Full calendar of fabulous events across the Easter long weekend
Thanks to the timing of Easter with the lunar cycle, the long weekend comes early this year, with perfect Autumn days and still warm-ish evenings to enjoy the many festivities occurring around Jervis Bay and beyond.
Get Your Groove On
BANDS #1 All long weekend it’s Bands on the Bay at Vincentia Sailing Club hosted by Jervis Bay Brewing Co, featuring live music, food trucks, a great selection of beverages and comfy spots on the lawn at Plantation Point. Musicians include George Bishop, Tall Shaun, Salty and All the Fuss! For the schedule of music and food, check the socials, and remember, the sun is still shining so slip slop slap folks.
BANDS #2 Head surfside for the Burradise Bash Sunday 31 March from 2-7pm on the grass, beach side, at the Nowra Culburra Surf Life Saving Club. Presented by the organisers of the Culburra Beach Fest, this Easter special will feature a sensational program of live music, so pack your picnic gear and settle in. There will be some food for sale on the day or byo faves.
Join the fun at the Burradise Bash this Easter weekend at the Culburra Surf Life Saving Club. Photo via Facebook
BANDS #3 Still surfside, The Common South Coast has a great weekend of music lined up, from Blue Mallee on Good Friday 29 March to Bianca Joulianou on Easter Saturday and Brittony May on Easter Sunday. Check their socials for starting times and food specials such as slow cooked pork.
BANDS #4 The Flamin Galah in the Husky industrial zone is kicking off Good Friday with DJ Nemesis setting the vibe. Easter Saturday features Kate Young and Easter Sunday it’s Sean Baxter’s turn to keep the beat. Food from The Nest and plenty of the Galah’s head brewer Sam’s creations on tap.
Flamin Galah’s gorgeous garden is creating an Easter vibe. Photo via Facebook
Blessing of the Fleet
ULLADULLA Starting with a Fisherman’s Procession at 9am and finishing with a bang at 8pm fireworks, the annual Blessing of the Fleet is a big day out in Ulladulla on Easter Sunday 31 March. Food, entertainment including music and comedy, and loads for the kids, all around the harbour.
It’s an Art Fest
POTTERS The Shoalhaven Potters are holding their first open studio, exhibition and art sale from 28 March to 2 April at 888 Greenwell point Pyree, from 10-4pm each day. Our local artists have poured their hearts and souls into creating beautiful ceramics. Don’t miss out on your chance to have a close look, a chat and maybe own one of these unique pieces.
Meet the artists, see the work and maybe even take one home at the Shoalhaven Potters sale this weekend in Pyree. Photo: supplied
PAINTERS The Shoalhaven Art Society’s annual Easter art sale is on all weekend, too, just nearby the potters at Pyree Hall, 880 Greenwell Point Road. This show always has something for everyone, from small oil paintings to exquisite watercolours, from still life to landscape. Make an arty weekend of it!
FASHION DESIGNERS There’s an exciting new exhibition at the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, showcasing two iconic Australian fashion houses, Collette Dinnigan and Romance Was Born. The “Craft of Design” exhibition features garments from the Powerhouse Museum’s collection, on show from this Friday 29 March till 23 June.
To Market To Market!
MILTON The Milton Village Showground Market is on Good Friday 29 March, from 9-2pm. There will be an Easter egg hunt and live music to entertain while you browse the many stalls.
CALLALA There’s a special Easter Saturday market on at the Emmett Street community centre in Callala from 8-1pm, with loads of handmade items, plants, candles and more.
BULLI If you fancy an Easter drive further afield, try the Bulli Village Easter Sunday Markets on 31 March from 9-3pm at the Bulli Showgrounds, featuring amazing street food stalls, pony rides, face painting and sandpit for the kids. Live music on the green plus indoor and outdoor seating. There’s an Easter egg hunt for the kiddies at 11am.
FARMERS MARKETS This Thursday 28 March, the two regular weekly farmers markets are turning it up for Easter, so make sure you stock up on the freshest produce, preserves, flowers, treats and more. Enjoy pre-Easter entertainment and other specials, this week.
The weekly Berry Farmers Market is on 2-5pm at the Berry Bowlo.
The Nowra Fresh Food Market is on 2-6 at Harry Sawkins Park.
FAT PIGS The Friendly Inn in the heart of Kangaroo Valley is hosting the Pig Day Out, a combination of piglet races, live music, raffles and more, on Easter Saturday 30 March from 11am. Back a piglet for $11 and watch them race in sparkly jackets to a bowl of fresh milk. All proceeds go to local charities.
