Nine things to do in the Illawarra this week (28 February - 6 March)

Get ready for a cracker of a week in the Illawarra, with more than one headline event to choose from.

The highly anticipated Yours & Owls hits Flagstaff Hill over the weekend with a doozy of a line-up, and this year’s Seniors Festival kicks off a jam-packed program of events spanning the entire region.

The Festival of Fun makes its Wollongong debut with a massive day of all-abilities excitement, and Shellharbour hosts a Festival of Sports for the whole family.

Shellharbour Libraries is marking National Science Day, Kiama’s bi-annual Second Hand Saturday Car Boot Sale presents a chance to be part of a circular economy and a certain country legend is making his way to Port Kembla.

Here are our nine picks for the week.

Multiple Days

Yours & Owls Festival

When: Saturday 1 March, noon to 11 pm and Sunday 2 March, noon to 10 pm
Where: Flagstaff Hill, South Beach, Wollongong
Cost: From $100 to $399.95 | Book via Moshtix.

Yours and Owls Festival is billed as the Illawarra’s largest and most exciting, environmentally conscious music festival. Running annually for two days, the concert takes place at Flagstaff Hill right on Wollongong’s foreshore with breathtaking views of the region’s coastline and the escarpment to the sounds of some of the world’s and Australia’s best talent. Don’t miss seeing Fontaines DC, Denzel Curry, The Goo Goo Dolls, The Kooks, Hockey Dad, The Veronicas and so many more.

2025 Seniors Festival

When: Monday 3 to Sunday 16 March, various times
Where: Various Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama LGA venues
Cost: Various.

A major celebration of the 2025 Seniors Festival (Monday 3 to Sunday 16 March) kicks off this week, staged by Kiama Council, Wollongong City Council and Shellharbour City Council and spread across the Illawarra. The festival offers a fantastic line-up of events to celebrate, connect and empower the region’s seniors with a diverse array of social, creative and educational workshops, exhibitions, community information sessions events tailored to senior citizens. Event highlights include a 2025 Seniors Festival Launch and Mini-Expo in Kiama, a Health and Wellbeing Expo in Shellharbour and a Multicultural Seniors Fiesta Lunch and Expo in Fairy Meadow.

The programs offer opportunities for seniors to try new activities, learn new skills and discover new passions, but also simply to enjoy themselves. There will be “learning for fun” sessions delivered by U3A Wollongong and practical sessions on an array of topics from technology to scam awareness and fall prevention.

Friday

National Science Day

When: Friday 28 February, 3 to 4:30 pm
Where: City Library, 76 Cygnet Avenue, Shellharbour City Centre
Cost: Free | Book via Shellharbour City Council.

To celebrate National Science Day, Shellharbour Libraries invites you to dive into the world of science through exciting activities, educational displays and hands-on experiments. Discover how science shapes the world around us and be part of a community that values knowledge and innovation. All materials will be supplied, but with a limited number of spots available, book soon to avoid disappointment.

Bill Chambers and Tyler Chambers Live

When: Friday 28 February, 6 pm
Where: Port Kembla, 72-74 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla
Cost: $27.50 | Book via The Vault.

One of the most iconic country artists of all time, Bill Chambers (yes, Kasey’s dad) is teaming up with his son, Tyler for this special concert. Bill, a versatile artist and one of the most iconic country artists of all time, and Tyler, an accomplished musician in his own right, prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that music flows through the family veins. Don’t miss this opportunity to see two generations of the Chambers family on stage together in the Illawarra.

Saturday

Second Hand Saturday Car Boot Sale

When: Saturday 1 March, 8 am to noon
Where: Black Beach, 4 Shoalhaven Street, Kiama
Cost: Gold coin donation | Payable upon entry.

Twice a year, Kiama residents can converge to sell, trade, swap, or give away their unwanted, preloved items. By reusing items, everyone can help reduce the amount of material sent to landfill. Stallholders need to register beforehand. Everyone is welcome to come and pick up a secondhand bargain. Residents can bring their Kiama municipal rates notice and pick up two free plants at the event — just look for the council ute.

Co-hosts, Kiama Netball Association will be on hand manning a barbecue and will also have a coffee van onsite. All admission proceeds go to the Kiama Netball Association.

Festival of Fun Wollongong

When: Saturday 1 March, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm (community festival event) and 1 to 4 pm (live concert)
Where: Wollongong University, 9 Northfields Avenue, Keiraville
Cost: Community festival event free | Live concert $10 | Book via Humanitix.

This unique, family-friendly festival is all about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their disabilities, can enjoy an unforgettable festival experience. Promoting connection, exploration and social interaction, the festival includes a mini expo of info booths and interactive demonstrations, showcasing local services and resources aimed at enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. Free activities include a jumping castle, a petting zoo, the Try Me Sports Arena and a talent quest. The day culminates in the Festival of Fun concert featuring an impressive line-up of talented artists with and without disabilities.

Street Feast Bulli

When: Saturday 1 March, 4 to 9 pm
Where: Bulli Park, Blackall Street, Bulli
Cost: Entry $3 | Payable upon entry.

Grab the family, a picnic rug and bring along a big appetite – there’s something to suit all tastes at this foodie’s paradise. Street Feast is billed as Australia’s largest travelling gourmet food market, offering a vibrant evening of food trucks, dessert stalls, boutique retail vendors and live music. The event fosters community engagement and celebrates diverse culinary experiences.

Sunday

Shellharbour City Festival of Sport

When: Sunday 2 March, various times
Where: Various Shellharbour venues
Cost: Free.

Registration has closed for the Dragon Boat Challenge on Saturday that’s also part of this festival, but the bulk of the fun takes place on Sunday anyway. Join “Fun Fit Frolic”, a free day of fun for the whole family by the water’s edge of Reddall Reserve, Lake Illawarra. There will be a “Ride n Find” family biking event, Zumba class, “Duck Derby”, boxing, martial arts, three-legged races, sack races, a sand modelling competition and martial arts as well as “come and try” sessions for water sports, tennis, pickleball, basketball, golf, stand up paddle boarding and more.

The Clearsafe Great Ocean Pool Crawl

When: Sunday 2 March, 8 am to 2 pm
Where: Towradgi Beach Hotel, 170 Pioneer Road, Towradgi
Cost: $35 – $150 | Payable upon entry.

Online registration is now closed for this annual charity event raising much-needed funds for Cancer Council NSW, however you can still register on the day at the registration desk from 7:30 am and make your own way to each of the pools. Enjoy two laps of the Illawarra’s five incredible ocean pools – Coalcliff, Wombarra, Austinmer, Bulli, and Towradgi.

There will be an after function at the Towradgi Beach Hotel for lunch, entertainment, an auction and a raffle draw. Prizes to be given out to the person with the best outfit, the highest fundraising individual and team and one pool crawler will receive a lucky door prize.