Female skaters of all skill levels will be at Port Kembla Skatepark this Sunday. Photo: Christina Donoghue.
Whether you’re looking to relive the glory days or make new memories, the Illawarra’s social calendar is bursting with everything from high-energy races to soul-stirring art.
The weekend kicks off with a dose of culture at Shellharbour Airport, where Anna Glynn’s South Coast Myths & Tales transforms the terminal into an immersive gallery.
If you’re craving a bit of nostalgia with a side of sleep, Bed By 10 pm at The Illawarra Hotel offers the perfect 30+ clubbing vibe — all the hits, none of the Sunday hangover.
For the cutest action in town, trot over to the Dapto Pigs Race Day, where white baby pigs take over the track for a day of pure family chaos.
The energy continues through Sunday with the iconic Great Ocean Pool Crawl and a star-studded evening with Sir Tony Robinson.
Beyond these headliners, the week features the launch of the NSW Seniors Festival, soulful Motown tributes at Anita’s Theatre, and inclusive skate jams in Port Kembla.
Here are nine ways to experience the ultimate playground for all ages (aka, our beautiful region).
Multiple Days
Celebrate connection, creativity and community at the 2026 NSW Seniors Festival under the vibrant theme Live Life in Colour. Image: Shellharbour Council.
NSW Seniors Festival – Shellharbour
When: Monday 2 to Sunday 15 March, various times
Where: Various Shellharbour locations
Cost: Various.
This annual festival recognises and celebrates the important role older people play in shaping local communities. Festivities begin with a free Open Day on Tuesday 3 March from 11 am to 2:30 pm at the Shellharbour Civic Centre. Seniors can enjoy live local entertainment and explore a lively expo showcasing community groups, clubs, support services and organisations from across the region.
Throughout the fortnight, a diverse program of activities will offer something for everyone — from fitness and wellbeing sessions to technology workshops, creative pursuits and social gatherings. Whether you’re looking to learn something new, reconnect with friends or discover services that support independent living, the festival is a colourful invitation to get involved and celebrate later life.
Friday
Shellharbour Airport’s inaugural exhibition spotlights award-winning Illawarra artist Anna Glynn. Photo: Anna Glynn.
Opening of Anna Glynn: South Coast Myths & Tales at Shellharbour Airport
When: Friday 27 February, 6 pm
Where: Shellharbour Airport, Airport Road, Albion Park Rail
Cost: Free.
Shellharbour Airport transforms into an unexpected cultural destination with its inaugural exhibition, Anna Glynn: South Coast Myths & Tales. Free and fully accessible, the show invites visitors to explore Glynn’s imaginative and historical interpretations of the South Coast.
Across the terminal, vibrant works from her Bundanon Series bring the local bush to life, while playful pieces like Squid Juggling on Jervis Bay add humour. Other works, including Sussex Inlet and Kangaroo Valley Myth, feature real and imagined fauna, and reflective river scenes such as Shoalhaven Drowning offer moments of quiet contemplation.
With accessible facilities, onsite parking and the Greenacres Airport Cafe, it’s easy to drop in and enjoy a journey through history, place and imagination. The exhibition runs until Tuesday, 21 April. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm and Sundays 11 am to 7 pm.
Saturday
Trot over to The Groundz and get ready to hog all the fun. Image: The Groundz.
Dapto Pigs Race Day
When: Saturday 28 February, 1 pm
Where: The Groundz, 89-99 Princes Highway, Dapto
Cost: Gold coin | Payable upon entry.
Dapto Dogs may be gone but racing fun is back with a twist. Dapto Pigs Race Day brings high-energy, family-friendly entertainment to the Illawarra. The headline attraction? White baby pig racing — trot, wander or dash, these little pigs race at their own pace, offering laughs and excitement for all ages. You can even back your favourite.
The day also features food and dessert trucks, pony rides, a petting zoo, free face painting and jumping castles, plus live music from 3 pm to 6 pm. The Tap House opens from 1 pm.
Here’s how to get all the best bits of peak 80s, 90s and 2000s clubbing, without writing off the next day. Image: Bed By 10.
Bed By 10 pm
When: Saturday 28 February, 4 pm to 9 pm
Where: The Illawarra Hotel, 160-164 Keira Street, Wollongong
Cost: $43.66 | Book via Eventbrite.
