FRIDAY 6 FEBRUARY: The salt air is thick with excitement this weekend as we anticipate a full calendar of fun. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your oil painting skills with Jenny McIntosh , snag a tray of fresh seafood at the Sussex Prawn Raffle , or soak up the atmosphere at the Husky Markets, there is a rhythm for every local and visitor alike. Plus agricultural charm at the Nowra Show and OTT energy of a drag high tea.
Portraits: We popped in to see artist Randall Sinnamon and owner Michael Sinnott at Shoalhaven Picture Framing & Gallery this morning, to check on progress for the Jervis Bay Portrait Prize, launching next Friday 13 February. There are 34 entries in all mediums, including wire and textiles, so there will be lots to see at the opening night, Jervis Bay Brewing Co from 6pm.
Petitions: Add your name to a petition for more wildlife corridors alongside the Princes Hwy upgrades, including the current works at the top of Jervis Bay Road. Our Future Shoalhaven, who have put up the petition, says the local community deeply values the unique natural environment and is concerned about the harmful impacts of the upgrades on the region’s wildlife.
Friday 6 – Saturday 7 February, Nowra Show: For fans of regional agricultural shows, the season on the coast has started. This year’s show includes a working kelpie demonstration, a Stockman’s Challenge, whip cracking, virtual experiences and parades, displays and fireworks. See the full program online.
Saturday 7 February, Learn Oil Painting: Jervis Bay artist Jenny McIntosh has one spot left in tomorrow’s class for beginners, which includes all materials, $226. In this small class, Jenny will guide you about how to get started in this classic medium – no experience needed.
Saturday 7 February, Local Markets: It’s the ‘first Saturday’ so there is a fantastic selection of markets, starting with the Milton Village Showground Markets from 9am-2pm and featuring around 100 stalls to browse and shop. In the evening, it’s the Twilight Markets at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, 3pm-7pm, featuring live music, the Whaler’s Bar and stalls from local makers plus a selection of food trucks.
Saturday 7 February, Art Trail: The Currarong Art Trail is on in the seaside village, featuring a range of local talent who open their studios to visitors from 10am till 3pm. Buy direct from the artist and find a new favourite piece to take home. Check their website to see who is open and how to find them.
Sunday 8 February, More Local Markets: It’s the ‘second Sunday’ so there is another fabulous selection of markets, starting with the Husky Markets in White Sands Park, Huskisson from 8am-2pm, featuring around 100 stalls to wander around. The Kangaroo Valley farmers markets will be on behind the Friendly Inn from 9am-pm, bring your basket to stock up on fresh produce and small batch gourmet foods. Further south the Ulladulla Wharf Markets, courtesy of Marine Rescue Ulladulla, fills the harbour-front with loads of stalls.
Sunday 8 February, Bottomless at Husky Pub: Enjoy two hours of tacos and margaritas from midday at the Waterfront Bar of the Huskisson Hotel, at this $65 bottomless brunch. Colourful plates and a stunning outlook is best shared with friends.
Sunday 8 February, At the Movies: There’s no better spot on a rainy Sunday than Huskisson Pictures, where you can see Hamnet this Sunday at 3.05pm. Billed as the story that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this is a powerful story of love and loss. Reserve a ticket via email to the theatre and be there to collect 30min before your screening.
Sunday 8 February, Four Seasons Concert: The multi-talented musician and singer Danny Elliott is performing at Coastal Waters Auditorium from 2pm, $25 at the door (cash or card). He will be joined by acclaimed singer Sharna Le-Grand in a concert that welcomes residents, family and friends of Coastal Waters, at Worrowing Heights. The bar will be open during intermission.
Sunday 8 February, Sussex Prawn Raffle: There are 15 trays of prawns up for grabs courtesy of the Sussex Inlet RSL Sailfish Fishing Club raffle. Prawn raffle tickets go on sale from 12pm and the draw kicks off at 1:30pm. Enjoy the community vibes and support the local fishing club.
