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The highlight of the cultural calendar of Australia's capital city is the 10-day extravaganza of entertainment and art, which makes up the annual National Multicultural Festival starting on the first Friday of every February. The festival launches with a huge concert which is followed on the succeeding ten days by a wide variety of exhibitions, open air markets, music performances, theatre, dance and numerous other events organised by all manner of businesses, organisations and diplomatic missions.
Venue: Various throughout Canberra
Date: 8-17 February 2008
Website: www.multiculturalfestival.com.au
Royal Canberra Show
The countryside comes to town for the Royal Canberra Show, popular for all ages and stages with its livestock, exhibits, fireworks and grand parades. More than 150 attractions pull the crowds to Exhibition Park, along with 5000 or more animals, hundreds of trade displays and thousands of competitors vying for various awards.
Venue: Exhibition Park, Flemington Road, Mitchell
Date: 27 February to 1 March 2009
Website: www.rncas.org.au/showwebsite/main.html
National Autumn Balloon Spectacular
The sight of dozens of colourful hot air balloons rising gently into the early morning air from the lawns in front of Canberra's Old Parliament House is stirring. Perhaps that is why Canberra's Fiesta has become Australia's premier ballooning event, and the city's signature autumn event. To complement the spectacle of the majestic balloons, there are also numerous other entertainments, sideshows and food stalls laid on in the vicinity for the duration of the fiesta.
Venue: Old Parliament House Lawns
Date: 19-27 April 2008
Website: www.canberraballoons.com.au/asp/content.asp?articleID=77&id=118
National Folk Festival
Thousands of entertainers, from story-tellers to circus clowns, and folk singers to crafters, gather together each Easter in Canberra for a mammoth folk-fest. No stone on the vast field of Australia's multi-cultural population is left unturned in this exciting themed event in a cleverly created village atmosphere. Besides a full concert programme, dance performances, poetry readings, free music lessons and children's entertainment the festival offers thrilling shopping opportunities at hundreds of stalls and plenty of delicious food, from paella to pizza and beyond.
Venue: Exhibition Park
Date: 20-24 March 2008
Website: www.folkfestival.asn.au
International Chamber Music Festival
The chamber music on offer in Canberra's well-known annual autumn series, played by brilliant international and Australian artists, is enhanced by the settings chosen for the concerts. The venues are all unique to Canberra, being inside embassies, national institutions and churches, all of national importance.
Venue: Various
Date: 7-18 May 2008
Website: www.cicmf.org
Australian Science Festival
Bringing science alive is the aim of this eagerly awaited annual sortie into the world of technology and natural wonders, part of a nation-wide science week. Canberra community groups, businesses and government go all out to make the festival as exciting, intriguing and fun as possible with a host of workshops, demonstrations, and talks at various venues throughout the city. The festival is well-advertised with programmes available in shops and hotels well in advance. Most events in the science festival are free.
Venue: Various
Date: 16-24 August 2008
Website: www.sciencefestival.com.au
Bringing science alive is the aim of this eagerly awaited annual sortie into the world of technology and natural wonders, part of a nation-wide science week. Canberra community groups, businesses and government go all out to make the festival as exciting, intriguing and fun as possible with a host of workshops, demonstrations, and talks at various venues throughout the city. The festival is well-advertised with programmes available in shops and hotels well in advance. Most events in the science festival are free.
Venue: Various
Date: 16-24 August 2008
Website: www.sciencefestival.com.au
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