This week is packed with fun, open community events – some of which involve LEGO! Photo: NSW Government.
There are heaps of activities to get excited about in the Riverina this week.
The GAP Festival includes food stalls, activities and live music, all for a great cause. Organised by local students, this festival raises money for humanitarian relief in Gaza.
A little piece of Italy comes to the Riverina this week with A Taste of Italy, a special Italian cultural festival with food, wine, workshops, stalls, live entertainment and competitions. There’s heaps to see and do, with a full calendar of events.
Lawrence Mooney’s Dead Set Country is a stand-up tour de force from an acclaimed comic. He’s bringing his country-inspired comedy routine to town, bringing heaps of side-splitting stories about a city boy gone bush.
All this and more across the Riverina this week.
Multiple Days
A Taste of Italy brings so much to the Riverina to see, do and taste. Photo: A taste of Italy Griffith.
A Taste of Italy
When: 25 to 31 August
Where: Multiple locations across the Riverina
Cost: Various prices | Check event for more information.
A Taste of Italy is coming to the Riverina, bringing heaps of food and wine events, workshops, stalls, live music, tastings, car shows and competitions all centred around Italian culture.
There’ll be plenty to see, taste and do across the region this week, with plenty of events for the whole family.
Friday
Looking for a pooch to rescue? Image: Petbarn Facebook.
Greyhound Adoption Event – Petbarn Wagga
When: 23 August, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Petbarn Wagga Wagga, 3/12-20 Edward St, Wagga
Cost: Greyhound adoption fee $150 (normally $250) | Senior greyhound adoption $75 (normally $150).
Have you been looking around for a dog but aren’t quite sure which breed to go with? Petbarn in Wagga is holding a greyhound open day with special adoption rates on offer.
Greyhounds make for wonderful pets as they very rarely bark, they’re a short hair breed, they have a calm and gentle demeanour and they’re very affectionate. This is a great opportunity to take home a pup the same day you meet one.
A community event for a good cause, organised by local students. Photo: Visit Wagga.
GAP Festival
When: 23 August, 2:30 to 9 pm
Where: Wagga Beach, Cabarita Park, Johnston St, Wagga
Cost: Free entry.
Proudly organised by students at Riverina Anglican College, this festival is dedicated to raising money for humanitarian aid supporting families in Gaza, with live music, delicious food stalls and a welcoming atmosphere fit for families, friends and community to come together. Local musicians will serenade visitors as they check out the wide range of food on offer. In addition, the event will have fun activities for kids and temporary Henna tattooing.
Check out our main article on the brave Year 11 students putting the festival together here.
An opportunity for clubbing done a bit differently. Image: Club Tilly’s.
Done by 10 pm – Daytime clubbing at Club Tilly’s for 29+
When: 23 August, 5 pm
Where: Club Tilly’s, 109 Baylis Street, Wagga
Cost: Tickets are $15 | Book online.
Are you looking to go clubbing but you don’t quite have the energy to stay up past your bedtime? Daytime Clubbing at Tilly’s is about letting your hair down, meeting up, dancing and partying, all during the day. If you’ve been missing youthful nights dancing the night away, this is your chance to relive that.
The night will feature 80s, 90s and 2000s anthems from the night’s dedicated DJs.
An electrifying night awaits at Sodens Hotel. Image: Sodens Hotel Facebook.
X-GENZ 80s 90s and 2000s show at Sodens Hotel in Albury
When: 23 August, 9 pm
Where: Soden’s Hotel, 459 Wilson St, Albury
Cost: Free.
Melbourne party machine X-GENZ comes to Albury for a high-energy nostalgia-filled night taking audiences through the decades, from the 80s all the way to today’s hits.
Get your mates, put on your best Y2K gear and join them for a night of music, memories and excitement.
Saturday
What happens when a city boy tries to make the transition to the bush? Image: Visit Wagga Wagga.
Lawrence Mooney: Dead Set Country
When: 23 August, 8 pm
Where: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way, off Tarcutta St, Wagga
Cost: Tickets from $55.90 to $59.90 | Book online.
Mooney’s gone country. Deep country. Dead Set Country. He likes the word country because it’s got a rude word in it if you EMPHasise it properly.
Dead Set Country is a new hour of stand-up that’s all about a city boy gone bush. Roughed up by locals, mourning dead wombats, talking with horses and having an abiding affair with a tractor – in short Mooney is Dead Set Country. Following on from the acclaim for his past three shows Beauty, Embracing Your Limitations and Pigeonhole he’s back with Dead Set Country. This time, he’s covered in dust, speaking slower and line dancing.
Sunday
All ages and all abilities are welcome at this fun community event. Photo: Visit Wagga.
Bidgee bricks – LEGO creative community event
When: 24 August, 9 am to 3 pm
Where: 30 Dobbs Street, Wagga
Cost: Free.
This fun community event celebrates building, imagination and play, all with LEGO. All ages and abilities are invited to come together and enjoy hands-on brick building activities in a supportive space.
LEGO enthusiasts can explore building zones, check out cool displays and for younger visitors, there is a dedicated kids’ corner. Bidgee Bricks is all about getting people together to enjoy time together in a free, creative, problem-solving environment where social connection and comradeship is made over LEGO bricks.
Wednesday
Drinking, fighting and mayhem – tensions boil over in this play. Photo: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre.
God of Carnage – at the Wagga Civic Theatre
When: 27 August, 7:30 pm
Where: CSU Riverina Playhouse, 8 Cross St, Wagga
Cost: Tickets from $40 to $60 | Book online.
When two couples meet to talk about a recent incident between their sons on a playground, all seems well as each party tries to resolve differences. What begins amicably quickly deteriorates from slight discomfort to recriminations, jealousy and overflowing rage. Drinking, fighting and mayhem ensue as tensions boil over. The initial benign violence of children that catalysed the event pales next to the reaction of the adults in this fascinating play that pokes fun at our hypocrisy.
Thursday
The next lecture in a six-part series about the history of books. Photo: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre.
Art and Books Public Lectures With Dr Sam Bowker
When: 28 August, 5:30 pm
Where: CSU Riverina Playhouse, 8 Cross St, Wagga
Cost: Adult tickets $20 | Booranga Writers’ Centre member $15 | Season pass for all lectures $60 | Book online.
Dr Sam Bowker is sharing a six-part lecture series at the Booranga Writers’ Centre, exploring the artistry and history of books throughout history as well as their evolving position in society. This lecture series will take place on Thursday evenings from this week until early September. This week’s lecture will delve into the history of picture books, comic books and Japanese manga.
More information is available in our main article here.