Easter Dining
Most of our restaurants and cafes are open across the long weekend, with a few exceptions closed for Good Friday, so make sure you check the links and book in advance.
VINCENTIA Neighbourhood Italian La Vespa is offering an Easter special of garlic bread, pasta and two cannoli for $50. They are closed on Good Friday, but open for dinner Saturday & Sunday from 5pm. In the Burton Street Shopping Village.
HUSKISSON Owen Street faves Pasta Buoy are trading all long weekend from 11-9pm daily. Drop by the Mediterranean courtyard for live music from Jemma Beech on Easter Saturday from 4-7pm. Cocktails, special Easter cannoli and a great menu of authentic Italian pasta available all weekend.
HUSKY PUB The Huskisson Hotel has a special Easter menu on all weekend, including seafood specials and refreshing cocktails. On Easter Sunday there will be a fun family-friendly atmosphere including face painting from 2-4pm and bunny hops from 2pm.
MEET THE BUNNY Vincentia shopping village café, Albert N Miso have a Good Friday brunch from 11am on 29 March, a visit from the Easter bunny on Saturday 30 March from 11-2pm, and great family fun on Easter Sunday including face painting, an Easter egg hunt and a bake sale, from 10am.
SEAFOOD MARKET There is a fresh harvest of Jervis Bay mussels available in time for your Easter seafood lunch – they are open on Good Friday and Easter Saturday 8-12pm but closed Easter Sunday – and they also have delicious freshly shucked pacific oysters, cooked and raw prawns.
BRUNCH SPECIAL Pop in to Bunya Wholefoods in the Vincentia Shopping Village for Easter-bun-French-toast-waffle – yes you read that correctly! This decadent brunch is made from an Easter bun, soaked in Bunya’s special vanilla French toast mix and toasted in a waffle iron, topped with pistachio crème, orange & cardamom syrup, candied orange and toasted pistachios. Bunya is open all Easter long weekend.
The Easter-bun-French-toast-waffle brunch special this long weekend at Bunya Wholefoods. Photo via Facebook
Escape the Husky hustle
BASIN SIDE The old shops on Naval Parade have some delicious new residents, and their off-the-beaten-track location down on the Basin makes a peaceful change of pace. The Speak Easy Art Hub and Coffee (42 Naval Pde) is a friendly pop-up café open over the Easter weekend (Friday/Monday 8-2 and Saturday/Sunday 8-12) serving house-made savoury muffins and their signature coffee, The Godfather – a secret blend that locals are raving about.
Artists and coffee lovers converge at this pop-up cafe and art hub in Erowal Bay. Photo: Samantha Tannous
PIZZA Next door is Pizza Passion, serving from 5pm Thursday through Saturday – keep an eye out for their flags and access is via King George Street. Gluten free bases available.
HYAMS Not exactly free of the hustle and bustle thanks to the ‘grammable location, the Cooked Goose down in the general store at Hyams Beach is also open across the Easter weekend, 8-4 daily but order any food before 2.30pm. They have cocktail happy hour from 5-6pm too.
Great food at the Cooked Goose in Hyams Beach. Photo via Facebook
Shopping Sales!
BAMBOO Huskisson clothing store Jay on the Bay is offering an Easter long weekend special of 20% off marked men and women’s clothing.
SUNNIES Nature Lodge Optics in Huskisson has an Easter special of half price on Ray-Ban, Oakley, Carrera and other brand-name sunglasses.
FOOT FORWARD Tilly Island at Home Co mall in Vincentia is offering 20-50% off a great range of shoes and end-of-season clothing (closed Good Friday).
END OF SUMMER Slow Tempo Huskisson has 40% off their summer ranges, till 1 April, including breezy linen shirts, dresses, tops and more.
NEW IN BERRY The Collective Beat, a collaborative marketplace of artisan products, is opening a new location in Berry on Saturday 30 March, on Albert Street.
Next Week
WINE The inaugural Jervis Bay Wine Club tasting and networking evening is on Wednesday 3 April from 6pm, hosted by Jervis Bay Coffee Co, with plans to continue on the first Wednesday of the month.
BOOKS Boobook on Owen is hosting an author event on Tuesday 2 April at 6pm, with novelist Siobhan O’Brien talking about her new book, All the Golden Light, with fellow local author Kell Woods. Tickets are $15 from Boobook, online, or on the door.
