Grab your tickets for an oral storytelling festival. Photo: Matt Houston/Ironbark Photography.
Several headline events steal the show this week in the Illawarra, including Australia’s only oral storytelling festival, the beloved Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival and the launch of the latest instalment of The Enchanted Forest laser light and sound show.
A certain cherished education institution will celebrate its 10th birthday, and for those who missed out the first time, the Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival will return for a rescreening.
In between there are comedy, live music, retail and literary events galore. Here are nine of the best things happening in the Illawarra this week.
Multiple Days
It was thwarted twice before by COVID and floods, but this oral storytelling festival is back for a redemption round. Image: Fireflies Multilingual Storytelling Festival.
Fireflies Multilingual Storytelling Festival
When: Friday 30 May, 6 and 7:30 pm and Saturday 31 May, 6, 7:30 and 9 pm
Where: The Music Lounge, Wollongong Town Hall, corner Crown and Kembla streets, Wollongong
Cost: Adult $37.50 | Student/Concession (Pensioner/Seniors)/two-show ticket $27.50 | Under 13s $10 | Book via TicketSearch.
Australia’s only oral storytelling festival brings together some of the world’s best storytellers for five shows over two nights. Be dazzled by the Asian-American powerhouse duo from San Fran ETH-NOH-TEC, the sheer mastery of Alton Chung of Hawaii, a new piece from legendary Dharawal storyteller Jodi Edwards and more. A selection of mouthwatering meals from Balinese Spice Magic will be available for preorder and delivery to you during the break.
This weekend-long celebration of the arts and seaside activities reflects the community’s interests and way of life. Photo: Thirroul Seaside & Arts Festival.
Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival
When: Friday 31 May to Sunday 1 June, various times
Where: Various Thirroul locations
Cost: Exhibition opening night $25 | Gold coin donation for exhibition | Everything else free entry | Payable upon entry.
This annual weekend-long celebration will launch per tradition on Friday night with the opening night of the art exhibition. Entry is $20, and you’ll have first dibs on incredible artworks for sale, which will then remain on exhibition for the duration of the festival. Artworks are already displayed at local businesses as part of the festival. Other highlights of the weekend will include the first ever Family Kite Day on Saturday 31 May from 10 am to 3 pm at the southern end of Thirroul Beach Reserve, and the Family Festival transforming the reserve on Sunday 1 June into a hive of activity, food and market stalls.
The festival is a not-for-profit project of the Austinmer/Thirroul Lions Club Inc. and proceeds are returned to the community via projects benefitting local groups, organisations and individuals.
Light and sound show juggernauts Laservision have done it again with their latest Enchanted Forest show. Photo: Laservision.
The Enchanted Forest – Tides of Treasure
When: Friday 30 May to Sunday 22 June, 5:45 to 10:15 pm
Where: Blackbutt Forest Reserve, Shellharbour Road, Shellharbour
Cost: Adult $16.50 | Child $10.50 | Infants Free | Family $43.50 | Book via The Enchanted Forest.
The Enchanted Forest returns to Shellharbour with a new, ocean-themed adventure. Tides of Treasure will sweep you and your family into a glowing ocean adventure filled with mystery, reimagined light displays, custom soundscapes, pulsating special effects, interactive projections and a dreamy mist-filled ocean with floating, ethereal sea life. Follow the glowing trails, meet the ocean’s charming residents and find the key to unlock the treasure.
Low sensory sessions are also available.
Get your crate-digging fingers limbered up and ready for the Kiama Record Fair. Image: Kiama Record Fair.
Kiama Record Fair
When: Saturday 31 May to Sunday 1 June, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Masonic Hall, 46 Collins Street, Kiama
Cost: Free.
More than 10,000 vinyl records and more than 40 new crates of vinyl are coming out for the latest Kiama Record Fair. From rock to funk, hip-hop and more, all genres are covered. Local record sellers bring their specialist knowledge and collections to this relaxed coastal event, close to beaches, parks and of course, the Kiama blowhole. The family and pet-friendly event is a great addition to any Kiama weekend.
Whether you’re a film lover, a proud local or simply looking for a great night out, don’t miss this exciting celebration of Illawarra’s creative talent. Image: Wollongong City Council.
Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival Rescreening
When: Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 June, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Where: Gala Cinema Warrawong, 204 Cowper Street, Warrawong and Shellharbour Civic Centre, 76 Cygnet Avenue, Shellharbour City Centre
Cost: Free | Book via eventbrite.
