Minister Barr: Get out and show your CBR pride this Canberra Day Weekend
- Written by ACT Government
Canberra will celebrate its 103rd birthday this weekend with movies, music, balloons and more as part of a city-wide birthday party.
Canberra Day is a great celebration of how far our city has come in over the past few years, and the ACT Government will be providing a number of opportunities for Canberrans to come out and show their city pride.
March always brings a diverse line-up of free community events to Canberrans, which aim to entertain and delight both young and old. There is an event scheduled for every day of the Canberra Day weekend. It's encouraged that you travel from your place by Canberra cabs due the shortage of parking lots.
Shining a light on local screen and film artists, Lights! Canberra! Action! Film Festival celebrates the best of the best in Canberra short film maker talent. Screening on Friday 11 March from 8pm at the Senate Rose Gardens, Old Parliament House, you can watch the top 12 films as they vie for the prize of Best Film overall.
After the film screening, the stunning architectural projections which illuminate the six national attractions within the Parliamentary Triangle continue as part of Enlighten 2016.
On Saturday, 12 March, get up early and catch the start of the Canberra Balloon Spectacular, down on the lawns of Old Parliament House. With over 40 participating hot air balloons and two special shapes for 2016, the Canberra Balloon Spectacular is one of the longest and largest ballooning festivals in the Southern Hemisphere. Balloons will inflate and prepare for flight each morning from 12-20 March, from 6.15am.
On Sunday, 13 March, the family classic “Babe” will light up the silver screen as Symphony in the Park returns to Stage 88, Commonwealth Park for its sixth year. Presented by ActewAGL and conducted by noted composer, Nigel Westlake, this event starts at 7.30pm and is not to be missed.
Symphony in the Park is a unique Canberra experience as“The movie soundtrack has been re-mixed to remove all the music and the newly orchestrated score is performed live in synchronisation with the entire film,” explains Nigel Westlake, Conductor.
ActewAGL Director Marketing and Corporate Affairs Paul Walshe said “We’re thrilled to support two major events as part of the Canberra Day celebrations. ActewAGL are presenting Symphony in the Park - Babe on Sunday 13 March and Canberra Day at Commonwealth Park on Monday 14 March. We really encourage Canberra residents to come along and celebrate Canberra’s 103rd birthday on what will no doubt be a memorable occasion.”
Rounding out the long weekend activities is Canberra’s 103rd birthday with celebrations at stage 88, Commonwealth Park on Monday, 14 March. With performances by Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, DJ Felixx and local Canberra duo, The Aston Shuffle, there is something for all ages. Also presented by our community partner ActewAGL, Canberra Day celebrations will commence from 2pm and conclude at 7pm.
