Culture Mix promises to be a major highlight on this week’s social calendar. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
From family-friendly festivals to high-energy performances, foodie feasts to community celebrations, this week’s packed calendar of events will have you eating, dancing, laughing and exploring across the region.
Kick off with the Need a Feed Swim Challenge, where teams take to the pool for 12 hours of non-stop strokes to support vital community food programs. Culture and creativity shine at Culture Mix, transforming the Wollongong CBD with music, dance, art, and food celebrating our diverse communities.
Theatre lovers won’t want to miss the unpredictable White Rabbit Red Rabbit, where every performance is completely unique. Families can enjoy Oak Flats’ street festival or wag their tails at North Gong Dog Day, packed with rides, entertainment and treats. Innovation and ideas take centre stage at the Young Eyes Festival, showcasing the Illawarra’s brightest student entrepreneurs alongside a keynote on the future of AI and work.
Whether you’re chasing adventure, community connection, or just a fun day out, there’s something for everyone.
Multiple Days
No rehearsals. No director. No set. No worries … right? Photo: Supplied.
White Rabbit, Red Rabbit
When: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until 28 September, various times
Where: Wollongong Workshop Theatre, 190 Gipps Road, Gwynneville
Cost: Adult $30 | Concession $25 | Book via TryBooking.
White Rabbit Red Rabbit — Nassim Soleimanpour’s daring theatrical experiment — has arrived in Wollongong. Written while the playwright was forbidden to leave Iran, the play has been staged more than 3000 times worldwide by stars such as Whoopi Goldberg, John Hurt and Nathan Lane. Now, eight of the Illawarra’s finest actors bring it to local audiences, each offering a one-night-only performance that can never be repeated.
Expect humour, vulnerability and loads of courage in this unpredictable night of theatre.
With its mix of emerging and established talent, Licorice Allsorts promises an engaging, inspiring look at the rich artistic life of our region. Image: Licorice Allsorts Art.
Licorice All Sorts 25
When: Friday 19 September, 6 pm (opening, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21, 9 am to 4 pm
Where: Old Courthouse Wollongong, 1 Harbour Street, Wollongong
Cost: Free.
Licorice Allsorts is a vibrant collective of local painters, photographers, sculptors and printmakers who come together once a year to showcase their work. This annual exhibition celebrates the creativity of Illawarra artists, offering a colourful mix of styles and mediums — much like the group’s playful name suggests. Whether you’re drawn to bold contemporary pieces, finely detailed prints, or evocative photography, there’s something to spark every imagination. Visitors in town for the Malta Regatta might like to wander across Cliff Road and discover the exhibition, making it the perfect addition to a day by the harbour.
“Framed” is a celebration of creativity in motion — part circus, part dream, and all unforgettable. Image: Circus Monoxide.
Circus Monoxide Troupe Presents “Framed”
When: Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September, 7 to 9 pm
Where: Circus Monoxide, 3/3 Princes Highway, Fairy Meadow
Cost: Adult $30 | Under 16s/Concession $20 | Family $85 | Book via Humanitix.
Framed is the latest creation from the daring performers of Circus Monoxide’s Troupe — an after-dark spectacle where art refuses to stay on the wall. Paintings step out of their gilded frames, sculptures stir to life, and the gallery transforms into a living, breathing stage of movement and wonder.
Join the troupe at the Precious Stage for a night of flying, twirling and tumbling that blurs the line between exhibition and performance. Expect a whirlwind of acrobatics, theatrics and playful chaos as styles clash and masterpieces break free in ways you’ve never imagined. Don’t look away, even for a moment … because blink, and you just might miss the magic.
Saturday
Dive in, cheer swimmers on, donate, or grab a raffle ticket — every lap, and every dollar, makes a difference. Image: Need a Feed.
Need A Feed Swim for a Cause Challenge
When: Saturday 19 September, 10 am to 10 pm
Where: UOW Aquatic Centre, University Avenue, Gwynneville
Cost: General $50 | Under 15s $20 | Donations welcome | Book via TryBooking.
This swimming event isn’t just about laps — it’s about community, connection and compassion. Over 12 hours, 12 teams will keep the water moving — one swimmer in the pool at all times — to raise funds for Need a Feed’s Mindful Meals programs and help launch its long-awaited mobile food van. Every stroke, whether it’s freestyle or doggy paddle, will help provide food, dignity and hope for people across the Illawarra.
Expect a packed day of energy and fun, with appearances from Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown, i98FM’s Christian and Bella, the Street Fleet and Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart MP. Prizes will be awarded for most laps swum, funniest costume and most funds raised, with raffles and giveaways running all day.
Oak Flats is set to come alive in a celebration that captures the true spirit of community. Image: Eats & Beats Street Series.
Eats & Beats Street Series Oak Flats
When: Saturday 20 September, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Central Avenue, Oak Flats
Cost: Free entry.
