FRIDAY 10 APRIL: The mid-April air is perfect for a weekend of milestone celebrations and local rhythms. From the historic 30th anniversary of Booderee’s handback at Green Patch to the hypnotic reggae beats filling Tomerong Hall, our community is coming together to honour our land and local talent. It is a week to grab a picnic rug, meet the locals, and enjoy the best of the South Coast.
Friday 10 April-Sunday 12 April, Pop-up Art Show: Members of the Jervis Bay Arts Trail are popping up at Vincentia Village over the weekend to share their latest works for sale. Chat with the artists and admire their creativity at The Hub, shop 14 at the Burton Street shopping village, open 10.30am-3.30pm over the three days.
Friday 10 April, Groove at Tomerong: The reggae beats of Benji and the Saltwater Sound System with their unique blend of jazz and African roots will be creating hypnotic soundscapes at Tomerong Hall, from 7.30pm. Ben’s poignant lyrics and catchy melodies front this “tangy tribe of groove merchants”, and tickets are $25/$20 +bf.
Saturday 11 April, Booderee Anniversary: Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the handback of Booderee National Park to the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council at Green Patch from 10am-4pm. Bring a picnic rug and settle in for music, cultural performances and more, with food available from market stalls on-site or bring your own (alcohol-free event). Check the event page for details of a free shuttle bus.
Saturday 11 April, Harvest Fair: Sassafras Nuts’ annual Harvest Fair will be a great day out for the family at this chestnut, walnut and mushroom farm – and a flower farm tucked away on the property, too – where you can pick, roast and eat the nuts while enjoying market stalls and entertainment. Entry is $5 and kids under 12 are free.
Saturday 11 April, Young Artists Talk: Young people from the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, in conversation with Tiger Watson, CACD Producer at Beyond Empathy, will reflect on the collaborative process behind the exhibition, Balding is Easier Than Being Bald, drawing on their experiences of change, transition, and the uncertainty of journeys versus destinations. At Shoalhaven Regional Gallery from 12.30pm, you can register online for this free event.
Saturday 11 April, Local Markets: Head to the village of Callala on the shores of Jervis Bay for a local market that actively support the local community. Browse among stalls varying from Tibetan food to bee hotels, from 8am-1pm at the Emmett Street community centre.
Saturday 11 April, Boot Scootin’: Round up your friends and head to the Tomerong Hall for a great night of line dancing with Revival Linedancing, from 6.30pm. The organisers say to make sure you wear shoes that slide along the century-old floorboards of the hall, and please DM to reserve your place. Pay $20/$10 at the door.
Sunday 12 April, Husky Brunch: The Waterside Bar at the Husky Pub is the ideal location for a bottomless brunch with friends, featuring sliders and Long Island Iced Tea. From midday for two hours, enjoy unlimited sliders in a variety of flavour combinations paired with the pub’s signature cocktail, $65pp. Bookings essential.
Sunday 12 April, Local Markets: The Husky Markets in the sports fields are on this Sunday from 8am, featuring around 100 stalls selling everything from clothing and pet gear to boutique food and beverages, on until 2pm. Further south, the Ulladulla Harbour Markets, hosted by the local Marine Rescue, is a wonderful way to spend your morning strolling along the picturesque harbour front of this working port, 8am-1pm. For your fresh produce with a tiny footprint, head to the Kangaroo Valley Farmers Markets, on behind the Friendly Inn from 9am-1pm and boasting a delectable array of food and beverages – don’t forget your shopping basket.
Sunday Sessions, Live Music on 12 April: A hard day at the farmers markets deserves an afternoon of outstanding live music at one of these South Coast venues that support indie musos. Beloved locals Richard & The Lionhearts will remind us why we love live music at Cupitt’s Estate in Ulladulla from 12.30pm. We love their feel-good, toe-tapping tunes as the perfect soundtrack to a casual lunch.
Liam Maihi, his well-travelled guitar and drum pad, will soothe your soul with his own blend of country, folk, r’n’b, blues and rock at Jervis Bay Brewing Co from 3pm in Woollamia. With the sun now setting at just after 5.30pm, the best spot to enjoy the last lingering light is atop the rooftop bar of Mollymook’s Bannisters Pavilion with a cocktail and the sweet sounds of Gaby Bonello from 5pm.
Thursday 16 April, Museum Music Sessions: The Jervis Bay Maritime Museum Music Sessions special holiday edition is livening up your Thursday evenings. Enjoy music by Jackee B Trio (3-5pm) and Chocolate Dogs (5-7pm), while dining on empanadas and burgers from the Ola Chola Food truck and refreshments from the Whaler’s Bar.
Tursday 16 April, Disco Fever Show: Classic disco is “staying alive” with the Australian Bee Gees show coming to the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre for one night only. Get your tickets, $65/$60 to see this 30th anniversary tour, from the show that has headlined on the Las Vegas strip. The music starts at 8pm, and you can add a dinner package before the show.
Friday 17 April, Grow Garlic: It’s not as simple as it sounds, but perfect for backyards and small spaces… the mysteries of growing garlic will be revealed at a special Garlic Planting Workshop in St Georges Basin hosted by educator and seed supplier of garlic, Vele Civijovski who operates Garlic near Cooma, NSW, growing 12,000 cloves of garlic across 50 different cultivars. Vele will share with you all the tips for a successful crop, for $25 from 3.30pm.
Friday 17 April, Youth Music Fest: Vincentia Village Square will come alive with Burton St. Beats, a youth‑led music festival from 2pm-6pm as part of Youth Week and in conjunction with youth organisation, Firefly Bay & Basin. This free, youth‑focused festival will showcase emerging talent from across the Bay & Basin – offering young performers a rare opportunity to share original music, gain real stage experience, and connect with their community.
