There are plenty of opportunities to get your hands dirty in the Illawarra this week. Photo: LightFieldStudios.
It’s a week starting with a fabulous retail event and ending in … murder!
Buckaroo, the birthplace of an iconic Australian leather goods range, will have its first ever factory sale and the Illawarra Careers Expo is back.
During the week you can enjoy ABBA-inspired drag queen bingo, the chance to try your hand at ceramics, or a first-class dining experience on a QANTAS plane.
From theatre to film festivals and a murder mystery experience like no other, the Illawarra offers diverse experiences this week. Here are nine of the best.
Multiple Days
Buckaroo is throwing open its factory doors. Image: Buckaroo.
Buckaroo Factory Seconds Sale
When: Friday 2 May, 10 am to 2 pm and Saturday 3 May, 9 am to 3 pm
Where: Buckaroo, 16 Bellambi Lane, Bellambi
Cost: Free entry | Book via eventbrite.
Don’t miss Buckaroo’s first ever Factory Seconds Sale. Grab a bargain, bring your belt for free custom embossing and on the Saturday, stick around for live music, a cold beer, a feed and a behind-the-scenes factory tour to see how everything is made. Spots for the factory tour are limited, so RSVP now to secure your place and register your interest in the sale.
Expect discounts of up to 90 per cent off, with prices starting at $5, as well as exciting giveaways and lucky draws of Buckaroo gear, accessories and exclusive merch throughout the event.
Friday
This event is going to be a blast, honey honey. Image: Scarlett Entertainment.
Mamma Mia! It’s Time For Drag Queen Bingo
When: Friday 2 May, 7 pm
Where: Illawarra Steelers Club
Cost: $27.23 (25 per cent off with code: REGION) | Book via eventbrite.
Get ready for a fabulous ABBA-inspired night of bingo, drag queens,and Mamma Mia! tunes. Dab those numbers with a twist, as glamorous queens Crystal Ball and Ruby Royale call out the winning balls. You’ll get five rounds of traditional bingo with fabulous prizes up for grabs, show-stopping drag performances inspired by ABBA hits and a whole lot of laughs.
Saturday
Get ready for a wheely good time with this clay community. Image: Illawarra Potters Inc.
Illawarra Potters Inc Studio Open Day
When: Saturday 3 May, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Illawarra Potters Inc, 64 Smith Street, Wollongong
Cost: Free | Book via eventbrite.
Interested in pottery and ceramics? This is your chance to explore the studio of Illawarra Potters Inc, a not-for-profit, volunteer-run community studio in Wollongong. Members will be there to chat about pottery, membership and the joys of clay work. There will be wheel throwing, slab and hand-building demos, plenty of clay play throughout the day, chances to try your hand and members’ work for sale.
Unleash your creativity with Shellharbour resident artist Tammie Castles. Photo: The Imaginarium.
Drawing Workshop Imaginarium with Tammie Castles
When: Saturday 3 May, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Where: The Imaginarium, Wentworth Street, Shellharbour
Cost: $43.66 | Book via eventbrite.
Join an experienced guide for this relaxed and creative drawing workshop which will explore Shellharbour beach and surrounds. Your guide is Tammie Castles, a talented artist undertaking a residency through the Shellharbour City Council. All skill levels are welcome, with all materials provided as well as morning tea. This workshop is suitable for participants aged 16 and over.
You’re invited to a first-class celebration of a HARS milestone. Photo: Howard Mitchell.
HARS Aviation Museum Anniversary Dinner
When: Saturday 3 May, 5 pm
Where: HARS, 54 Airport Road, Albion Park Rail
Cost: Upper Deck $180 | Middle Deck $150 | Book via HARS.
It’s been 10 years since a Qantas 747-438 joined HARS, and the museum wants to celebrate with you. Canapes are served under the fuselage of VH-OJA. You’ll hear stories from highly acclaimed Qantas captains and be served by four impeccable, retired senior cabin crew members. Comfortable business class seats are still available on the “Middle Deck”, but booking is fast for this unique event, so get in quick.
Tuesday
Gather insightful information about career pathways, further education and training and connect with local industries. Image: Workplace Learning.
2025 Illawarra Careers Expo
When: Tuesday 6 May, 2:30 to 4:30 pm
Where: Illawarra Sports Stadium, Fred Finch Park South West, 22 Hooka Creek Road, Berkeley
Cost: Free.
Are you a young adult or student exploring career paths, seeking job opportunities or considering further study options? Discover more than 100 exhibitors from universities, apprenticeship providers, registered training organisations, group training organisations, professional bodies and associations. Whether you’re interested in attending university, learning a trade, undertaking an apprenticeship, or looking for a career in hospitality, IT, healthcare, aviation, or any other field, exhibitors are here to help you navigate your career journey. No registrations are required – just rock up.
This production is guaranteed to excite, educate and entertain the young and young at heart. Image: Eric Carle.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
When: Tuesday 6 May, 10 am and 12:30 pm
Where: IMB Theatre, IPAC, 32 Burelli Street, Wollongong
Cost: General $29 | School and Vacation Care Groups 8+ $23 | Book via TicketSearch.
Kids will delight in experiencing one of the most popular children’s books ever written, as it emerges off the page and crawls onto the stage in a masterful theatrical experience. Based on Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a menagerie of more than 75 magical puppets, including the very hungry star of the show, are brought to life by an Australian cast. The show also features three other Eric Carle stories including Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Ten Little Rubber Ducks and The Very Busy Spider.
Thursday
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival 2025
When: Thursday 8 May, 7 to 10 pm
Where: University Hall, University of Wollongong, Wollongong
Cost: Adult $32 | Child $24 | Book via Humanitix.
Presented by World Expeditions, the 2025 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is a three-hour celebration of the mountain and adventure sports world. Witness the most exhilarating short films from explorers, runners, mountain bikers, skiers, paddlers and climbers from around the globe. The tour is hot on the heels of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world, the Banff Mountain Festival, which takes place every November in the mountain town of Banff, in Canada.
This year, the Australian line-up features a captivating collection of short films shot in some of the most wild and remote corners of the world. The program is packed full of mesmerising cinematography, thought-provoking storylines and adrenaline-inducing action sequences.
With interactive gameplay, character-driven intrigue, and a thrilling mystery to solve, this is the perfect event for anyone looking for a unique and entertaining experience. Image: Odyssey Theatre.
Murder You Seek
When: Thursday 8 May, 7 to 9 pm
Where: Seeker Brewing, 1 Industrial Road, Unanderra
Cost: $39 | Book via Odyssey.
Step into a world of intrigue with Odyssey Theatre’s “Murder You Seek”, an interactive murder mystery set in the cut-throat world of lawn bowls at Seeker Brewing. Two rival teams compete for the Callaghan Lawn Bowl Cup – the fiercely fought over and coveted laurel of the lawn bowl world. Will you be a member of the Berkeley Berserkers, the Spring Hill Billies, or one of the local eccentrics?
Tensions are high on the eve of the final, but wait … murder! During the night someone will fall victim to foul play. In this interactive experience, you’ll become part of the story, taking on a unique character role and it’s your job to uncover the clues and see if you can catch the culprit before they strike again.
