FRIDAY 26 SEPTEMBER: Jervis Bay is buzzing with activity this weekend and beyond. From the vibrant Jervis Bay Arts Trail and “Sculptures, Sips & Sounds” event to live music at local breweries and an oyster tour, there’s a jam-packed calendar of events to ignite your senses.
THIS WEEKEND
Friday 26 September to Sunday 28 September, Oktoberfest in Jervis Bay: Say Prost! at the Jervis Bay Brewing Co this evening and over the weekend with three unique beers on tap for two weeks, including two brewed in-house – a Schwarzbier and a Helles-Bock – and in a classic Weissbier to round out the lineup. On the food front, indulge in a Bratwurst sanga – a tasty Aussie twist on traditional German pork sausages. Join the fun by dressing up in Lederhosen to help mark the occasion. Over in the Huskisson industrial zone.
Friday 26 September to Sunday 28 September, Culburra beach Festival: This popular community-run local festival of live music, food stalls, cafe trails, art exhibits, kids’ activities, surf competitions and more.
There will be 20 original bands, playing on the Crookhaven Park Oval plus free live music at selected cafes on the Cafe Trail and on Sunday the Boomers Bash with hits of the 70’s at the Community Centre. On Saturday morning at Crookhaven Oval there will be free community entertainment, with face painting and circus school for the kids plus delicious food stalls and a market. Tickets are $40/$80 and available online.
Friday 26 September to Monday 29 September, Wimbledon by the Sea: Tennis lovers should head to the Ulladulla Tennis Centre this weekend for the annual South Pacific Open, a tennis festival that includes a vibrant social program alongside a quality tennis tournament. Check out the program of matches and other goings-on to make the most of the weekend.
Saturday 27 September, Artists Open Studios: The Jervis Bay Arts Trail is on this Saturday from 11am-2pm across the Bay & Basin, with a range of local artists opening their studios to visitors. Meet the artists, find out about their unique processes and perhaps even go home with your new favourite painting – a seascape, a still life – or perhaps a photograph, a children’s book or a textile. Find out who is open and how to find them, including a useful map.
Saturday 27 September, Discover Gang Gang Cockatoos: Register for a free talk (limited seats) by Dr Holly Parsons on the iconic red-headed Gang Gang cockatoo. Hosted by BirdLife Shoalhaven, Holly will include new information about a breeding trial that aims to help the survival of these threatened native birds. At the St Georges Basin Community Centre from 2.30pm, this is bound to be a popular event so register soon.
Saturday 27 September, Luminescence Chamber Singers: A concert of “The Garden of Earthly Delights”, presented by Music in the Valley and inspired by the famous work by Hieronymus Bosch, starts at 4pm in the Kangaroo Valley Hall. The Luminescence Chamber Singers will unleash an aural tapestry. Tickets are $70/$60/$50 online.
Saturday 27 September, Sculptures Sips & Sounds: Willinga Park in Bawley Point is hosting a free monthly event series, Sculptures, Sips & Sounds from September till December. Enjoy live performances, curated art, and great food from the Bunker Café, catered by Killara Catering, with a bar open throughout the day. Bring a picnic rug, bring your friends, or come solo, but please book a free ticket to help with planning and catering. Choose your dates and book online now.
Sunday Sessions, 28 September, Live Music: Start your live music adventure over lunch at Cupitt’s Estate with All the Fuss, bringing their infectious beats and feel-good vibes. Book a table and enjoy the warm spring air.
Then head to the Jervis Bay Brewing Co beer garden for 3pm, where a real treat awaits with Benji Fowler – well known for fronting bands such as the Saltwater Sound System – will play his unique blend of pacific flavours with the raw sounds of the Australian East Coast. Solo, Benji will share his poignant and magnetic songs.
For a sunset sensation, spend cocktail hour at the Bannisters Rooftop Pavilion bar in Mollymook. This Sunday, Amy & I will serenade you from 5pm.
THIS WEEK IN JERVIS BAY The fun continues Monday to Friday
Monday 29 September, A Conversation about Conservation: The Jervis Bay Marine Park is the focus of a special free evening at the Jervis Bay Brewing Co, from 6pm, where anyone who is passionate about our marine environment can learn about the beauty and the challenges of this unique aquatic park.
Thursday 2 October, Dine Like a Local: Sandbar Restaurant on Hawke Street Huskisson is offering Locals Night two courses for $40 on Thursdays. Chef Jason Wilkinson whips up a new special each week to excite the tastebuds and encourage us to come back again for more. Book a table online.
