FRIDAY 25 JULY: Take a peek at what’s on this weekend, this coming week and things to plan for the (near) future in our story today that focuses on your leisure time – there’s live music, dance parties, museum entry, flea markets, and so much more.
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Vinnie Golf Precinct Update
Before we launch into the dizzying number of things to do, here’s a link to the latest information about the former Vincentia Golf Club. This update, written by Craig Hatton who is the chairman of the Jervis Bay Community & Sports Club, which is bidding to take over the Vincentia precinct, aims to answer all the questions that have been posed by members of the community.
This Weekend 25-27 July
Apply Now: the Huskisson Artisans Markets are calling for applications from stallholders for their next event on Sunday 24 August. If you are a local artist, craftsperson or artisanal food/beverage producer, you can apply online for a stall at the Huskisson Community Centre, hosted by Arts Muster.
Textile Turnover: Add to your stash at the Textile Turnover in Kiama at the Kiama Downs Surf Life Saving Club tonight till 8pm and tomorrow 9am till 4pm. Bring a carry bag and unearth treasures such as fabrics, balls of yarn, knitting needles, patterns, thread and haberdashery, embroidery kits and crafting items and tools. Pay what you think is fair via the donation buckets and eftpos terminals on your way out.
The Jervis Bay Arts Trail is on this Saturday 26 July with around 15 artists’ studios open from 11am till 2pm cross the Bay & Basin. If you want to see a selection of artists’ works in one place, why not start at the Hub, shop 14 Vincentia Shopping Village, to see a great range of styles and materials. The artists include painters in oils, watercolours and mixed media, textile and fibre artists, and you will see landscapes, portraits, still life and abstract works, much of which is for sale. Find something unique for your collection, see their website for the exact locations of open studios and a handy map.
Bundanon Dance Party: Flash back to the 90s at the Bundanon Art Museum’s second annual (not so) Blue Light Disco, tomorrow night, Saturday 26 July from 6pm. Join Aunty Jonny & the Fun Police for a night to remember, including a pop-up bar and ‘canteen’, fire pits and decade defining dance routines. Tickets are still available for this 18+ event, $35/$30/$28.
Printmaking Workshop: make art prints with a juice box and a pasta machine with Berry artist Penny Craig in this small-group workshop in her studio on Saturday 26 July from 10am-12.30pm $50+bf. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who has never tried printmaking before, or artist who are looking for smaller and sustainable techniques – scratch your image into the inside of the tetra-pak and ink it up before running it through the “press”. Spaces still available.
The Milton Crop Swap, on the 4th Saturday of every month, is on this weekend. You don’t need to be a gardener to participate, just bring something you’ve made, baked, or preserved to share with others. Enter the market garden via a side gate on the southeastern side of the Milton Showground. There’s parking near the Milton showground toilet block. Find more info and a helpful map online.
The Big Book & Art Bonanza at the Pyree Hall is a cross between a book fair, a flea market and an art show, which is raising funds for the Bravehearts children’s charity. You will find a dazzling array of items for $5 including books and CDs, kids “fill a bag” for $2, Devinshire tea and book readings, raffles and an exhibition by members of the Shoalhaven Art Society with artworks for sale. From 8am till 3pm.
Sunday Sessions live music are the coolest way to wind down your weekend and we love these three options for Sunday 27 July: start at Cupitt’s Estate in Ulladulla at 12.30pm for cruisy vibes and soulful tunes as Sunday Lemonade plays a mix of indie folk and roots, they’ll have you tapping your toes and swaying along in no time. Then head to the Jervis Bay Brewing Co for Blue Mallee at 3pm, an elaborate local singer/songwriter/guitarist, with an impressive array of original songs and stories to match, joined on stage by Niev on keys and bodhran (Irish drum). For a sundowner, Bannisters Rooftop Pavilion in Mollymook is featuring local fave duo, The Castaways from 5pm, with their unique blend of folk, country and pop to smooth away any thoughts of Monday.
Next Week 28 July – 3 August
Wednesday 30 July, Stitching for Wellbeing hosted by Dr Natalie McDonagh is coming to an end. Wednesday 30 July will be the final session (for now) of gathering at the Hub, shop 14 Vincentia Shopping Village. Select from lovely materials provided free, including cloth, needles and thread. Make a donation to the Arts Muster, to help fund a scholarship place for a local high school student to attend an art workshop in August.
Wednesday 30 July, Bundanon Art Museum offers free entry to residents of the Shoalhaven and pension card holders on the last Wednesday of the month. There are plenty of excellent reasons to make the trip on Wednesday 30 July including exhibitions by Betty Kuntiwa Pumani and David Sequeira, as well as the picturesque riverside landscape and Ramox Cafe Restaurant.
Wednesday 30 July, join the Art Café with Jenny McIntosh at the Ivy Café in Ulladulla to create your own pen and wash artwork while enjoying coffee and cake, $50/$45 (with own materials). Spend two hours with Jen from 9.30am, beginners are welcome. Reserve your place online.
Thursday 31 July, Transport for NSW representatives will be at Home Co Vincentia next Thursday, July 31 from 12 noon to 4pm for community engagement on the Princes Highway upgrade between Jervis Bay Road and Hawken Road. See the new plans and offer your input on this $500 million project.
Friday 1 August, Jervis Bay Brewing Co presents “Woollamia Art Troupe”, an exhibition featuring several “very local” artists, Friday 1 August from 6pm. With Artwork by Alfie Campion, Clayton Campion, Kell Hooper, Vee Spice, Margot Curtis, John Brown, Judy Brown, Scott Sheehan, Bob Duff and our resident curator & artist Randall Sinnamon. And special guest Pat Campion. Exhibition to be opened by Marlon Campion. Music by Morrie Dank, Greg Reeves, and others.