Sunday 8 February, Sunday Sessions Live Music: Support the venues who support independent musicians! Minnie & The Moonrakers will bring their lively, toe -tapping hybrid of fifties rock n’ roll fused with swampy blues, swing and rockabilly to Cupitt’s Estate in Ulladulla from 12.30pm, a perfect lunch time soundtrack.
Blessie Pica returns to the Flamin Galah brew-pub with her dreamy, intimate sound creating a perfect chilled vibe to end the weekend, from 3pm in the Woollamia industrial zone.
We love Bobbie Martin at the Jervis Bay Brewing Co, also in Woollamia. The alter-ego of singer-songwriter Robyn Martin, Bobbie likes to spend lazy afternoons singing country, soul and folk songs by her favourite artists, from 4pm at Jervis Bay Brewing Co.
For a sunset cocktail with a great vibe, Timea Wright is on at Bannisters Rooftop East Bar in Mollymook from 5pm.
Tuesday 10 February, Clogging Classes: Join the Amethyst Park Stompers on Tuesday nights for beginner clogging classes at Tomerong Hall. Class is $15 and starts at 6pm.
Friday 13 – Saturday 14 February, Kangaroo Valley Show: Another sensational display of Australian regional agriculture, the Kangaroo Valley Show promises competitions, parades and displays galore. There will be cooking and crafts, animals including crowd favourites horses and dogs, loads of things for the kids including baby animals and camel rides. See the full program online.
Friday 13 February, Portrait Prize Opening Night: The highly anticipated inaugural Jervis Bay Portrait Prize will be revealed at 6pm at Jervis Bay Brewing Co, with the winner set to receive $1000 cash and two vouchers up for grabs for two more artists. This promises to be revealing night about artists and their sitters!
Friday 13 February, Flamin Speed Dating: The craft brewery Flamin Galah is hosting another speed dating event, this time for singles aged 20-30. For around $30, you get a welcome drink, 5-minute meets and a 15-minute break halfway through the 2-hour session that starts at 6.30pm. Confirmed 2nd dates at the brewery will receive some vouchers for food and drinks.
Saturday 14 February, INXS Tribute Show: We have heard amazing things about the performers who really channel the original line-up of the Aussie rock band, in ‘Don’t Change’, coming to the St Georges Basin Country Club. Tickets are from $37.50 for the show that starts at 8pm.
Plan Ahead – What’s Worth the Wait
Saturday 21 February, New Exhibitions at Nowra Gallery: Three new shows will open at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, including a Beyond Empathy exhibition, Balding is Easier than Being Bald. This show presented multidisciplinary work from young people across the Shoalhaven and Illawarra regions, exploring how they’re navigating the unknown, the in-between, and a world of questions.
Saturday 21 February, Comedy at the Brewery: The Wollongong Comedy Festival is touring two funny fellows to the Jervis Bay Brewing Co for a night of hilarity for $25. From 7pm, Cam Knight, whose familiar face has hosted many a TV show and Chris Radburn, a former lawyer-turned-comedian, will be bringing the laughs.
Saturday 21 February, Concert Band Workshops: Join the Shoalhaven City Concert Band for a combined band workshop, featuring sectional rehearsals with guest tutors, concluding with a free full band concert for family, friends and the general public at 4pm. All woodwind, brass, string bass and percussion players invited. Register for Summer Sounds, $20 before 14 February.
Sunday 22 February, Drag High Tea in Husky: Celebrated cabaret drag star, Dolly Diamond is bringing her signature charisma and comedy to the Huskisson Community Centre for a high tea that promises to be OTT. For a few hours from 2.30pm, enjoy a banquet-style high tea with either mocktails or cocktails served by the boutique mixologist behind the vintage Ansett trolley along with a captivating show. Earlybird tickets are currently available for $79+bf for the mocktail version and $115+bf for the alcoholic option.
