From frothy pints to fine wines, the Illawarra’s serving up a weekend to savour including Towradgi Beach Hotel’s Beer, Food & Wine Festival. Photo: Teel Studios.
Whether you’re the kind who prefers a clickety-clack nostalgia trip up the coast, a good feed by the sea, or a rock concert with heart, there’s something here to keep your calendar jam-packed in the Illawarra this week.
Kick things off with a ride on the Picnic Train — all puff, steam and seaside views — before sampling your way through the Towradgi Beach Hotel’s Beer, Food and Wine Festival. If music’s more your vibe, the new Loud & Clear Festival is turning up the volume (and the good causes) with a line-up as lush as it is local.
For those who like their weekends with a dash of meaning, history buffs can uncover Kiama’s hidden Aboriginal stories, while art lovers can drift between Earth and Sky at SEVENMARKS Gallery. And don’t forget the family favourites — from Jamberoo’s classic car bonanza to a school readiness session at the library.
All Weekend
All aboard for a steam-powered trip down memory lane. Photo: Picnic Train Facebook.
Wollongong – Scarborough Steam Train Rides
When: Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 October, 9:50 to 10:55 am, 11:20 am to 12:30 pm, 12:50 to 2 pm, 2:15 to 3:15 pm and 3:55 to 5:15 pm
Where: Wollongong Train Station, Railway Station Square, Wollongong
Cost: Private Compartment $160 | Family of Four $95 | Single Ticket $40 | Book via TryBooking.
The Picnic Train is back for two magical days of vintage rail adventure, shuttling passengers on a one-hour return journey from Wollongong to Scarborough. Feel the thunder of locomotive 5917 as it races past the northern suburbs and winds through the twists and turns of the scenic Illawarra coast — a journey that’s as much about the ride as the destination.
Choose your ticket to ride: book a private compartment for up to eight, snag two window seats and soak in the scenery together as a family of four, or grab individual First Class seats, kick back and let the rhythm of the rails do the talking. Whether it’s chug, puff or clickety-clack, this is your chance to let off some steam, relive the golden age of rail and make memories that run on tracks of nostalgia.
Saturday
What better time to tell your story than at your own funeral? Photo: kurinchukolha.
Write your own (or someone else’s) eulogy
When: Saturday 25 October, 10 am to noon
Where: Kiama Library Auditorium, 7 Railway Parade, Kiama
Cost: $10 | Book via TryBooking.
Writing your own eulogy can be a surprisingly creative exercise in self-reflection, preparation and clarity about how you want to live and be remembered. A eulogy or tribute is often the most personal part of a funeral, but where do you start when trying to sum up a life? Should it be a formal account of milestones and achievements, or something more intimate, woven from stories, memories and moments?
This two-hour workshop, led by journalist, editor, critic and published author Keith Whelan, offers practical guidance and inspiration. With 17 years’ experience teaching creative writing at universities, community colleges and libraries across Ireland and Australia, Keith will help participants choose the right tone and format for any eulogy, identify the most defining traits of themselves or others and focus on what people loved most about the person being remembered. Through examples and writing exercises, you’ll learn to craft clear, heartfelt and compelling tributes that truly capture a life.
Raise your glass — the Towradgi Beach Hotel and i98FM Beer, Food and Wine Festival is back and better than ever. Photo: Teel Studios.
Towradgi Beach Hotel Beer, Food and Wine Festival
When: Saturday 25 October, 11 am to 5 pm
Where: Towradgi Beach Hotel, 170 Pioneer Road, Towradgi
Cost: Free entry.
Now in its 18th sparkling year, this beloved event is serving up a full-bodied day of flavour, fun and festivities by the sea. Savour the Illawarra’s finest flavours alongside premium international drops, with a vibrant mix of more than 40 local and international craft brewers, artisan distillers, innovative winemakers and creative food producers all under one roof (well, one sunny sky).
But it’s not just about what’s in your glass — there’ll be live entertainment, kids’ activities, guest speakers, door prizes and plenty of surprises to keep the good times flowing. Whether you’re a hop head, a wine lover or just here for the eats, Towradgi Beach Hotel’s Beer, Food and Wine Festival promises a taste of everything that makes the Illawarra shine.
Turn it up for a cause — the first annual Loud & Clear Music Festival brings good vibes and great music together for youth mental health. Image: Loud & Clear Events.
First Annual Loud & Clear Festival
When: Saturday 25 October, 2 pm
Where: Society City, 274-278 Crown Street, Wollongong
Cost: $16.22 | Book via Iwannaticket.
Featuring an all-local line-up from the Shoalhaven and Wollongong scene, this high-energy afternoon champions emerging artists while raising funds for Headspace Australia, supporting young people aged 12 to 25 with vital mental health and wellbeing services. From Lily Ariel’s soulful acoustic storytelling to the chaotic charm of Freak Out The Squares and their punchy pop-punk rock, Loud & Clear is all about diversity, energy and community. Grab your crew, back your local musos and help make some noise for a good cause.
Once upon a time, Minnamurra was the beating heart of the region, while Kiama was little more than a stop along the way. Curious how it all changed? Photo: FiledIMAGE.