Saturday 2 August, the Festival of Vinyl returns to the Jervis Bay Brewing Co from midday till 5pm, flick through crates of records from every genre, enjoy the sweet spinning sounds of real vinyl by DJ Dusty Knuckles and bag some collectibles.
Sunday 3 August, The Great White Whale movie is back by popular demand, returning to Husky Pictures on Sunday 3 August at 2.30pm. This is an amazing tale of Australian heroes being the first to climb Big Ben on Heard island in Antarctica, by award-winning filmmaker Michael Dillon who has worked with Sir Edmund Hillary, among many others. Check out the film’s trailer and buy your tickets at the box office in the foyer.
Plan Ahead for August and Beyond
Tuesday 5 August, Meditate in Huskisson. Join a Tuesday evening one-hour guided meditation with Jaine Alston at the Huskisson Community Centre, starting Tuesday 5 August at 6pm. Jaine is an experienced meditation guide, reiki master and holistic therapist. Please reserve your place by contacting jaine@one-breath-evolution.com or 0406 310 660 and pay $15 at the door.
Saturday 9 August, SAHSSI Fundraiser, take part in a walk to raise funds and awareness for the Nowra Women’s Refuge. Register online and find out about the walking route around the Jervis Bay coastline.
Saturday 9 August, Indigenous Peoples Films. Celebrate International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on Saturday 9 August at Husky Pictures with a special screening of films curated by Canadian First Nations filmmakers with direct links to the Shoalhaven’s First Nations Communities. Yuin elder Uncle Gerry Moore OAM will offer a very special welcome to country and the films will screen from 2pm, followed by afternoon tea around 4pm. Tickets are $15/$40 for a family of four. This event is produced by the Shoalhaven First Nations Film Festival.
Saturday 9 August & Sunday 10 August, Bonsai Workshop. Book in for this two-day hands-on workshop to learn the art of tiny tress from bonsai master, Mason Keene at Bonsai on the Bay in Woollamia. If you have ever wanted to discover the magic behind these artfully twisted living sculptures, then a weekend with Mason is the best way to do it. The $500 fee (or $450 ea if you bring a friend) includes everything you need for your bonsai as well as lunch, refreshments and drinks around the fire to wind down in the evening.
Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August, Carnival Concerts. Two very special concerts with “carnival” themes are coming up at Ulladulla Civic Centre. A special kids’ concert on Saturday 9 August will feature music of the circus, free entry and starting at 11am. Kids are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite carnival character – think, clowns, acrobats and circus animals – as the Milton Ulladulla String Orchestra (MUSO) explores the instruments of an orchestra. This concert promises to be fun for kids of all ages.
Then on Sunday 10 August, the MUSO will present Carnevale, a concert of orchestral music that evokes carnivals of the world – think, Venice, Cirque du Soliel, Send in the Clowns. Entry is by donation at the door or prior donation online, with all funds helping to support this vibrant community orchestra.
Saturday 16 August, Science Week at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum. “Tiny Worlds, Big Fun” is the theme for this year’s Science Week events at the JBMM. At 10am, join TikTok Science phenomenon, Dr Walt Carrol (@oneminmicro) at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum and Gallery as he delves into our micro world – analysing everything from toothbrushes to toilet water, making tiny details and creatures of the world a big deal! From 12pm- Afterwards embrace ‘Art is science embodied’ as Dr Nigel Helyer (www.sonicobjects.com) illustrates the cycle of translating the raw material of our environment into abstract data to reveal invisible patterns (something science does so well). Tickets $8 Per adult, kids under-16 free.
Friday 9 August, Tour the Sewer. If you’ve ever wondered what happens to our wastewater, this is the tour for you. Join the open day at Nowra Wastewater Treatment Plant from 10am-1pm. Tickets are free but places are limited so you will need to book online.
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August, Arts Muster Weekend Workshops in Huskisson: There are 10 wonderful arts and crafts workshops in Huskisson over the weekend of 23-24 August, including fabric brooch wearable art, coastal macrame wallhangings, indigo dyeing, pastel drawing and felt sculptures. Some classes are filling up fast so check out the full program on their website and sign up soon. Prices range from $80-$290.
Friday 29 to Sunday 31 August, HuskissonTravelling Film Festival is on again. This is the country’s longest-running film festival that showcases Australian and international features, documentaries, and short films in regional Australia. See the program and plan your viewing, here. Tickets are $15 per film, $117 for a 9-film subscription or $70 for a flexipass that lets you choose any 5 films.
Friday 12 to Sunday 14 September, Yoga Retreat.With two weekend retreats sold out and more inquiries coming in, yoga nidra practitioner Tash Pinter has secured another weekend, 12-14 September at Paperbark Camp for a retreat that focuses on “deep rest”. Tash and her collaborators, including body work expert, Tahlia Seinor, will guide their guests through a series of sessions that will take advantage of the body’s natural tendencies to rest and hibernate during the cooler months to emerge refreshed with the spring. Express interest in attending and find more information at Tash’s website. Read our interview with Tash for more insight into what’s on offer.
Friday 17 to Sunday 19 October, The annual Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, on 17-19 October, promises a weekend of music, poetry and dance, plus kids activities and plenty of festive atmosphere on the streets with buskers and chalkboard performances. Super early bird tickets are available till the end of July for $150 (12-17s are $50), which is a whopping $40 off the gate price. The fantastic lineup this year includes foot-stomping folk-string trio Apolline, who were AFMA Youth Artists of the Year in 2024, local favourites Benji & the Saltwater Sound Sytsem who fuse jazz, reggae and African beats into hypnotic soundscapes, a Morris dancing troupe Black Joak Morris plus Bavarian and Irish dancing, sessions hosted by the Butter Trackers that welcome anyone to join in, and so much more.