Wednesday 25 February, Rediscover Your Inner Child: Join an adult art class with artist Anna Nangle in a colourfultwo-hour art workshop, inspired by her Exhibition, 1000 Colours for Lalita, at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum. Create a small, colour, abstract, geometric A5 sized artwork while you remember and access the intuitive and spontaneous feeling of joy that children experience when working with colour. Book online for the 10am session, $30.
Saturday 28 February, Get in the Spirit: The Spirits of Jervis Bay Festival is on again at the Husky Pub and White Sands Park, starting at midday and showcasing the South Coast’s finest distillers, food trucks serving up delicious snacks, and live music by the Bay. Tickets are now on sale, $22.49 includes bf.
Saturday 28 February – Sunday 1 March, Sow Good Ulladulla: The Yumaro Nursery & Garden Centre is hosting a 2-day festival of workshops, music, art and nature at their Ulladulla location, 10am-2pm each day. Sow Good is a free event for the community that is a collaboration with other local businesses, including GWYLO, Our Town and Community Connects.
Thursday 5 March-Saturday 7 March, Live Arts Event: Improbable Solace is a live arts event offering calm, contemplative care and attention for your mind and heart. This immersive art installation and original music come to you as a gift from artist Dr Natalie McDonagh and musician Deborah Grahame. Come, dwell a while in this intimate, tactile, sensory space, attended by the artist. The five part installation—Arrive . Inhabit . Navigate . Mend . Relinquish—and its serene accompanying music invite you to follow a carefully considered line of self-inquiry. At Artfulmind Studio, Erowal Bay, free entry, 11am-4pm. Email natalie@mcdonaghdesign.com for the full street address. Also on Thursday 12 March-Saturday 14 March.
Friday 6 March – Sunday 8 March, Milton Show: Another fantastic regional agricultural show, the 3-day Milton Show this year has the theme of ‘Life in the Garden’. The organisers also promise you will be in for a treat on the Sunday, with the Championship Dog Show and Ute & Auto Show both on that day.
Saturday 6 March – Sunday 7 March, New Exhibition at Bundanon: The opening weekend of Sky, Earth Water by Rosalie Gascoigne exploring her deep connection to the material landscape, alongside significant new commissions by leading First Nations artists with Lorraine Connelly-Northey, Janet Fieldhouse and Glenda Nicholls is on at the Bundanon Art Museum in Illaroo (about an hour’s drive from Huskisson). There will be live music, artist talks, and free entry to the museum across the weekend, and you can rsvp online.
Friday 13 March, More Speed Dating: Flamin Galah brew-pub in the Woolamia industrial zone is inviting 45-60s to a night of speed dating. Tickets are $28 for a round of 16 mini dates and a drink on arrival, starting at 6.30pm.
Saturday 14 March, St Paddy’s Day In Jervis Bay: The rousing fiddle and lyrical voices of Lindsay Martin and Victoria Vigenser will make this a St Paddy’s Day eve to rejoice at Jervis Bay Brewing Co from 2pm. To aid the celebrations, the Taproom will be serving $7 schooners of a new Irish stout. Wear something green and head out to the Woollamia industrial zone.
Friday 20 March, Bach in the Museum: Music in the Regions is touring another internationally acclaimed classical performance, by Bach Akademie Australia who bring the musical story of J.S. Bach to life, including his famous Concerto for two violins in D minor and some special arias for soprano. Tickets are $40 (under 18s are free but need to reserve a seat) for this performance at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, starting at 6.30pm. There will also be performances in Berry and Ulladulla on this tour.
Saturday 21 March, Jazz in KV: Hear the swing sounds and slow ballads of Sydney jazz vocalist Kate Wadey, supported by some of Australia’s top jazz musicians, performing at Kangaroo Valley Hall from 5pm, tickets $40/$30/$20. Kate will perform some well-known jazz standards alongside original compositions. Doors open 4.30pm and drinks and light refreshments will be available.
