15/08/2024
The 'Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival 2024' at Auburn Botanic Gardens runs from Saturday 17 to Sunday 25 from 9am to 4:45pm daily. The 'Cherry Trail' is a self-guided walk through the Japanese Gardens and from 1pm to 1:30pm you can get a photo with Hello Kitty at the Mt Fuji Torri Gate. To celebrate Kitty’s 50th Birthday, there will also be Hello Kitty performances and meet and greets. Also enjoy the Japanese Food Village, cultural performances, traditional live music, dancing and entertainment, kids activities and horticultural talks. All festival tickets must be pre-booked online for entry into the festival: https://www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/sydneycherryblossomfestival
'Sydney Science Trail: Community Day' is at the Australian Museum on Sat 17. The Morning Session runs from 10am - 1.30pm and the Afternoon Session from 1.30pm - 5pm (free but registrations are essential). There will be science demonstrations, hands on science interactives, a Science Expo to explore, a T.rex Autopsy show, meet Winny the roving puppet Muttaburrasaurus and more: https://australian.museum/event/sst-community-day/
The 'Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern' is on Sat 17 at the Redfern Community Centre from 10am - 3pm. This free, community event is a celebration of Indigenous and Western science and technology. Activities include yarning with Elders on bush foods and medicines, Indigenous astronomy, cultural performances connecting to the natural world, making Aboriginal tools and physics and chemistry activities. Register online: https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/national-indigenous-science-experience
'Penrith Regional Gallery Open Day' is on Sat 17 from 10am - 4pm. There will be
- Drop In Art Making for All Ages from 10am - 1pm
- Official Opening with remarks by Tulleah Pearce, Curator The Interior at 1pm (RSVP required)
- In Conversation: Natalya Hughes at 1:15pm – 2pm
- Meet the Artists Open Studios at 2pm – 3pm
https://www.penrithregionalgallery.com.au/events/august-open-day-2/
'Family Science Day' is on Sat 17 from 10am - 3pm at PHIVE and Parramatta Square. There will be free science and tech workshops, hands-on activities, Lego and slime, family story time, virtual reality experiences and live music and demonstrations: https://atparramatta.com/whats-on/sydney-science-festival-family-day
'Family Day at Darling Square Library' is on Sat 17 from 10am - 2.30pm. Explore this year’s National Science Week schools theme: Species Survival with makerspace workshops including Robotics and Light projections (10am - 12pm), informative talks, storytelling and performance such as the 'Native bee musical performance' (10.30am - 11.30am), demonstrations, and interactive sessions: https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/celebrate-national-science-week-at-darling-square-library
'Drop-in workshop: Botanical designs with Kate Swinson' is a free, drop in workshop for all ages and abilities at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on Sat 17 and Sun 8 Sept from 11am - 1pm. Use Kate's bespoke stamps featuring native Australian flora and fauna, along with biros, to create your own intricate design. Materials and instructions are provided: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/events/drop-in-workshop-kate-winson/
'Found Objects' by Shaun Parker & Co. at the Bondi Pavilion Outdoor Courtyard is on Sat 17 and Sun 18. The performance has contemporary dance, acrobatics, hip-hop, breakdance, tutting, popping, krumping, street dance and parkour with seemingly ordinary objects. It's on at 1pm and 4pm on Saturday and 11am and 2pm on Sunday and is free but registration required: https://www.bondipavilion.com.au/whats_on/event/found_objects
'Children's Book Week' runs from Sat 17 to Fri 23 and local libraries host special events to celebrate. This year's theme is “Reading is Magic”, so see what is on near you and catch a bit of magic.
The 'Sydney Science Trail Community Day' at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan is on Sun 18 from 10am - 3pm. There will be stage performances including the Picton High School Aboriginal Dance Group, tours and talks including the Cumberland Plain Woodland Walk and many live demonstrations and activities including Story Corner, meet researchers from CSIRO, meet researchers from Campbelltown City Council’s Koalatown initiative and learn about the citizen science project 'Australian Museum FrogID'. Free but register for the morning or afternoon session online: https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/whats-on/sydney-science-trail-community-day-2024
'Science in the Swamp' is on Sun 18 at Centennial Park from 11am - 3pm. There will be scientists to meet, Dr Graham’s Blow Up Science Show, Robokids, Cool aeronautics – design, make and fly a mini helicopter, hands-on experiments, Ginger the life-sized Australovenator dinosaur will be roaming and more. Plus enter the competition to win a family VIP photo package with a life-sized dinosaur. Free and no tickets or registration required: https://www.greatersydneyparklands.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/science-in-the-swamp-2024