FRIDAY 7 AUGUST: Community action leads the agenda across the Bay and Basin over the next two days. Say hello to our local firefighters at Vincentia, join the 10th annual SASSI 30 walk along the coast for women’s safety, or enjoy a afternoon of live brass with the Nowra Town Band. Check out these fun ways you can support the people who keep our region safe and connected.
Things to do Right Now
Designer Entries Due Now: If the young designer in your life aged 5-18 is entering the poster competition for the Spring into Sanctuary Point festival, the deadline is today. The youth organisation, Firefly Bay & Basin is hosting the competition for the best poster, which will become the artwork for this year’s event. Find the entry details here.
Summer Camping Spots in Booderee: Bookings opened today for campaign between 1 November 2026 and 10 February 2027 and camping spots are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis so don’t delay. While you are there, admire the successful re-population of southern brown bandicoots, who were absent for generations. Park info tells us in the Dhurga language, the southern brown bandicoot is known as guragurr (short-nosed bandicoot), and the species hadn’t been seen in the area since World War I. The past 10 years of careful conservation efforts are extraordinary.
What Else is On Across the Bay and Basin
Saturday 8 August, Meet the Firies at Vincentia: The local Rural Fire Brigade will be at Vincentia shopping village from 9am to connect our community to the vital services they provide such as emergency response, community education and support. The Brigade will answer your questions about how to volunteer, and other ways you can support their role in our region. Look for the big red truck.
Saturday 8 August, Walk for Women’s Safety: The 10th annual SASSI 30 fundraising walk along the Jervis Bay coastline is raising funds for domestic violence survivors in the Shoalhaven and women and children at SASSI’s crisis accommodation sites. Gather at 8am in White Sands Park for a photo-worthy mass start, then choose your distance along the route to Hyams Beach. Register now and help make our community a safer place. Keep your eye out for the annual Women’s Art Calendar 2027, for $30 with all proceeds going to the Nowra women’s refuge.
Saturday 8 August, Local Markets: Head to Sussex Inlet for the community markets near the cinema on Jacobs Drive, from 9am-1pm. Another friendly local market is at Callala in the community centre on Emmett Street, from 8am-1pm.
Sunday 9 August, Local Markets: The “second Sunday” is always a huge market day for the south coast starting with the Huskisson Markets with more than 100 stalls in the sports fields near the Bowlo, from 8am-2pm. For those who like their produce with a small footprint and as fresh as can be, the Kangaroo Valley Farmers Market is the place to be from 9am-1pm behind The Friendly Inn. Further south, the always picturesque Ulladulla Wharf Markets on the working harbour start at 8am till 1pm.
Sunday 9 August, Nowra Town Band in Performance: “Light & Heavy” is the theme for a new show by the Nowra Town Band, from 2pm. Tickets are $20/$10 cash at the door for a foot-tapping afternoon that includes a lucky door prize and refreshments.
Saturday 15 August, Stamp & Coin Day: It’s a big day for collectors! Start in Nowra with Stamp and Coin Day presented by the Shoalhaven Philatelic Society, 9.30am at Wesley Centre on Berry Street. There will be trading, great displays, lucky door prizes and more throughout the day till 3pm.
Saturday 15 August, Record Fair in Woollamia: Keep on collecting as Coal Coast Records teams up with Jervis Bay Brewing Co to present Festival of Vinyl, an afternoon on crate-digging for turntable gems in every genre. DJ Dusty Knuckles will be on the decks as you flick through thousands of records, from 12-5pm.
Saturday 15 August – Saturday 22 August, Science Week Events: The mysteries of luminescence and the aquatic life from Jervis Bay to Antarctica are the focus of this year’s Science Week at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum in Huskisson, including interactive theatre for kids. Read our story and check out the program. For even more science week events, Bundanon Art Museum in Illaroo has a full program including their annual Science Symposium hosted by Clarence Slockee returns, bringing together leading voices in biodiversity, climate science, ecology and landscape restoration for a day of talks, on Friday 21 August 9.30am–3pm.
Thursday 20 August, Great Night Out in Sussex: The unmistakable gravelly voice of Tall Shaun and his band, The Resolution will perform at Inlet Cinema, which tells us, “The boys have recently shared the stage with Texas legend Uncle Lucas and even had the honour of being joined by country icon Keith Urban at their 2025 debut at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.” Choose dinner + show for $45 or cheese plate + show for $20.
Sunday 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.
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.
Sunday 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.
Tuesday 24 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.
Thursday 27–Sunday 30 August, Arts Muster Festival in Huskisson: Now on sale, there are 12 two-day workshops on offer at this year’s annual Arts Muster Festival in Huskisson, $350. Each class is taught by an accomplished and generous artist, in small groups of 10 students. Try your hand at making a cloth doll or discover fleeting beauty in ephemeral art, enjoy the immediacy of pen and wash or the ancient art of shibori. See the full program of events including art-after-dark immersive cultural experiences and a community movie night to raise funds for high school student scholarships to Arts Muster workshops.
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.
Spring Events to Book Now
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.
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.
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 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.
