With superb weather on the horizon, this weekend promises to be unforgettable.

And with free Shakespeare, Burlesque and Birthday Pop Inn bubbles on the menu, here’s how to spend it.

Listen, listen! Transcend into the Elizabethan era with Lakespeare

Canberra’s favorite outdoor bards Lakespeare are back with their summer season of Shakespeare’s As You Like It and they’re giving away free opening night tickets, just how we love it (sorry).

Presentation of their fourth summer season of Shakespeare by the Lakes IVthis talented troupe will premiere Shakespeare’s comedy classic As you like it at Tuggeranong Town Park this Friday 18th February and you are invited to grab your opening night ticket for free!

With a plot containing mistaken identities, bad poetry, wandering jesters and set in an enchanted forest, As you like it is intended to delight audiences of all ages and even features several original musical pieces by composer Jay Cameron.

Missed free tickets? Luckily there will be plenty of other chances to catch Lakespeare As you like it this summer including at Patrick White Lawns, Verity Lane Market, Pialligo Estate and more. To see Eventbrite for more details.

Friday, February 18 from 6:30 p.m. | Tuggeranong City Park | Eventbrite

Celebrate 5 years of the Pop Inn

Pop-up Canberra wine bar The Pop Inn celebrates its fifth anniversary with an afternoon of sun and citrus in Telopea Park this Saturday, February 19.

The celebration will take place from 1 p.m. in Telopea Park. Guests can enjoy Fish and Chips from The Italian Traveller, wine tastings, live music from Rhythm and Girl, and a range of specialty citrus-inspired cocktails to set the mood.

The Pop Inn will be celebrating the anniversary with a COVID-safe party. Gather with friends and family to enjoy good food, wine and each other’s company. Guests are encouraged to bring their own picnic blankets so they can stay socially distant during the afternoon. Welcome everyone.

Saturday February 19 from 11 a.m. | Telopea Park | facebook.com/thepopinnwinebar

Spice things up at The Empire Strips Back

2022 marks the 11th anniversary of The Empire undresses so they decided to organize a very special anniversary tour for fans old and new.

The Empire undresses has been packing Australian theaters since 2011, when it opened in Sydney in a 100-seat venue and quickly became a word-of-mouth phenomenon, touring nationally and internationally for the past 11 years.

For those who missed the previous tours, get ready for sexy Stormtroopers, a dangerously seductive Boba Fett, tantalizing Twi’leks, a deliciously lukewarm Taun Taun, a female Skywalker, the droids you’ve been looking for, and much more. !

Buy your tickets now and come celebrate it all star wars…and undressing…

Friday, February 18 from 8 p.m. | Canberra Theater Center | canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/the-empire-strips-back

Be local in the markets

Ah yes, the humble market – the perfect outdoor, COVID-safe way to get your fix of “doing something” without being inside.

Northsiders can head to the Capital Region Farmer’s Market at EPIC in Mitchell (back!) As early as dawn on Saturday for their fix while the Southsiders can sleep in on Saturday and have their turn on Sunday when the South Side Farmers Markets get off at Canberra College on Sunday.

Sundays also mean Haig Park Village Markets (perfect for Northsiders and southerners).

Get cozy while watching a movie under the stars (last weeks!)

Cinemas scare you but you are desperate to see all the news? Meet the perfect answer: Sunset Cinema Canberra.

With plenty of new features and seating made up of spaced-out BYO picnic arrangements and comfy ottomans, outdoor cinema has never looked better (or safer for COVID).

Until February 26 | Australian National Botanic Gardens | sunsetcinema.com.au/canberra

Consider Jess Cochrane’s new exhibition, Mixed Signals

Mixed Signals is a powerful new exhibition from Jess Cochrane, one of Australia’s fastest rising stars. Opening at aMBUSH Gallery Canberra on February 10, 2022, it is an exploration of perceptions of beauty and the polarizing and often binary ways in which we perceive people.

Featuring more than a dozen works created specifically for the exhibition, Cochrane’s stylized photographic portraits are embellished with rough, gestural marks using acrylic paint, to lead the viewer to question the intention of the original image and what really lies beneath the surface.

Until March 15 | aMBUSH Gallery Canberra (Kambri at ANU) | ambushgallery.com

Relax at the Armada Bar

Have you visited the hottest bar of the summer? The atmosphere: chic by the lake.

It’s the second summer of The Boat House’s outdoor branch, Armada Bar, and there’s plenty of cocktails to be had, not to mention their phenomenal menu of snacks and sharing plates curated by the talented team of gourmet chefs. from The Boat House.

Find out more here hercanberra.com.au/food-drink/food-wine/summers-coolest-outdoor-bar-is-back-for-2021

Celebrate iconic moments in contemporary Australian cinema

Starting on Friday 21 January, Australians & Hollywood: A Tale of Craft, Talent and Ambition is an exclusive exhibition in Canberra celebrating iconic moments in contemporary Australian cinema.

This blockbuster NFSA exhibit features beloved movie moments, rare behind-the-scenes footage and costumes and props from the NFSA collection on display for the first time. Discover the creativity and craftsmanship that goes into creating a classic and discover the personal treasures of Eric Bana, Paul Hogan, Baz Luhrmann and many more.

Until July 17 | National Sound and Film Archive of Australia | nfsa.gov.au/australians-hollywood-exhibition-nfsa

Immerse yourself in history with the ancient Greeks: athletes, warriors and heroes

This once-in-a-lifetime exhibition is not to be missed. Showcasing the competitive spirit of the ancient Greek world through sport, politics, drama, music and warfare, Ancient Greeks: Athletes, Warriors and Heroes is illuminated by more than 170 objects from the British Museum.

From large marble statues of athletes and gods to richly illustrated pottery and bronze weapons, the exhibition reveals a vibrant and innovative society that endures in its art, culture and legends.

Until May 1 | National Museum of Australia | nma.gov.au/exhibitions/ancient-greeks

Lerida by the lake

Join Lerida Estate at the Canberra Visitor Center at Regatta Point for a one-hour personal wine tasting for two with delicious antipasti and the best views in town – the only way to spend the summer, in our opinion.

One of the team members will guide you through five different wines as you snack on meats and cheeses. At the end of your wine tasting session, take a seat at the wine bar and relax with award-winning wine and views of Lake Burley Griffin.

Various times and dates | Canberra Visitor Centre, Regatta Point | Tickets via eventbrite.com.au

Grow at Jeffrey Smart

The year 2021 marks the centenary of the birth of famous Australian artist Jeffrey Smart. The National Gallery of Australia great exhibition celebrates and commemorates this important centenary.

One of Australia’s most celebrated artists, Smart was inspired by the world around him – turning to the environment of urban and industrial modernity – which he transformed through his imaginative sense of theater and his intimate understanding of geometry and composition. These powerful and intriguing images have become emblematic of the urban experience of the 20th and 21st centuries.

On view until May 15, 2022 | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place, Parkes | nga.gov.au

Feature image: The Pop Inn. Credit: Him Collections.