Free things to do in Canberra

Goulburn Lilac City Festival

Downstairs Goulburn Soldiers Club · +3 more

FestivalsMarketsFood & wine

World Rhino Day at the National Zoo and Aquarium

The National Zoo and Aquarium · 9am · +9 more

Kids & familyOutdoors

Bugs Alive Exhibition

Australian National Botanic Gardens · 9:30am · +7 more

Kids & familyScienceOutdoors

Underground Spirits Gin Garden at Floriade

Commonwealth Park · 9:30am · +9 more

Cocktail barsFood & wineFestivals

ANU Keyboard Institute Open Day

ANU School of Music · 9:30am

Live musicTalks & ideas

Zoo in Bloom

The National Zoo and Aquarium · 9:30am · +9 more

Kids & familyOutdoorsFestivals

75th Annual Goulburn Lilac City Festival

Belmore Park · 10am · +3 more

FestivalsMarketsKids & family

Art Exhibition - Nexus: The Common Piano by Martin Rowney

Rusten House Art Centre · 10am · +6 more

Art & galleries

Art Exhibition - Conceal/Reveal by Bobby Graham

Rusten House Art Centre · 10am · +6 more

Art & galleries

Art Exhibition - No Tourists - If You Live Here, You’re From Here By Kirsty Dixon

Rusten House Art Centre · 10am · +6 more

Art & galleries

The Magical World of Crazy Science

Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden · 11am

Kids & familyScienceComedy

The Ultimate Magic Show

Goulburn Performing Arts Centre · 11am

Kids & familyTheatreComedy

Buzz Bar Fridays at The Queanbeyan Hive

The Queanbeyan Hive · 5pm · +1 more

Art & galleriesFood & wineKids & family

Friday Live Music at Aranya Acres

Aranya Acres · 6pm · +1 more

Live musicFood & wine

Open Day Evening Showcase Concert: Featuring Students, Faculty, and Guests

Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music · 6pm

Live music

NightFest 2026

Commonwealth Park · 6:30pm · +2 more

FestivalsLive musicImmersive experiences

Disney's Frozen, The Broadway Musical

The Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre · 7pm · +7 more

TheatreKids & family

Ben Lee and Georgia Maq

Canberra Theatre Centre · 7:30pm

Live music

Quiet Mornings at the Mint

Royal Australian Mint · 9am

ToursHistory & heritage

Ollies' Garage & The SHRF Canberra Showroom: Celebration of Motorsports Bathurst Legend Cars

Ollies' Garage · 9am

History & heritageKids & family

Springtime Op Shop Adventures!

The Thrift Hub · 10:30am

Shopping

Reconciliation Place Public Tours

Fire and Water Sculpture · 11am

ToursHistory & heritage

Knit and Crochet for Charity with GOG!

Corroboree Park Hall · 1pm

WorkshopsVolunteering

The Crisp Galleries Celebration of Spring

The Crisp Galleries · 2:30pm · +1 more

Art & galleriesLive musicFood & wine

ANZAC Parade tours

1 Elimatta St · 2:30pm

History & heritageTours

Photograph the Milky Way near Canberra ​with Ari Rex

Old Saint Luke's Studio · 6pm · +1 more

PhotographyWorkshopsOutdoors

Free The Canberra Times Run Canberra 6-Week Training Group

Queen Elizabeth Terrace · 8am

Running & fitness

Floriade About Town - Walking with Words

Poppyfield Common · 9:30am

WorkshopsOutdoors

Braddon Book Club

EightyTwenty Canberra | Braddon Cafe · 11am

Bookshops & literary

NRL Grand Final at PJs

PJs in the City · 5pm

Food & wine

Rock-wallaby Wander at Tidbinbilla

Black Flats Carpark · 10am

OutdoorsTours

Worm Farming Workshop

ANU Kitchen Garden Plot · 1pm

WorkshopsOutdoors

Adult Starter Ballroom & Latin Class - 19 Spots

The International Dance Studio · 6pm

Dance

Family Tour - Coin and Design Discovery Tour

Royal Australian Mint · 12:30pm

ToursKids & family

European Culture Examined – A New Discussion Group

Canberra Southern Cross Club Jamison · 10am

Talks & ideas

Quality Koalas at Tidbinbilla

Eucalypt Forest Carpark · 1:30pm

OutdoorsTalks & ideas

Grow Your Own Micro Greens & Sprouts

ANU Kitchen Garden Plot · 4pm

WorkshopsFood & wineOutdoors

Government House, Canberra Open Day

Government House · 10am

History & heritageTours

Greening Australia Annual Plant Sale Saturday October 10th 10am-2pm

Greening Australia · 10am

MarketsOutdoors

Build & Bloom | A Grazing Box Workshop at Floriade

Floriade Canberra • The Garden House by Bunnings Warehouse, Commonwealth Park · 1:30pm

WorkshopsFood & wine

Meg Washington at Tallagandra Hill Winery

Tallagandra Hill Winery · 6pm

Live musicFood & wine

Canberra Short Film Festival

Dendy Cinemas Canberra · 6pm · +4 more

FilmFestivals

Fromage, Fizz and Floral Feast

Grainger Gallery · 6pm

Food & wineArt & galleries

Romeo + Juliet (35mm) - Special anniversary costume party and screening

National Film and Sound Archive of Australia · 7pm

FilmFestivals

Earth Science Week

Geoscience Australia · +4 more

ScienceTalks & ideas

Awâre Conversation Circle - October

Haig park, near Salthouse Community Centre · 11am

Talks & ideas

Public Tour - 12 to 31 October 2026

Royal Australian Mint · 10:30am

ToursHistory & heritage

Coming into Relation

RSSS Auditorium · 6:30pm

Talks & ideasHistory & heritage

Whitworth Roach Classical Music Performance Competition Finals

Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music · 6pm

Live music

Sydney Writers Festival streaming - Holly Ringland - Batemans Bay Library

Batemans Bay Library · 10:30am

Talks & ideasBookshops & literary

Sydney Writers Festival streaming - Michael Robotham - Batemans Bay Library

Batemans Bay Library · 12pm

Talks & ideasBookshops & literary

Colonial wilding: Cattle, Kangaroo and Gumbakuluk

RSSS Auditorium (room 1.28) · 4:30pm

Talks & ideasHistory & heritage

Sydney Kings v New Zealand Breakers NBL27

AIS Arena · 7:15pm

Live sport

Canberra Writers Festival

FestivalsBookshops & literaryTalks & ideas

RELICS: A New World Rises

Canberra Museum + Gallery · Until Sun 31 Jan

Immersive experiencesArt & galleriesKids & family

Clarice Beckett: Paintings from the National Collection

Goulburn Regional Art Gallery · Until Sat 21 Nov

Art & galleriesHistory & heritage

Canberra Art Biennial

Until Sat 31 Oct

FestivalsArt & galleries

GR’AFT: Solo Exhibition by Lynda Draper

Canberra Glassworks · Until Sun 25 Oct

Art & galleries

Art Exhibition - Who Am I Really by Frank Lindner

Braidwood Library Exhibition Wall · Until Mon 9 Nov

Art & galleriesPhotography

Quiet Places

The Gallery Next Door · Until Sun 1 Nov

Art & galleries