Friday 3 October, Snugglepot School Holiday Fun: The gumnut babies, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie will be making a special appearance at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum in time for the school holidays. This theatrical experience is a ticketed event, book your places online for $27/$17 to see the gumnut babies and friends.
Saturday 4 October, Makers Market: Bundanon Art Museum is hosting another Makers Market featuring hand made, original works of art, objects, ceramics, textiles and more along the banks of the Shoalhaven River at Illaroo. Starting at 9am, browse among the stalls and enjoy the view, meet the makers and support them by buying direct.
Saturday 4 October, Squish & Squash Kids Art: Just in time for the school holidays, South Coast artist Penny Craig is helping kids get squishy in this art adventure exploring hidden textures in Berry. Kids will press into quirky surfaces, make inky impresssions, then decorate and fold their discoveries into a concertina book to take home. This is a messy, hands-on experience that is sure to be a hit. There are three sessions available: 10.00am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm for $35+bf per kid.
PLAN AHEAD – some paid and free events that you need to book
Saturday 11 October, Wellbeing Day: Vincentia Connections is hosting a free event focused on improving our general wellbeing with some small changes that can have a positive impact on our mental and physical resilience. Reserve your spot to talk about simple eating, moving and thinking techniques for daily life. This is a great chance to connect with other people in your community, enjoy healthy snacks and interesting presentations, 10am-3pm. Read our story about the day, and email to register your attendance to bookingsvcch@gmail.com.
Saturday 11 October, Art at The Common: A new exhibition will open at The Common South Coast by five artists from the Callala Gallery group. The works for sale will include local landscapes and beach scenes, animals and a variety of other paintings. Come along at 1pm for a Meet the Artists event. The exhibition will be available until 30 November.
Friday 17 October to Sunday 19 October, Folk Fest: 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. 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.
Saturday 18th October, Classical Mozart at the Museum: This is a rare and exciting opportunity to hear a world-class performance of “Mozart’s clarinet”, played by ARCO on period instruments that create an authentic sound of the late 18th century. Read our story about the tour.
Performing at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum while they are on tour with Music in the Regions, ARCO is the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra led by co-artistic directors Rachel Beesley and Nicole van Bruggen.
While touring the regions, the performers will also be sharing their expertise with amateur orchestras in the regions, including MUSO (Milton Ulladulla String Orchestra) who will benefit from their generosity and advice in special workshops.
Support these very special performances by purchasing your tickets to the 5pm performance for $35.
Saturday 18 October, Degustation at Old Salt: Prepare your tastebuds for a degustation night at Old Salt Distillery where eight sensational courses prepared by chefs Terry and Michelle Robinson – mostly over an open fire – will pair up with eight equally sensational cocktails, at the South Nowra venue’s Degustation Night. More details are yet to be released so save the date and keep an eye on their Events page for updates.
Sunday 19 October, Still Life Workshop: Learn to paint a still life in oils with Dr Vanessa Barbay at this workshop hosted by the Shoalhaven Art Society. For $170/$130 members, from 9am-4pm at The Hub, Shop 14 Vincentia Shopping Village, participants will gather around a central arrangement to paint. Book online.
Monday 20 October to Sunday 26 October, Bird Count: Join Australia’s biggest citizen-science event, the great Aussie Bird Count, and help us keep tabs on our feathered friends. The Shoalhaven is home to a vast number of bird species – there is a ‘working list’ of 401 birds on the Birdlife Shoalhaven website, including full-time residents and migratory birds. Register to participate, download the app and get ready to start counting.
Saturday 25 October and Sunday 26 October, FOMA at Vincentia: Save the date for a great weekend of art, music and community at the Vincentia Shopping Village, hosted by Vincentia Connections (a sub-committee of Vincentia Matters).
Saturday 15 November, Sunday 16 November and 22-23 November, Sculpture in the Valley has rescheduled its event to two weekends in November, to enjoy a selection of indoor and outdoor sculptures. Buy a day pass for $15 (kids under 16 free) and you might even walk away with a new masterpiece for your home or garden.
Saturday 22 November, Acrylic Painting Workshop: Join Wilma Southan to paint in acrylics in this workshop hosted by the Shoalhaven Art Society, $120/$80 members. Learn how to paint a vibrant still life with flowers, from 9.30am-4pm at Vincentia. Book online.
