Nine things to do in the Riverina this week (2 - 8 December)

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in the Riverina. There will be several festive season events kicking off this weekend in Wagga, Leeton and Griffith that offer activities for the whole family, including face painting, singing, food stalls and tours of districts showcasing their Christmas lights. Best of all, most Christmas events are free.

The headline event for the weekend, though, would have to be the return of pop superstar Guy Sebastian to Wagga. He’ll be doing concerts from Sunday to Wednesday, but only a few tickets are left, so you’ll need to get in quickly.

There’s also a Christmas toy run, a Griffith sidewalk sale and a famous author coming to Wagga. Read on to find out all the details.

Friday

Bidgee Strawberries and Cream Festival

When: Friday 2 December, 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Where: Bidgee Strawberries and Cream, Billagha St, Wagga
Cost: $15, book here.

This festival will be the Bidgee Strawberries and Cream’s first for the season after the planned November event was postponed due to flooding. There will be strawberries and cream gin available as well as honey tasting and live entertainment by local artist Aaron Oldaker. A local chef will run the Food by The Food Wagon and there will also be a Sunrise Rotary Club barbecue serving Damara lamb sausage sandwiches. Entertainment for the children will include a jumping castle, large yard games and of course, strawberry picking (punnets must be purchased before entering the strawberry patch).

Griffith Rotary Christmas Hams Carnival & Glow2680

When: Friday 2 December, 5:30 pm to 8:10 pm
Where: Memorial Park, 363 Banna Ave, Griffith
Cost: Free.

Join Griffith Rotary Club for its annual Christmas Hams Carnival. There will be entertainment from local singer Lorraine Sutton and kids’ activities including face painting and crafts from Griffith City Library. Visitors can purchase sausage sandwiches, ice creams and drinks from Griffith Rotary Club Avanti or raffle tickets for a chance to win Christmas hams. Santa will be visiting from 7:15 pm and helping light up Banna Avenue and Memorial Park from 7:30 pm for Glow2680 Light Up Griffith.

The Boys – Alive and Kicking

When: Friday 2 December, 6:30 pm
Where: Tilly’s, 109 Baylis Street, Wagga
Cost: $125, book here.

Riverina Volkswagen is presenting the music show The Boys – Alive and Kicking. It was first performed in 2004 at the Garden Court Restaurant. “The Boys” are back and supported by the Groove Factorie with a brand-new show at Tilly’s (formerly Cue Bar). It features Don Hillam, Mark Atkinson, Mark Grentell, Mathew Davidson, Troy Fisher, Matt Olsen and Jamie Way. Please note: the Civic Theatre Box Office is the only authorised ticket seller for this event and attendees purchasing tickets online should ensure they follow a valid link.

Saturday

The Wagga Toy Run

When: Saturday 3 December, 9 am to 1 pm
Where: Civic Centre, Burns Way, Wagga
Cost: $5, payable on entry.

Ron Crouch Transport will be running its annual motorcycle toy run event. They will be taking donations and selling raffle tickets to raise money to buy toys for disadvantaged children aged 15 years and under. They will also run an auction of some donated articles from The Junee Correctional Centre, plus some other items. Cold drinks and a sausage sizzle will be available for a nominal fee and all toys will be given to the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul for distribution.

Griffith Side Walk Sale

When: Saturday 3 December, 9 am to 1 pm
Where: Banna Avenue
Cost: Free.

Griffith City Council is working with local retailers in the CBD to re-introduce the annual Christmas Sidewalk Sale, where items will be on sale outdoors along the town’s main street. It’s a chance to get your Christmas shopping done and support local businesses. You can also put your entries in at a number of featured companies to go in the draw to win a $500 voucher or one of five $100 vouchers to spend at a participating store.

Meet Mawunyo Gbogbo, Author of ‘Hip Hop & Hymns’

When: Saturday 3 December, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Where: Collins Bookseller, 75 Baylis Street, Wagga
Cost: Free.

Collins Booksellers invites you to meet Maqunyo Gbogbo to discuss her new book Hip Hop & Hymns. Mawunyo was born in Ghana, raised in Muswellbrook in the NSW Hunter Valley and now calls Sydney home. She is a music and pop culture reporter for Double J and ABC News. She has worked as a journalist for ABC NewsRadio, features reporter and producer for ABC Radio Sydney, segment producer for the Today show on the Nine Network and associate producer for Insight on SBS TV, where she won a UN Media Peace Award.

Sunday

Light up Leeton concert

When: Sunday 4 December, 5:30 pm to 10 pm
Where: Mountford Park, 4 Jarrah Street, Leeton
Cost: Free.

Light Up Leeton is a Christmas carnival and community concert that sees local homeowners and businesses come together to celebrate the festive season. Following an evening of singing and events in the park, locals and visitors alike are invited to take a drive to see 200 or more homes lit up in celebration of the season.

Bloss Christmas in the Park

When: Sunday 4 December, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Where: Wagga Wagga Botanical Gardens, MacLeay Street, Turvey Park
Cost: Free.

This event is run by Bloss, which supports people who have experienced pregnancy loss, stillbirth and neonatal loss. After a morning filled with singing and onstage performances, locals and visitors are invited to take a drive to see about 200 homes lit up to celebrate the season. The event honours the babies missing from our lives at Christmas. There will be market stalls, kids’ activities, food and drinks.

Sunday to Wednesday

Guy Sebastian T.R.U.T.H. Tour in Wagga

When: Sunday 4 December to Wednesday 7 December, nightly from 7:30 pm
Where: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way, Wagga
Cost: $110, book here.

Following his sold out Arena T.R.U.T.H. Tour, Guy Sebastian and his full band are back in Wagga, bringing the show to those who may have missed out the first time around. The tour will see Guy perform some of his most popular tracks including hit single Believer, Choir, fight song Before I Go, the upbeat Love on Display and the anthem Standing With You. Tickets are selling fast; only a limited number are left.