From the long-awaited Edible Garden Trail to gripping theatre, inspiring art to lively Christmas markets, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this week in the Illawarra. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
The Illawarra comes alive with a packed week of culture, creativity, community and festive cheer.
Headlining is Symbio Wildlife Park’s 50th birthday celebration — a full-blown community event packed with loads of fun over three busy days.
The region’s stage is set with The Seven, a homegrown mystery from the Strangeways Ensemble, blending humour, horror and intrigue to explore a decades-old disappearance. Art lovers can catch the final days of Every Artist Was First An Amateur, showcasing the next generation of Illawarra creatives and their inventive, boundary-pushing works.
For those with a green thumb, the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail invites visitors to explore veggie patches, school gardens and hobby farms, swapping ideas and tips along the way.
Families and festive shoppers are well catered for too, with not one but two Christmas markets serving up local stalls, live music, rides, food and seasonal fun. Meanwhile, events like a SEEN The Film screening and a vigil offer thought-provoking opportunities to engage, reflect and connect with important social issues.
Multiple Days
Symbio Wildlife Park is going big for its 50th birthday. Photo: Symbio Wildlife Park.
Symbio Wildlife Park’s 50th Anniversary
When: Friday 21 to Sunday 23 November, 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Symbio Wildlife Park, 7-11 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Helensburgh
Cost: Adult $44 | Child (3-15) | Concession $40 | Senior $38 | Family (2 Adults + 2 Children) $140 | Family (1 Adults + 2 Children) $99 | Additional child (max two) $27 | Unlimited rides wristband $10 | Book via Symbio Wildlife Park. (Purchasing upon entry attracts additional fees).
Symbio Wildlife Park is turning 50, and it’s celebrating with a massive three-day event filled with family fun, entertainment and (of course) wildlife. The headline is two performances (on 22 and 23 November) from special guest Emma Memma. Visitors can also expect carnival rides, live entertainment, face painting, bubble artists, roving performers, a firefighter visit, sweet treats and wildlife encounters.
Don’t miss The Strangeways Ensemble’s latest original work, unlike anything they’ve done before. Photo: Children of the Revolution.
The Seven
When: Friday 21 to Saturday 29 November, various times
Where: Wollongong Town Hall, corner of Crown and Kembla streets, Wollongong
Cost: Adult $49 | Pension/Student $39 | Groups 8+/Under 30s $34 | Book via TicketSearch.
Runaways, alien abduction, a cult … or murder? The Seven asks what really happened to a group of friends who vanished after a Beatles concert in 1964. Decades later, a grisly discovery at Helensburgh Tunnel reopens the case, stirring old grudges and conspiracy theories in this gripping, homegrown mystery.
From the creators of genre-bending hits such as Trash Talk and Something That Happened, The Strangeways Ensemble brings their trademark mix of humour, insight and horror to a witty, original take on disappearance, secrets and the unknown.
Every Artist Was First An Amateur
When: Friday 21 November, 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November, 11 am to 4 pm
Where: Project Contemporary Artspace, 255 Keira Street, Wollongong
Cost: Free.
Last chance to see the next generation of Illawarra artists in action as this vibrant week-long exhibition comes to a close. The exhibition showcases artworks from around 200 Year 10 and 11 creative arts students across 17 public high schools from Bulli to Kiama. Families, educators and art lovers are all invited to wander through the diverse collection of paintings, sculptures, digital works and more, and get inspired by the creativity flourishing in local schools.
This annual event gives emerging young creatives a rare platform to share their talents, and the wider community to celebrate their achievements, support their artistic journey and experience firsthand the exciting ideas shaping the region’s cultural future.
Illawarra Edible Garden Trail
When: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November, 10 am to 3 pm
Where: Various locations from Helensburgh to Shellharbour
Cost: Adult $25 | Concession $15 | Kids (17 and under) Free | Single Garden Visit $5 | Pay What You Feel | Book via Humanitix.
The Illawarra Edible Garden Trail is back for its third year, and it’s not just a stroll — it’s a celebration of all things grown, green and delicious. From Helensburgh to Shell Cove, gardeners of every stripe are opening their gates to show off veggie patches, school gardens, community plots, hobby farms and crop swap spots.
Whether you’re a seasoned soil whisperer, a budding grower, or just a curious sticky-beak, this is your chance to explore how food thrives in every corner of the Illawarra. Discover tips on raising chooks, choosing the right plants, foraging edible weeds, working with native foods, and building soil that’s fit to eat from. Connect with neighbours, swap ideas and see how everyone can pitch in to grow a more food-secure Illawarra.
