Cheers to the week ahead, kicking off at Seeker Brewing with Collabruary. Photo: Seeker Brewing.
This week is shaping up to be a whirlwind of creativity, culture and community in the Illawarra. From fire-cooked feasts on the sand to immersive shadow theatre, poetic afternoons and limited-edition brews, this week’s line-up has something for everyone.
Dance by the sea at Pavlova Machine Festival, sip globally inspired collabs at Seeker Brewing’s Collabruary, or step into a futuristic, AI-designed city with The City the Colour of Stars.
Poetry lovers can gather for intimate readings with Ray Liversidge and Hemat Malak, while families can hunt for treasures at the Illawarra Lapidary Club Rock Swap.
Meanwhile, community creators can learn how to bring their big ideas to life at the Wollongong Council grants session and early risers can enjoy a sunrise feast for a life-saving cause at the Breakfast of Champions.
Among the diverse experiences our region offers, here are our top nine picks of things to do this week.
Multiple Dates
Seeker Brewing is back with its 4th annual Collabruary, offering an awesome line-up. Image: Seeker Brewing.
Collabruary
When: Friday 20 and Saturday 21 February, 4 pm to 9 pm
Where: Seeker Brewing, 1 Industrial Road, Unanderra
Cost: Free.
After last year’s NZ hop harvest adventure, Stoic Brewing has teamed up with brewers from around the globe to experiment with new recipes, techniques and ingredients, culminating in eight unique, limited-edition collabs.
The day will be packed with sensory tables, games, food and pizza pairings, live music and special guest brewers, all hosted by a fabulous MC. Keep your eyes peeled; you might even spot a celebrity rockstar behind the bar.
Collaborations include Balter Brewers, Garage Project, Deya Brewery, Totopia Brewery, Mount Holly Beer, Future Brewing, Dangerous Ales and Bracket Brewing.
This is a bold, immersive journey you won’t soon forget. Image: Wollongong Art Gallery.
The City the Colour of Stars
When: Friday 20 and Saturday 21 February, 8 pm to 9:10 pm
Where: Wollongong Art Gallery, 46 Burelli Street, Wollongong
Cost: Free | Book via Eventbrite.
Step into a world where shadows speak and music bends reality with The City the Colour of Stars, a contemporary shadow theatre experience by The Shadow Theatre of Anaphoria. Accompanied by a live microtonal orchestra, the performance is set in a futuristic AI-designed city where architecture reflects the data of its inhabitants.
Through intricate puppetry, light and original compositions, the show unfolds as a surreal fable of technology, alienation and human connection, equal parts comic, uncanny and mesmerising. Every movement and note casts a luminous allegory of our desires, fears and the hidden patterns of the human heart.
Saturday
Come for an afternoon of words, rhythm and connection. Image: South Coast Writers Centre.
Poetry at Port
When: Saturday 21 February, 1:30 pm
Where: Workshop Room, Red Point Arts, 100 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla
Cost: Pay what you can | Book via Humantix.
Poets, friends and lovers of verse are invited to this afternoon of poetry with Ray Liversidge and Hemat Malak.
The event will feature readings from both poets, followed by an open mic session for anyone inspired to share. Ray Liversidge, whose work has appeared in more than 100 journals and anthologies worldwide, will read from his new book Riverside – New and Selected Work 2003–2025. Hemat Malak, a recent Pushcart and Best New Poets nominee and Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize winner, will share work from her forthcoming collection Deep In the Woods, Autumn Winds Slow.
Sea, beats, funk and soul — Pavlova Machine turns Wombarra Bowlo into one nonstop dancefloor by the sea. Image: Holy Pavlova.
Pavlova Machine Festival
When: Saturday 21 February, 2 pm to 11 pm
Where: The Wombarra Bowlo, 578 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Wombarra
Cost: $45 | Book via Humanitix.
Get ready Wombarra for this full-day, all-ages festival by the sea at Wombarra Bowlo, serving the finest in live and electronic grooves.
Headlining is Ali (Indonesia), blending Middle Eastern vibes, 70s Indonesian rock, cinematic soul, afrobeat, funk and disco into a sound that’s hit stages from Roskilde to Fuji Rock. Ella Thompson (Naarm) brings soulful DIY magic with lyrics exploring belonging, backed by Naarm’s finest musicians. On the decks, Mike Who twists trends into his own lane, keeping Sydney’s dance floors buzzing for over a decade.
Joining them are Kosher Groove, Mazzacles (Madi) and the Washing Machine DJs, dishing up East Coast funk, soul and pure dancefloor joy all day long.
