FRIDAY 21 AUGUST: Say farewell to the last days of winter as you gather your friends for iconic Australian cinema at Huskisson Pictures, feast on slow-cooked Southern barbecue along Currambene Street all weekend, or bring your bestie to the brewery for a legendary pets day out. Here is how to make the most of your leisure time.
Things to do Right Now
It’s a film buff’s bonanza in this edition of What’s On—all these amazing cinematic events are coming soon to Huskisson Pictures. Plus, a chance to become a cinematographer…
- A Frolic at the Movies, raise funds to offer art workshop to local high school students while dressed in something you love for the way it makes you feel, enjoy a refreshment and an artists’ talk, be in the draw for a lucky door prize, then enjoy iconic Aussie film, The Dressmaker. At Husky Pictures on Thursday 27 August from 5.30pm, $25 book now.
- Travelling Film Festival, the annual weekend is almost upon us and some films are sold out, but not our pic, The Valley on Sunday 30 August at 9.30am, a doco about the diverse community tucked into Kangaroo Valley. Tickets are hot so don’t wait to book a spot.
- Shoalhaven First Nations Film Festival, Just Released: The program for the third annual SFNFF is out now. $20 will get you four hours of films on the theme of Caring for Country. Here is the full program and here is the booking link.
- Make Your Own Films by signing up now for filmmaking workshops in Kangaroo Valley. There are three sessions at the Valley Shorts story lab on Sunday 20 September, for kids, smartphones and storytelling. Find out more and pick a session with prices starting around $12-$32.
What Else is Happening in the Bay & Basin
Friday 21 August, Hire a Bird Watching Kit: As of this week, you can borrow a bird watching kit as easily as borrowing a book at Shoalhaven Libraries in Nowra and Ulladulla. The kits are suitable for kids and adults, and include binoculars and books to help you identify our avian co-habitants.
Friday 21 August, Casey Donovan at the Country Club: Casey Donovan is on her biggest national solo tour to date, charting her journey from Australian Idol winner to stage icon. The show at the Country Club St Georges Basin will include Idol favourites, musical theatre showstoppers, and new original music. Tickets are $58.50 and doors open at 7pm for an 8pm performance.
Friday 21–Sunday 23 August, Fire & Ice in Huskisson: Treat yourself to a delicious combination of Southern BBQ classics followed by gelato as the Kings Porker food truck set up at Merciers on Currambene Street, Huskisson from 5pm today. There will also be cocktails, beer and live music to set the vibe.
Saturday 22 August, Tutus at Park Run: Don your finest tulle and pirouette your way around the Huskisson Park Run in honour of the double-2 date. Assemble at Moona Moona Creek Reserve at 8am for takeoff.
Saturday 22 August, Collage Art Class in Vincentia: Local artists and mother/daughter duo, Karen Cunningham & Barbara Haynes will introduce you to the addictive world of abstract collage at this workshop presented by the Shoalhaven Art Society. For $70/$50 members, spend three hours experimenting with colour, layers and composition from 10am, all materials supplied, at The Hub, shop 14 Burton St, Vincentia Village.
Saturday 22 August, Country Music at Old Salt: The chart-topper Jemma Beech is bringing her debut album, That’s Just Hit Me, to the distillery floor at Old Salt from 12pm, best enjoyed with a tasting flight of gin and perhaps a tear or two—of appreciation for the raw storytelling in her music and the distilling expertise of fine-dining power couple, the Robinsons.
Sunday 23 August, Pets Day Out: The annual Besties at the Brewery is on again at Jervis Bay Brewing Co where your mate can pick up prizes for best dressed, best trick, see a vet for a donation, and for a special treat (for humans) there’s a kitten cuddle cage and great food, drinks and live music by none other than the Chocolate Dogs. From midday till 2.30pm proceeds go to the Animal Welfare League.
Sunday 23 August, Hand-made Market: The Pyree Village Art & Handmade Market is on from 9am-1.30pm next to the village hall on Greenwell Pt Road, with stalls offering lovingly crafted wares by local makers from ceramics to woodwork, embroidery, jewellery, plants, preserves, and more. Berry Village Market is on at the Bowlo, from 10am-3pm featuring great food and coffee, live music and outdoor seating alongside a variety of market stalls.
Monday 24 August, Craft Morning at Tomerong: Bring your current project, or perhaps something that’s been neglected, to a social craft morning at the Tomerong Hall from 9.30am. Enjoy a coffee from Four Feet espresso van and the company of fellow crafters.
Tuesday 25 August, Helping the Hard Conversations: Dying to Know, the national campaign inspiring people to prepare for the inevitable not with fear, but with purpose, care, and a clear sense of legacy, is coming to Vincentia. Funeral celebrant Annette Tesoriero, Worrigee Cemetery manager Charmaine Schemberi and coordinator Jessica Wiltshire as well as Vincentia Connections’ Jane Daisley-Snow will address this year’s theme, Nobody Knows, a cheeky, irreverent campaign designed to expose the absurdity of keeping your end-of-life wishes a secret. Register for this free event, from 2pm-4pm by emailing bookingsvcch@gmail.com.
Sunday 30 August, Huskisson Artisans Market: The Huskisson Community Centre will host the Huskisson Artisans Market from 10am-3pm featuring dozens of stalls offering art, hand made objects and providores. There will also be afamily-friendly interactive section where you can play with some of the items from the Artfulmind Pop-up Gallery/Shop. Read more about the market in this story.