Saturday
Expect delicious food, unique gifts, live music and enough Christmas magic to make even the Grinch grin. Image: Thirroul Public School.
Thirroul Public School Christmas Market
When: Saturday 22 November, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm
Where: Thirroul Public School, Roxburgh Avenue, Thirroul
Cost: Gold coin donation | Payable upon entry.
Eat, shop, relax, mingle and consider your festive season officially kick-started as the Thirroul Public School Christmas Market returns bigger, brighter and bursting with Christmas cheer. Expect full carnival vibes with rides, live music and a raffle with premium prizes. Sleigh your festive shopping among stalls filled with local makers, gifts and seasonal goodies, and fuel up at food trucks serving tasty bites and sweet treats.
The Gong is back at the Illawarra Turf Club, bringing elite racing, top-tier hospitality and a buzzing coastal atmosphere to one massive day. Photo: Supplied.
The Gong Race Day
When: Saturday 22 November, 11 am
Where: Kembla Grange Racecourse, 401 Princes Highway, Kembla Grange
Cost: From $30 to $300 | Book via MoshTix.
As the finale of the NSW Spring Carnival and a standalone metropolitan meeting, The Gong attracts Australia’s best horses and jockeys — and it’s become a social must-do.
With $2.5 million in prize money across a huge 10-race program, the Spring Carnival spotlight is on The Gong: a 1600 m quality handicap that’s rapidly risen since its 2019 debut, earning Group 3 status in 2024. It’s joined by The Warra, a blistering 1000 m sprint worth $300,000, also recently upgraded to Group 3.
Off the track, expect live entertainment on the public lawn, a DJ kicking on after the last and free buses to get you home. Dress to impress and show off your style in Fashions On The Field.
Sunday
Make your Christmas shopping merry and bright at this special Christmas market. Image: Mount Keira Demonstration School.
Mount Keira Christmas Markets
When: Sunday 23 November, 9 am to 2 pm
Where: Mount Keira Demonstration School, 255 Mount Keira Road, Mount Keira
Cost: Free.
Get into the festive spirit at Mount Keira Demonstration School’s Christmas Market. Shop local and discover a variety of amazing small business stalls while enjoying the fresh mountain air. There’s something for everyone: a raffle, barbecue, coffee van, bake sale, face painting, Santa photos, kids’ activities, and a special performance by the MKDS Kids Christmas Choir, plus much more.
Tuesday
It is an opportunity for women and men of the community to highlight the enormity of a crisis in our society. Image: Women Illawarra.
The 4th annual Rose Vigil
When: Tuesday 25 November, 1 to 2 pm
Where: MacCabe Park, 86 Church Street, Wollongong
Cost: Free.
Women Illawarra and the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre will host this event, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the launch of the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. During the event, the community is invited to remember the Australian women and children who have been killed through gender-based violence in 2025. Forty-two roses will be laid in their memory.
The vigil will incorporate short speeches, poetry and song and the rose ceremony. All community members are invited to attend the vigil to show their support and, if they choose, lay a rose in honour of one woman’s memory.
Wednesday
Explore the journey from trauma to healing in this film that sparks conversation, connection and hope for stronger families. Photo: SEEN The Film.
SEEN The Film
When: Wednesday 26 November, 6 to 8:30 pm
Where: Shellharbour Civic Centre, 76 Cygnet Avenue, Shellharbour City Centre
Cost: Free | Book via eventbrite.
Experience an inspiring and thought-provoking evening with SEEN The Film, a powerful documentary that explores the lasting impact of childhood trauma and the journey toward healing. The screening offers audiences the opportunity to engage with the stories behind the film and spark meaningful conversations about parenting, resilience and breaking cycles of trauma, highlighting pathways to stronger, healthier families.
Thursday
Don’t miss the chance to step into Jane Austen’s world. Photo: Imgorthand.
Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday
When: Thursday 27 November, 4:30 to 7:30 pm
Where: Corrimal Library, 15 Short Street, Corrimal
Cost: Free | Book via eventbrite.
Step back into the elegance of the Regency era and celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday in style. Don your finest costume and indulge in a delightful evening of high tea, witty trivia and fun games that capture all the charm, humour and sparkle of Austen’s world. Not a library member yet? It’s free and easy to join online, and events like this are just one of the many perks of having a library card.