Until the Sky Falls Quiet
When: Saturday 21 February, 4:45 pm
Where: Gala Cinema, 204 Cowper Street, Warrawong
Cost: Adult $20 | Concession $16 | Book via MovieTkts.
Until the Sky Falls Quiet (2025) offers a rare, intimate look inside Gaza through the eyes of two Australian doctors from Western Sydney, Dr Sanjay Adusumilli and Dr Siraj Sira.
Filmed largely by the doctors themselves, the documentary captures the chaos of overwhelmed hospitals and personal reflections before, during and after their humanitarian mission in April 2024. The film screening is followed by a live Q&A with director/producer Erica Long and Dr Adusumilli, moderated by Screen Illawarra board member Gerardo Ceres.
Sunday
Crystals, fossils, tumbling grit and treasure galore, the Illawarra Lapidary Club Rock Swap is where rock lovers unite. Image: Illawarra Lapidary Club.
Rock Swap
When: Sunday 22 February, 8 am to 2 pm
Where: Stuart Park, George Hanley Drive, North Wollongong
Cost: Free.
The Illawarra Lapidary Club is back with its annual Rock Swap, a must-visit event for anyone fascinated by crystals, minerals, fossils and all things geological. Don’t miss the kids rock scramble at noon, perfect for little collectors to dig, discover and take home their treasures.
Browse a huge variety of stalls selling everything from rough stones, tumbling grit and lapidary equipment to crystals, jewellery, books and fossils. Whether you’re a hobbyist, a collector or just curious, there’s something for everyone — but get in early, because the best finds go fast.
Please note: while some stalls accept card payments, not all do, so come prepared and ready to rock!
Tuesday
Calling all creators, event dreamers, and community makers — here’s one way to bring your next event or creative project to life. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
Wollongong City Council Grants and Sponsorship Information Session
When: Tuesday 24 February, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Where: Wollongong Art Gallery, 46 Burelli Street, Wollongong
Cost: Free | Book via Eventbrite.
Wollongong City Council’s 2026/2027 Financial Assistance Program is now open, offering funding to bring your next event or creative project to life. Want the inside scoop? Join the council team for a friendly, in-person information session where they’ll break down the grants on offer, from small arts and culture grants, to contributions to bands and choirs and sponsorship of community events.
Meet the people behind the programs, get tips to make your application stand out and discover how to turn your big ideas into a funded reality. Whether you’re planning a community festival, performance, or creative initiative, this session is your first step toward success.
Thursday
Sun, surf, fire-cooked breakfast and a life-saving cause, don’t miss the inaugural Breakfast of Champions. Image: Skin Check Champions.
The Breakfast of Champions
When: Thursday 26 February, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
Where: Coledale Beach Reserve, south side of Coledale Surf Club, Coledale
Cost: Individual $80 | Table of four $280 | Table of eight $480 | Book via Raisley.
Set your alarm — Coledale Beach is set to come alive with early morning swims, fire-cooked feasts and a cause that matters: early detection of skin cancer. Presented by Skin Check Champions, this landmark coastal event coincides with National Skin Check Day and brings together local leaders, health advocates, business figures and community members for a morning of good food, meaningful conversation and life-saving action.
Guests can enjoy sunrise surf, yoga and breathwork before a long, open-air breakfast by Earth Walker & Co, styled by South Coast Tipis and even book a skin check via the charity’s Silver Bullet mobile clinic. The morning also launches a new national skin health technology platform, helping Australians detect skin cancer earlier and stay connected to care.
Good food, live music and a charity auction — the Lord Mayor’s Lunch is where community and impact come together. Image: Women Illawarra.
Lord Mayor’s Lunch for Women Illawarra
When: Thursday 26 February, 11:30 am to 3:30 pm
Where: The Deck Restaurant, Wollongong Golf Club, 151-161 Corrimal Street, Wollongong
Cost: $75 | Book via Nowbookit.
The Lord Mayor’s Lunch is back, serving up community, connection and a cause that matters — supporting Women Illawarra during the Ford Women’s NSW Open Championship. Hosted by Lord Mayor Tania Brown and MC’d by Matt Russell, guests will enjoy a shared dining feast with grazing platters, a seafood station, seasonal hot dishes, fresh salads, desserts, live music and lucky door prizes.
The afternoon’s highlight is a live charity auction, led by MMJ Auctioneer Daniel Hastings, with proceeds supporting Women Illawarra’s work empowering women and children across the region. Exclusive items include signed Ed Sheeran memorabilia, golf and UFC collectibles and more. More than a lunch, it’s a chance to connect, celebrate, and make a meaningful impact alongside local leaders and advocates.