Love any excuse to boogie, but dreaming about your pjs by 10 pm? Back by popular demand is the ultimate 30+ clubbing experience.
Dress up, grab your mates and bring the good vibes as you relive the peak of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s clubbing scene, but wake up fresh as a daisy the next day. Expect crazy visuals, confetti showers, Co2 cannons and more as the resident DJ spins all the club classics.
Expect a heartwarming night of soul, nostalgia and songs that still unite generations. Image: The Big Chillout.
The Big Chillout
When: Saturday 28 February, 7:30 pm to 9:50 pm
Where: Anita’s Theatre, 264-270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul
Cost: From $78.70 | Book via Ticketmaster.
Relive the soundtrack that helped spark a Motown revival in The Big Chillout, a live celebration inspired by the iconic film The Big Chill and its era-defining music.
This soul-filled show brings classics from Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin and more to the stage, performed by a world-class band led by Judah Kelly and acclaimed stage star Asabi Goodman. The first act revisits the original soundtrack, followed by a second set packed with Motown favourites.
Sunday
Get ready to make a splash and show your support. Image: Cancer Council.
The Clearsafe Great Ocean Pool Crawl
When: Sunday 1 March, 8 am to 2 pm
Where: Towradgi Beach Hotel, 170 Pioneer Road, Towradgi
Cost: Adult $70 | Youth $45 | Family $180 | Child Free | Book via DoItForCancer.
The Great Ocean Pool Crawl is an annual charity event raising much-needed funds for Cancer Council NSW. Get dressed up in your best swimming outfit, meet at Towradgi Beach Hotel and then hop onto the buses which will take you from pool to pool. 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 and the auction and raffle draw. Prizes to be given out for the best outfit, highest fundraising individual and team and one pool crawler will receive a lucky door prize.
Ideal for artists, performers, or anyone curious about storytelling through movement, The Inorganic Body blurs the line between audience and maker. Photo: vadymvdrobot.
The Inorganic Body – Open Physical Theatre Workshop + Showing
When: Sunday 1 March, 10 am to 1 pm
Where: The Imaginarium, Wentworth Street, Shellharbour Village
Cost: $27.19 | Book via Humanitix.
Step inside the creative process with The Inorganic Body, an immersive physical theatre event developed during a two-week residency at The Imaginarium. The day begins with a 30 to 40-minute performance showing, revealing key discoveries and compositions from the residency. This is followed by a 20-minute insight session unpacking how the company works with the body as material, exploring tension, rhythm, weight and transformation.
Participants can then join a guided workshop, open to all bodies and experience levels, where playful, curiosity-driven exercises invite movement, observation and creation. This is not about technique but about sensation, presence and collective exploration.
Female-Focused Skate Jam, Art Workshops & Community Celebration
When: Sunday 1 March, noon to 4 pm
Where: Port Kembla Skatepark, 11 First Avenue, Port Kembla
Cost: Free | Book via Eventbrite.
The new Port Kembla Skatepark comes alive with a huge day of skateboarding, marking the launch of free monthly community skate events in the area. Proudly funded by Big hART through its Skate of Mind project, the event celebrates the energy of PK DIY and a growing, inclusive local skate culture.
Olympic skateboarder Felicity Turner will lead a free female-focused mentoring session and jam, alongside a high-energy community skate jam with prizes, great food and tunes by Catman and local band Kurtell. All equipment is supplied, but book quickly, as spots are limited.
The PK DIY documentary, created by Matt Loft of Lofty Studios, premieres at an “after party” at The Servo at 5 pm.
Beloved British actor and historian Tony Robinson is bringing his 2026 live tour to Wollongong. Photo: Supplied.
An Audience With Sir Tony Robinson – From Blackadder to Alfred The Great
When: Sunday 1 March, 6:30 pm
Where: Anita’s Theatre Thirroul, 264-270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul
Cost: From $99 | Book via Ticketmaster.
Best known as Baldrick in the classic BBC comedy Blackadder, Robinson has enjoyed a career spanning more than five decades on stage and screen. He also fronted the hit archaeology series Time Team and numerous history documentaries, becoming a familiar face to audiences in the UK and Australia.
In this special live event, Robinson shares behind-the-scenes stories, reflects on his passion for history and discusses his debut novel, The House of Wolf, followed by an audience Q&A. Expect sharp wit, big laughs and brilliant storytelling.
