There are lots of things I like about Canberra. It’s a small city… or a big town that you can cross in under an hour. You could stop and enjoy everything that this town has to offer in every suburb, every month of the year.
Here are some of my picks for 2014.
The National Folk Festival is a long weekend of sharing music, food and culture. Early in the morning until late at night, campers stay out in the open autumn air at Canberra’s Exhibition Park to dance and sing along with the performers.
Canberra is a cold place and we like to take advantage of that. In June and July, an ice skating rink took over Garema Place for Skate in the City in the middle of our coldest part of the year, turning the cold pavement into a winter wonderland for a whole month.
We have warmer parts of the year too and we celebrated that by covering Commonwealth Park in flowers. At another amazing Floriade, tulips rose, opened and fall back down between September and October, easily the prettiest time of the year before it gets too hot.
A new festival popped up this year, Unbridled combined music and horses and filled up the spaces with stalls for one day in November. Featuring jumps, tricks and all things equine, the day turned towards energetic music in the evening thanks to Busby Marou.
Continuing on through the summer and taking advantage of cooler evenings, the Australian National Botanic Gardens hosted the IMB Sunset Cinema for those who enjoy a picnic on the grass, under the light of a motion picture. There were new releases and older favourites; each evening offering the magic of the outdoor cinema.
We like our markets here in Canberra and luckily there is a new one every weekend. Hustle & Scout, Handmade Market, Trash ‘n’ Treasure, The Old Bus Depot Markets, the Hall Markets and the inaugural Three Sixty Fashion Market for unique clothes, trinkets and presents that you can’t help buying for yourself.
We also like our Canberra Roller Derby League, which has been building itself up over the last few years. Mixing theatric performance, roller skates and points, the sport is fun and fast, players with dramatic derby names whiz around the track, chasing the lead jammer. Well done to The Surly Griffins, who took out this year’s championship.
One of my favourite places to go this year has been Kingston’s Little Brooklyn, the best place for jambalaya that also sells burgers and deconstructed tacos. It’s got music, atmosphere, drink and food as well as seats inside and out to spend as long as you like enjoying it.
Over in the quirky streets of Braddon, resides Bentspoke Brewery, a new addition, devoted to creativity and craftsmanship. This microbrewery boasts quality and variety for the discerning connoisseur.
As for Civic, I have been impressed this year by the strength of The Phoenix Pub, threatened with fire damage earlier this year, the doors have reopened with the same paintings on the walls, a stage and plenty of cider.
Canberra is a busy place; just enjoying being its amazing little self. A year on from the Centenary and we’re still celebrating everything that we have and everything that we are!