Get ready for two nights of inspiring local cinema celebrating community, creativity and storytelling. Wollongong City Council with Screen Illawarra and Shellharbour City Council are proud to present the rescreening of the Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival. The event brings a vibrant collection of short films back to the big screen, each one created by emerging and professional Illawarra filmmakers and originally premiered at last year’s lakeside launch. Screenings are as follows:
- Gala Cinema Warrawong on Wednesday 4 June, 5:30 to 7:30 pm — book via eventbrite.
- Shellharbour Civic Centre on Thursday 5 June, 5:30 to 7:30 pm — book via eventbrite.
Featured films include some of the winners of the 2024 Creative Wollongong Short Film Competition. In addition, audiences will enjoy special commissioned works shot at Lake Illawarra and in partnership with Screen Illawarra and Bus Stop Films.
Friday
For the big 1-0, the Discovery Space is throwing a party. The theme? Healthy eating. Photo: Early Start Discovery Space.
Early Start Discovery Space 10th Birthday
When: Friday 30 May, 9 am to 1 pm
Where: Early Start Discovery Space, Building 21, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong
Cost: General $20 | Discounted Entry $17 | Concession $10 | Book via Early Start Discovery Space.
The Illawarra’s beloved Discovery Space is turning 10 — and you’re invited to the birthday party. Expect a day of fun, engaging programs focused on healthy eating, including hands-on activities with real food.
Test yourself on the “Veggie Meter” and explore and learn about diverse fruits and vegetables through the medium of printmaking. Join the team for a food scavenger hunt to learn about the new health star rating system in their Marketplace Experience and visit the team in The Pod, where children and their adults will be invited to use different cutters to cut shapes out of fruit (and take away a healthy birthday treat).
Belly laughs and a boost to local education — welcome to Comedy for a Cause. Image: Kiama High School.
Comedy for a Cause
When: Friday 30 May, 7 pm
Where: Kiama Leagues Club, 109 Terralong Street, Kiama
Cost: $40 | Book via Comedy for a Cause.
Kiama High School P&C proudly presents Comedy for a Cause — a night of non-stop laughter featuring some of the best comedians from the Sydney and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals. This special event will raise funds in support of Kiama High School P&C.
Guests can expect a fun-filled evening of comedy and community spirit, with the added excitement of a raffle on the night. There will be some fantastic prizes up for grabs, including the major prize: an overnight stay in a superior balcony room at The Sebel Kiama, complete with a bottle of wine and buffet breakfast for two.
Saturday
Michael Butler, Are You Being Served?, 2007, collage, pen on board. Photo: Jennifer Leahy.
Anthology Launch & Poetry Award 2025
When: Saturday 31 May, 1 to 3 pm
Where: Wollongong Art Gallery, 46 Burelli Street, Wollongong
Cost: By donation | Book via Humanitix.
This double bill event includes the launch of the 2025 South Coast Writers Centre Anthology of Writing, Temple and the announcements of the SCWC and Wollongong Art Gallery 2025 Poetry Award. There will be Temple readings from local literary legends Judi Morison, Paris Rosemont, Laura Golding and Shady Cosgrove and readings from Poetry Award shortlisted poets Alisha Brown, Anna Kerdijk Nicholson, Kai Jensen and Moira Kirkwood.
Don’t miss this moving night celebrating local talent.
Sunday
This triple bill is not to be missed. Image: Illawarra Folk Club.
The Illawarra Folk Club presents in concert …
When: Sunday 1 June, 2:30 to 6 pm
Where: The Fraternity Club, 11 Bourke Street, Fairy Meadow
Cost: Member $25 | Non-Member $30 | Disability Pensioner $22.50 | Disability Support Worker Free | Book via Humanitix.
The Illawarra Folk Club presents a wonderful, joyous concert to launch The Other Noonans’ new CD We Saw it Coming. The Other Noonans are Dan and Sam Noonan and they have won The John Dengate Parody Mug for the past two Illawarra Folk Festivals against some pretty stiff competition.
These highly accomplished musicians and songwriters are not frightened to take on controversial politics and cultural themes and topics through their music. They are joined by Nick Rheinberger and Tia Wilson fresh from their highly successful Gladys – A Musical Affair, and great local covers band Straya.
