Coming Up in Canberra – Spring 2015

What better way to celebrate the welcome return of daylight saving?! It’s a LONG while since I’ve done one of these posts but there is honestly so much happening that this post can basically write itself from my own diary’s calendar! Here we go:

• Floriade is on right now until Sunday 11 October. This free event is held at Commonwealth Park. Parking is a little bit tricky this year due to some infrastructure work around the Park so check the website closely for tips. It’s open 9am-5pm every day, with an extra half hour to 5.30pm on weekends. Dog Day Out is this coming Tuesday, 6 October. Dogs usually aren’t allowed at Floriade but each year there’s an exception made for one day near the end of the festival. The rules are here.

Pretty pretties 🙂

• The Tulip Top Gardens are also open until 11 October. I often hear this is better than Floriade – more relaxed, and more concentrated – and while I’ve never been able to confirm for myself, I’m determined to get to it this year!

• Lord of the Dance – Dangerous Games starts at the Canberra Theatre this Tuesday, 6 October. I was absolutely obsessed with Riverdance and Lord of the Dance as a tween, and can’t wait to finally see Michael Flatley’s choreography live! Tickets start at $70.

• There are a few things on the weekend of 16-18 October. The first is the Canberra International Riesling Challenge – or, more specifically, the opportunity for people to taste the wines judges at the Riesling Challenge on the afternoon of Saturday, 17 October. Tickets are $45 at Albert Hall and you buy them at the door. This is an amazing festival. Here’s my review from 2013.

Wines, wines and more wines

• The other major, bigger event of 16-18 October is Eat Drink Blog. Eat Drink Blog is a conference all about eating, drinking and blogging and it’s been held in all the nation’s major cities except Canberra – until this year. Major sponsor HerCanberra and a small group of food bloggers (including yours truly!) have put together a pretty phenomenal program over 3 days (if I do say so myself!) and we can’t wait to show Canberra off to the world! The welcome event is at the Hamlet, followed by a foodie eating and drinking tour around Braddon, followed by networking drinks at Lucky’s. And that’s just the first day! The keynote speaker is Matthew Evans – yes, Matthew Evans. The event’s Saturday night dinner is at A Baker. There’s a choice of four eating-and-learning seminars to conclude on the Sunday including a food demo and lunch at The Boathouse or a coffee roasting experience at Aranda’s Two Before Ten. And amongst all that is a blogging conference where you learn how to be a better blogger – as well as meet the best of the best! To be eligible to attend you need to have a blog with 6 related food posts or a microblog (helloooo Instagram) with 25 food-related Instagram posts – and not be doing your posts for commercial gain! We still have a few tickets at $149pp so WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? (Oh, and if you’re attending, there’s a few cool competitions, too.)

• The hugely successful Parties at the Shops is on right through spring and if you live in Erindale, Kaleen, Forde, Watson or Hall you are in luck because your local shops are about to come alive with activity and a big party! Check out the dates of your party here.

• The Canberra Nara Candle Festival is on 24 October and as well as having some of the prettiest lantern displays you’ve ever seen, there’s a whole heap of delicious food and cultural activities. This event is ALWAYS packed so plan your transport in advance!

• The Prime Minister’s XI – usually held in January/February – has been moved to 23 October. Get along and show your support under the fantastic big Manuka Oval lights.

• And then there’s beer. The Harmonie Club’s Oktoberfest is held on 30 and 31 October and 1 November. There’s beer stein holding competitions, a whole heap of German food and of course plenty of beer at the hall at EPIC. Entry fees are to be advised.

Settling in

• And then there’s MORE beer! Canberra Beer Day Out is the following weekend (6 and 7 November), with an option to attend the 5 hour session on Friday night (4pm-9pm) or Saturday afternoon (12 noon-6pm). The price is the same for both. I’m advised Frugii will be back with his amazing beer ice cream. Read more here.

• Arguably the biggest event on the sporting calendar this year will be the Socceroos taking on Kyrgyzstan at GIO Stadium on Thursday, 12 November. The Iran v Iraq match I went to earlier this year was a sell-out and I’ve never experienced atmosphere quite like it. I can’t wait for this event. Tickets can be purchased here.

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