Friday 28-Sunday 30 August, Travelling Film Fest: Huskisson Pictures is the home of the Travelling Film Festival, this year showing films from a whistling competition to features with accolades from prestigious film awards such as Cannes and Sundance. An all-film pass costs $126 for all nine films or choose a flexi ticket, five films for $75.
Saturday 29 August, For Music Lovers: Celebrated young Australian soprano Arianne Ricci is performing an intimate house concert in Kangaroo Valley, including music from Handel, Mozart, Poulac and Britten. Listen to her “crystalline vocals” and engaging performance for two hours from 2.30pm, tickets are $65+bf.
Saturday 29 August, For Piggie Fans: Huskisson favourite, 5 Little Pigs is co-hosting a pop-up dinner with Salted Butter at their Owen Street café, from 6pm, featuring natural wines, inventive cocktails and delicious food. To book for seat for $160 email 5littlepigshuskisson@gmail.com but don’t wait, the Friday night pop-up sold out in a huff and a puff.
Sunday 30 August, Make Things at Husky Artisans Market: A special hands-on edition of Artfulmind Pop-up Gallery/Shop at Huskisson Artisans Market is celebrating the Arts Muster ethos, “Let’s make things together”. Gallery curator Dr Natalie McDonagh has devised a series of free, family-friendly art + design activities based on selected items featured in the gallery. Come for a playful interlude, engage your own artful mind and dive into the thinking and methods used by skilled makers and artists featured in Artfulmind Gallery/Shop. Read about them in Natalie’s latest article Make A Woof To Keep. Find Artfulmind Pop-up Gallery/Shop at Huskisson Artisans Market, Community Centre, Dent Street, 10am-3pm.
Spring Events to Book Now
Thursday 3 September, Callala Community Choir: A brand-new community choir is starting from tonight at Club Callala from 5.30pm, and everyone is welcome. The Callala Choir plans to meet regularly on the first and fourth Thursday every month, led by Carla Versitano. This is a great opportunity to make noise together with your friends and neighbours, with familiar songs and likeminded people.
Friday 4 September, Women in Beer & Art: A celebration of women in brewing is the theme of an art exhibition opening at 6pm at Jervis Bay Brewing Co, featuring the work of more than a dozen exceptionally talented local artists, women of course. The Pink exhibition is held in conjunction with NSW/ACT Brew Day, and supporting the Pink Boots Society.
Saturday 5 September, Curated Pop-up Art Shop: In Erowal Bay, Artfulmind Pop-up Gallery/Shop is open from 11am-4pm presenting the work of 20+ makers and artists, curated by Dr Natalie McDonagh. As well as investment pieces, you will find beautiful, hand-made works priced under $100 in the enticing collection of ceramics, textiles, wearables, toys, jewellery, homewares, wall-hung work, and one-off cards that Natalie has curated for this iteration of the Artfulmind Gallery. Email Natalie to let her know you are coming and she will send you the address. Also open on Saturdays 12 + 19 September with an opportunity to Meet the Makers 2-4pm on each of the three Saturday pop-ups.
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September, Grevillea Magic: If you fancy a bit of a drive and a wander through a rarely-open garden, this is your chance to head up to Bulli to see the Illawarra Grevillea Park Botanic Garden, which is only open to the public on the occasional weekend (also next weekend, 12/13 September), 10am-4pm. The garden was established in 1987 to house the Grevillea Study Group’s plant collection and to showcase Australian native plants. This time of year, the garden puts on a stunning display worth the 1.5 hour drive from Huskisson. Alongside the beauty of the collection, the park has a scientific mandate as a member of the South East NSW Bioregion Working Group which aims to increase knowledge of rare and significant flora.
Wednesday 9 September & Thursday 10 September, Angelic Voices: Six local public schools are performing each night at this year’s Shoalhaven Choral Music Festival for two nights at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, after much dedicated rehearsing by the students and their choral leaders. Come along to this celebration in song for $23/$17 and free to students who are performing. Both evenings commence at 5.45pm.
Sunday 13 September, Women’s Spring Gathering at Falls Creek: Join a small gathering on a bushland property only minutes from Huskisson or Nowra to find out what might be wanting to bloom in your life. Hosted by Jax Weschler who will perform a mindful tea ceremony alongside practices to help you slow down, listen to yourself and be held by nature. Reserve a place, from $80 for the day which starts at 9am, and accommodation options are also available.
Saturday 19 September, Heaven for Bird Enthusiasts: The Bird Haven Festival is coming to Shoalhaven Heads for a full day of talks, walks, raffles, refreshments and more. Tickets are $50/$25 for a day of celebration, community and learning about birds. Start off with a Bird Walk on the amazing “International Bird Airport” on the estuary, from 8.30am.
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, Chamber Music in KV: The intimate drawing room of Barrengarry House is the setting for two performances of chamber music by a trio of acclaimed performers on violin, piano and soprano. “Spring with Brahms & Strauss” is presented with Music in the Valley for $70/$30 including refreshments.
Saturday 26 September, Pop-up Pub Choir at Culburra: As part of this year’s Culburra Beach Festival, you can experience the pure joy of community singing, led by the inimitable Tina Broad. The festival organisers say, “Get out of the shower and come down to the community hall for a big group sing”. You will be amazed at how quickly the room full of people will sing an Aussie pub classic in harmony, and with a live band. No experience necessary and all ages are welcome. Jervis Bay Brewery will be in attendance and tickets are now available for $25. Then all you need to do it turn up at the Waratah Hall for a 3pm start. Listen to Tina talk about community choirs to inspire you to get involved.