Aboriginal Kiama
When: Saturday 25 October, 2 pm
Where: Kiama Library Auditorium, 7 Railway Parade, Kiama
Cost: Kiama Historical Society Members $3 | Non Members $5 | Payable upon entry.
Step back in time and uncover the hidden histories of Kiama with Dr Tony and Aunty Joyce, who have spent the past year transforming the way the Pilot’s Cottage Museum tells the story of Aboriginal and colonial Kiama. Through rich storytelling and fresh perspectives, they’ll reveal a past that has too long remained in the shadows. Discover how, before European settlement, Minnamurra was the beating heart of the region, while Kiama was little more than a stop along the way. What changed — and why?
Learn of King Mickey Johnson, the man anointed at Wollongong in 1896 as “King of the Illawarra” and one of the most photographed figures of the 19th century — Aboriginal or settler. Yet it’s the story of his wife, Queen Rosie, that adds an even more remarkable layer to this shared history.
Tickets include afternoon tea.
Where bronze meets wire, earth meets sky, Morgan Shimeld’s sculptures invite you to explore the space between weight and lift, the seen and the unseen. Photo: @onajanzen.
Exhibition opening: Earth and Sky
When: Saturday 25 October, 5 to 7 pm
Where: SEVENMARKS Gallery, 7 Marks Street, Kiama
Cost: Free | Book via eventbrite.
Working from his Blue Mountains studio, acclaimed Australian sculptor Morgan Shimeld creates striking bronze sculptures and delicate wire wall works that speak to each other in contrast — the bronze grounded in weight and permanence, the wire light and transient, almost like drawings suspended in space. Informed by minimalism, formalism and geometric abstraction, Shimeld’s work finds balance between precision and intuition, structure and stillness. Together, these forms reshape how space is experienced — casting shadows, activating voids and hinting at unseen architectures.
Rather than resolving opposites, Earth and Sky reflects on their coexistence, inviting visitors into a quiet, contemplative dialogue between the grounded and the ethereal. The exhibition runs until 29 November, Fridays from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm, or by appointment.
Sunday
Start your engines — the Jamberoo Car Show and Family Day is rolling back into town. Photo: Jamberoo Car Show & Family Day Facebook.
Jamberoo Car Show and Family Day
When: Sunday 26 October, 8 am to 2 pm
Where: Kevin Walsh Oval, Churchill Street, Jamberoo
Cost: Adult $5 | Family $10 | Payable upon entry.
What began as a small local fundraiser has become one of the South Coast’s favourite pit stops, raising funds for the Jamberoo Rural Fire Brigade. This year, expect a showstopping line-up of 600 classic cars, plus modern and vintage fire trucks and stationary engine displays that’ll get any motor running. Kids can go full throttle on fun too, with Matilda’s Farm Yard animal nursery, face painting and more family-friendly entertainment.
Fuel up at the range of food and drink stalls serving everything from sweet treats to hearty eats, then cruise through the Jamberoo Village Markets, held alongside the show as part of the Jamberoo Big Weekend. Local businesses will be revving up to welcome visitors — so polish your chrome and make a day of it.
Tuesday
Getting ready for big school? Pack your curiosity and head to Warrawong Library for a special Storytime visit from Billy Backpack. Image: Wollongong Libraries.
Starting School Storytime with Billy Backpack at Warrawong Library
When: Tuesday 28 October, 10:30 to 11:15 am
Where: Warrawong Library, Level 1, 67-71 King Street, Warrawong
Cost: Free.
This cheerful school readiness session is designed for little learners taking their first big step. Enjoy stories, songs and plenty of fun, as Billy the Backpack pops in to give high fives and cheer on all the soon-to-be school kids. It’s a joyful way to build confidence, spark excitement and help children feel ready for the classroom adventure ahead. No bookings are required — just drop in, join the fun and maybe even meet some of your fellow school starters.
While there, parents and carers can also explore the library’s curated reading lists filled with practical tips, reassuring stories and helpful guidance for a smooth transition to school. And remember, this is just one of the many great reasons to have a library card. Signing up is free and easy to do online.
Thursday
The KidsWish Science Spectacular is back – and this year it’s getting a spooky twist. Image: Science Space.
KidsWish Science Spooktacular 2025
When: Thursday 30 October, 4 to 7 pm
Where: Science Space, Innovation Campus, 60 Squires Way, North Wollongong
Cost: Free event for children living with disability or illness and their families.
Proudly presented in partnership with KidsWish, this event offers children with disabilities and their families an exclusive night of discovery, laughter and a little Halloween magic. Get ready for a night of frights, fun and fizzing experiments at the Science Spooktacular — a special Halloween takeover of Science Space. Come dressed in your favourite costume and explore more than 90 interactive exhibits, live science shows and the most advanced digital planetarium in Australia. Blast off on an intergalactic adventure through planets, galaxies and beyond, all while soaking up the spooky vibes.
Dinner’s on the menu too, with a make-your-own nachos bar for the whole family to enjoy — science has never tasted so good.