Friday 17 April, Classic Crooners in Vincentia: The latest star impersonators to entertain the dinner crowd at La Vespa Italian Restaurant in Vincentia will be the show-stoppers, Cher and Tom Jones. Gather your friends and book your table.
Saturday 18 April, Discover Bird Watching: If you have ever wondered how to hear, spot and identify our feathered friends, this morning is for you. Join the experts from Birdlife Shoalhaven at the Bundanon art museum grounds, along the Shoalhaven River at Illaroo for an Introduction to Birdwatching, from 8.30am. This family-friendly mini-expedition along a medium grade trail is the perfect all-weather activity to start identifying your parrots, wrens and shrikes of the Shoalhaven, tickets $25/$22 and optional kids binoculars available to purchase.
Saturday 18 April, You Spin Me: The Festival of Vinyl is back at Jervis Bay Brewing Co where you can trade the digital for the analogue across every musical genre. Start your crate-diving around midday over in the Woollamia industrial precinct and wash down your thirst – and the dust off those old gems – with a cold one as the show wraps up around 5pm. Spinning the vinyl will be DJ Dusty Knuckles on the decks.
Plan Ahead – Save the Dates
Thursday 23 April, Movie Night for Cancer Research: Buy a ticket to a special screening of romcom, You, Me & Tuscany for $25 in support of the Mothers Day Classic, raising funds for cancer research. Sponsored by Husky Bakery, your ticket includes a drink and a treat plus entry into a lucky door prize. The team behind the Huskisson fundraising promises a fun night starting at 6.30pm (film starts at 7pm).
Sunday 26 April, Huskisson Artisans Market: The first Huskisson Artisans Market for the year – this is a celebration of makers, artists and providores at the Huskisson Community Centre, 10am-3pm, featuring hand crafted items from jewellery and textiles to ceramics and small-batch specialty foods and beverages. The Artfulmind pop-up gallery/shop is a unique centrepiece of the event, curated by Dr Natalie McDonagh and showcasing a dozen of the South Coast’s finest makers. These markets are designed by artisans, for artisans to offer the community a wonderful opportunity to meet the makers and support independent artisans. Stallholders can apply till 23 March.
Plan Ahead – Excellent Events on the Horizon
Sunday 26 April, Cello in the Valley: Hear the exquisite solo cello of Rachel Scott performing music composed by Martin Wesley-Smith at the Kangaroo Valley Hall presented by Arts in the Valley. Enjoy a refreshment from 5.30pm before the music starts at 6pm. Tickets are $40.
Tuesday 28 April, Hospo Industry Night: Tickets to the highly anticipated annual hospitality industry night to launch the Autum Celebration of Food are now available for $95. This industry-only event is a rare chance for the region’s hospo talent to socialise while enjoying service from the students in the Gaining Through Training program. Hosted at Bollerang House in Wandandian, the evening will showcase around 25 members of the Shoalhaven Food Network. Book online.
Friday 1 May-Sunday 3 May, Jazz in Milton: The second annual Milton Folk Jazz and Blues Festival will be a celebration of music, community and culture. The festival weaves through Milton town and its parks, pubs and establishments over three days, including 70 free performances at over 20 venues throughout the town. See the program and make your plans.
Friday 1 May-Monday 16 June, Foodie Festivities: The annual Autumn Celebration of Food has launched the major dining events in the 2026 program, with fanfare for the team at Shoalhaven Food Network and its members at a special launch this week. The seven-week foodie extravaganza includes hatted chefs, special locations, street festivals, and more. See our story on the hot tickets on sale now.
Saturday 2 May, Learn to Paint Still Life: Manyana-based artist Wilma Southern will teach an art class, Contemporary Flower Painting, hosted by the Shoalhaven Art Society. In this full-day workshop, Wilma will show you how to layer colour with fearless energy to move beyond the traditional still life format. Book online for $90/$80 includes morning tea, at The Hub, shop 14 Vincentia Village on Burton Street.
Thursday 7 May, First Nations Films in Sussex: The Shoalhaven First Nations Film Festival is coming to Sussex Inlet Cinema, with a great day of films screening across three sessions. There’s a morning session for primary school students starting with a screening of Like My Brother and including lunch and a cultural experience by Gadhungal Marring, which is put on free thanks to the Sussex Inlet Chamber of Commerce and Neighbourhood Centre. The afternoon screening, from 1.30pm and costing $25 includes two films, afternoon tea and a cultural experience. The evening screening is from 4.30pm, $25 including a drink and cheese platter. Find out more from the SFNFF social page.
Sunday 10 May, Mother’s Day Classic: One for your diary: the annual Mother’s Day Classic, the nationwide event that raises funds for breast and ovarian cancer research, is turning 10 in Huskisson this year. There will be 3km, 5km or 10km walks/ runs as well as family-friendly events in and around White Sands Park. Get in early, register your participation and start hitting up your family and friends for support.
Saturday 23 May, Autumn Degustation: Fair warning, these events sell out fast. Old Salt Distillery, restaurant & bar is hosting its Autumn Degustation event where diners can experience the delights created by two fine-dining chefs – Michelle & Terry Robinson – in a menu that celebrates local produce (advise dietary requirements at time of booking). Choose your dinner ticket for $185 or with matched drinks for $250.
Saturday 30 May, Make Pasta – Kids and Adults Options: The pasta experts in the heart of Huskisson, Pasta Buoy are inviting you behind the scenes to help make fresh pasta, with a kids’ event starting at 10.30am, $45 and adults’ session at 2pm, $89. Roll up your sleeves and roll out the pasta sheets in this hands-on event that includes some delicious pasta and sauce to take home.
