with the Murrumbateman Moving Feast, a roving degustation of fine local wines matched with delicious tasting plates. The Murrumbateman Moving Feast, takes place over the October long weekend. The feast features numerous local wineries, each offering a main meal and/or...

Join in the non-stop entertainment at the 46th National Folk Festival over Easter. Take part in a cultural celebration of traditional and contemporary music, dance, poetry and storytelling in the nation's capital. Almost 200 different acts give you a non-stop flow of entertainment across...

Eat, drink, laugh and dance your way around the world at the National Multicultural Festival 2012. Celebrate difference, share traditions and see performances from all parts of the world. There will be comedy, performance art, food and wine stalls, street parties, live music, circus-style acts...

If you love traditional German culture, don't miss the 2012 Oktoberfest. Try a great range of German food and beer. Enjoy great entertainment for the whole family. Buy German groceries and souvenirs. If you're not drinking, take advantage of the free parking onsite and in the Flemington Road...