Check out all the best events in the Riverina this week, from ballet to Broadway. Photo: Albury Entertainment Centre.
There’s more than enough for the whole family to get up to this week, with stand-up comedy, ballet, live concerts, car shows, magic shows, town festivals and more.
The Festival of W enters its final days so if you’ve been putting off seeing one of the Riverina’s biggest and best events all year, this is the time to check it out. There are light shows, ice skating, art installations, live music, markets and more.
Wagga Wagga’s Annual Swap Meet brings together car enthusiasts and motorheads from around the region to show off their historic vehicles; from classic to muscle to tuner, there is sure to be something here to excite all revheads.
And it’s a big week for performance, with shows from the Australian Ballet showing off highlights from its diverse repertoire as well as Off-Broadway, a celebration of all things musical.
Read on for all the best to see and do in our weekly guide to the Riverina.
Multiple Days
Wagga’s massive yearly festival finishes up this week. Photo: Visit NSW.
Festival of W – Wagga Wagga
When: 17 July to 19 July
Where: Various locations around Wagga
Cost: Costs may vary | More information online.
Festival of W is back in Wagga, bringing a whole lot of excitement and fun to town during the school holidays.
This year’s celebrations include light shows, ice skating, art installations, live music, dances, markets, a pop-up dining hub and more. But the festival is in its final days, so don’t miss out, or you’ll have to wait until next year’s festival.
PCYC has school holiday plans for the kids covered. Photo: PCYC Wagga.
School Holiday Programs at PCYC Wagga Wagga
When: 17 July and 20 July
Where: PCYC Wagga Wagga, 11 Fitzhardinge Street, Wagga
Cost: $55 per day | Book online.
PCYC Wagga is holding a great program for the school holidays, with plenty of exciting activities on offer to keep kids busy during the day. Friday’s schedule of activities includes dodgeball, athletics, tag games, craft events, races, volleyball, futsal and back-to-school crafts. Cap off the school holidays right and get your kids active.
Saturday
Be amazed at the Mada’s Magic Marvels show. Image: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre.
Mada’s Magic Marvels at the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre
When: 18 July, 11 am and 3 pm
Where: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way (off Tarcutta Street), Wagga Wagga
Cost: Tickets from $35 | Book online.
Illusionist, master performer and magician Adam Mada is coming to the Wagga Civic Theatre for two hilarious and fast-paced interactive family shows this Saturday.
Objects will vanish into thin air, reappear and change before your eyes, among other astounding tricks. Young members of the audience will even be invited up on stage to take part in the magic and his tricks often involve the entire audience, so there’s plenty of opportunity to be part of the magic.
Sunday
There will be plenty of historic cars at the Wagga Annual Swap Meet. Photo: Wagga Swap Meet.
Wagga Wagga Annual Swap Meet
When: 19 July, 7 am
Where: Wagga Wagga Showground, Bourke Street, Wagga Wagga
Cost: Entry $5 | Show and shine entry $10 per car.
The Wagga Wagga Annual Swap Meet gives local revheads a chance to show off their pride and joy. The show is open to all pre-1996 cars and there are sure to be plenty of amazing artefacts of motoring history, from muscle cars to restored beauties, tuners and souped-up utes.
But it’s not all about cars, there will also be stalls selling all manner of auto-memorabilia, antiques, bric-a-brac, ornaments, collectables and more.
Tuesday
Christmas in July celebrations at the Cube. Photo: The Cube Wodonga.
Australian Army Band Kapooka at the Cube Wodonga
When: 21 July, 1 pm and 6 pm
Where: The Cube Wodonga, 118 Hovell Street, Wodonga
Cost: Tickets $5 | Book online.
The Australian Army Band is coming to the Cube for a special Christmas in July concert, performing festive-season classics, made even more spectacular by a troupe of dancers.
There will be pieces from soloists showing off their vocals, quick marches and plenty of Christmas classics. All proceeds support Legacy and the Specialist Medical Resources Foundation in their work to support veterans’ families and deliver essential medical services.
Wednesday
Iconic ballet highlights performed at the Albury Entertainment Centre. Photo: Pierre Toussaint, Australian Ballet.
The Nutcracker Act II and Other Works from the Australian Ballet
When: 22 July, 7:30 pm
Where: Albury Entertainment Centre, 525 Swift Street, Albury
Cost: Tickets $33 U18s | $77 concession | $68 to $82 | Book online.
The Australian Ballet is on tour, bringing a program of classics as well as exciting new works to regional centres around the country. This program will showcase highlights from the many beloved works that the Australian Ballet performs, including Act II of The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux by George Balanchine and two world premieres of Stephanie Lake’s Chrysalis and Sandra Parker’s We Dance.
This performance is great for both established ballet lovers and dancers as well as curious laypeople who want to take advantage of a great opportunity to see world-class ballet up close.
And for ballet enthusiasts who want to go the extra mile and gain a closer insight into the world of ballet, at 11.30 am on the day of the performance, there will be a unique behind-the-scenes opportunity to see how they train and prepare, with commentary from the company’s artistic staff providing valuable insights.
Registration for this workshop is available here.
Thursday
Celebrate the spectacle and sound of Broadway. Image: Albury Entertainment Centre.
Off Broadway at the Albury Entertainment Centre
When: 23 July, 7:30 pm
Where: Albury Entertainment Centre, 525 Swift Street, Albury
Cost: Tickets from $39.90 | Book online.
Get ready for a showstopping celebration of the songs, the stories and the spotlight moments that built Broadway.
From the visionary producers behind Celtic Illusion, Ballroom Blitz and The Greatest Christmas Show comes a new musical theatre event – welcome to Off Broadway.
Created as a love letter to the world’s greatest musicals, Off Broadway takes the magic moments of your favourite musicals and delivers them in a glamorous and breathtaking production – complete with a powerhouse cast of exceptional musical theatre performers.
Travel from the golden age of Rodgers and Hammerstein, through the razor-sharp genius of Fosse and Robbins, the soaring grandeur of Lloyd Webber, a sprinkle of Disney magic and the modern anthems of Schwartz, Miranda and beyond.
The best acts from the Sydney Comedy Festival come to the Riverina. Image: Wagga Civic Theatre.
Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase at the Riverina Playhouse
When: 23 July, 7:30 pm
Where: The Riverina Playhouse, 8 Cross Street, Wagga Wagga
Cost: Tickets from $40 to $45 | Book online.
The Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase is travelling the nation, sharing some of the best acts from the main festival to the regions. There will be plenty of laughs to be had at this show, with two hours of non-stop fun from a line-up of both beloved established comics and emerging talents.