Picture the streets buzzing with energy as live music drifts through the air, food vendors serve up mouthwatering flavours and market stalls brim with treasures waiting to be discovered — that’s Eats & Beats. More than just a street party, this festival is designed to bring people together.
Families will find rides and activities to keep little ones entertained, while roving performers and pop-up acts ensure there’s something surprising around every corner. From interactive experiences to laid-back spaces where you can relax with friends, the day promises a mix of excitement and connection. Food lovers can indulge in everything from savoury bites to sweet treats, while music fans will be treated to a diverse line-up that sets the perfect soundtrack for the day. Whether you come to dance, to feast, or simply to soak in the atmosphere, the festival offers a chance to celebrate all that makes Oak Flats unique — its people, its creativity and its warm community spirit.
All are welcome to this fun-filled day for the whole family. Image: Nazareth Catholic Primary School.
Spring Fair
When: Saturday 20 September, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Nazareth Catholic Primary School, 3 Glider Avenue Shellharbour City Centre
Cost: Free entry.
This good old-fashioned spring fair is the perfect opportunity to gather with friends, family and neighbours to enjoy great food, laughter and local talent. Whether you’re here for the rides, the music, or simply the atmosphere, there’s no shortage of fun to be had. Take a spin on thrilling rides, explore a variety of delicious food and market stalls and try your luck with the famous chocolate wheel. Live entertainment will keep the energy high throughout the day, with performances that will have you singing, dancing and smiling from start to finish. Add in plenty of surprises and activities for kids and adults alike, and you’ve got the recipe for a vibrant community celebration.
Culture Mix 2025
When: Saturday 20 September, 11 am to 7 pm
Where: Various venues, Wollongong CBD
Cost: Free.
Now in its third year, Culture Mix is set to once again transform the Wollongong CBD into a lively celebration of culture, connection and community spirit. This free, all-ages event invites everyone to come together on Dharawal Country and share in a day filled with dance, music, food, art and workshops.
Designed as an inclusive festival that reflects the vibrant diversity of Wollongong, this festival showcases the traditions, talents and tastes of the many communities who call the region home. From high-energy performances and live music to interactive workshops and hands-on art experiences, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Food lovers will discover an array of delicious cuisines from around the world, while music and dance enthusiasts can soak in performances that bring global rhythms and stories to life.
Mark your calendars for the Illawarra’s favourite dog lovers’ extravaganza. Photo: North Gong Dog Day.
North Gong Dog Day
When: Saturday 20 September, noon to 4 pm
Where: North Wollongong Hotel, 3 Flinders Street, North Wollongong
Cost: Free entry.
Presented by Pound Paws and proudly sponsored by the North Wollongong Hotel, this family-friendly event is all about fun, community and celebrating the joy of rescue dogs while promoting adoption.
The day is packed with activities for both two- and four-legged visitors. Enjoy live music and entertainment, browse pet market stalls, or watch the Rescue Dog Adoption Parade featuring dogs in need from Rescue Hub, Wollongong Pet Connection and Animal Trust Society. Pups can romp in the Puppy Ball Pit, get creative at the Puppy Paw-casso Art Table, or stretch out in a Puppy Pilates session with KX Pilates Wollongong. Don’t miss the Best Dressed Dog and Best Trick competitions, judged by celebrity guests, with prizes up for grabs.
North Gong Dog Day is more than fun — it’s about impact. Funds raised go directly to Illawarra rescue groups, helping dogs like Rosie, a greyhound saved from euthanasia thanks to support from the 2022 event, find loving forever homes. Pets are welcome, so bring your furry friend and join the celebration.
Wednesday
Young Eyes is back to celebrate the Illawarra’s brightest young minds with a dynamic day of innovation, creativity, and future-focused ideas. Photo: Young Eyes Festival of Innovation.
Young Eyes Festival 2025
When: Wednesday 24 September, 9 am to 2:30 pm
Where: HARS Aviation Museum, 54 Airport Road, Albion Park
Cost: Adult $20 | Concession $15 | Child $5 | Group/Family $35 | Teachers/Students Free | Book via eventbrite.
Join Illawarra business leaders, educators and bright young minds as the Young Eyes Festival returns for its fourth year. Finalists will pitch their bold business concepts live to a panel of top entrepreneurs, competing for the titles of Young Innovator and Young Entrepreneur 2025. The event provides a unique platform for students to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and problem-solving skills in front of a live audience.
In addition to the student pitches, the festival features a keynote by Mitch Vella, CEO and Co-Founder of Saturn Digital. Mitch will explore the transformative impact of AI on education, productivity, and the future of work, sharing insights into how technology will shape careers over the next two decades. Attendees can look forward to inspiring ideas, networking opportunities with educators and innovators and a chance to witness the next generation of change-makers in action.
