The kids will have a blast – and stay cool – at Inflatable Fun at Albion Park Pool. Photo: wollwerth.
The kids are back at school, but the fun is just getting started. From soaring Baroque voices and immersive dance experiences to inflatable adventures, craft spirits and family-friendly festivals, the Illawarra is buzzing with events this week.
Whether you want to ride historic trains, discover hidden gems at the movies, step into the spotlight at a casting workshop, or spark your creativity at a brand-new ideas salon, there’s something for everyone.
Grab your calendar, rally your friends and make the most of a week packed with music, movement, stories and pure, unmissable fun.
Friday
Catch this rare spectacle of soaring voices in Wollongong — Baroque brilliance guaranteed. Photo: Bach Akademie Australia.
Bach’s Motets
When: Friday 6 February 6, 7:30 pm
Where: Wollongong Art Gallery, 46 Burelli Street, Wollongong
Cost: Adult $75 | Concession $65 | Under 30s $30 | Book via Humanitix.
Bach Akademie Australia returns with a national tour of J S Bach’s Complete Vocal Motets, joined by Australia’s top vocal ensemble The Song Company and Dutch star Iris Korfker.
After the success of 2025’s The Countertenor, the ensemble brings seven of Bach’s divine motets to life alongside two modern masterpieces by Sandra Milliken and Sir James MacMillan. Bursting with virtuosity, joy and soul-stirring emotion, these works celebrate life, comfort and resurrection.
Saturday
Learn the secrets of the screen — your acting career starts here. Image: Screen Illawarra.
Extras Casting Workshop
When: Saturday 7 February, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Gerringong Town Hall, 106 Fern Street, Gerringong
Cost: Screen Illawarra Members Free | Non-members $15 | Book via Humanitix.
Screen Illawarra presents an exclusive workshop with professional actor Karen Cobban and agent Miriam Spry, offering insider tips on auditions, casting and what agents look for.
This hands-on session is perfect for aspiring actors and extras at any stage, from beginners to working performers, with practical advice, fun exercises and catered treats to fuel your star-making session.
Sip, savour and meet the makers at this one-day-only event. Image: The Drink Show.
The Drink Show
When: Saturday 7 February, various sessions
Where: The Pavilion Kiama, 2 Bong Bong Street, Kiama
Cost: General Admission $19.99 | Masterclass $25 | Book via Iwannaticket.
Kiama hosts the boutique Drink Show for one exclusive day, bringing a strictly limited line-up of craft distillers and small-batch spirits.
Guests can enjoy unlimited tastings, buy bottles to take home and meet the makers behind your favourite drinks. Add in premium masterclasses, insider tips from industry experts and an intimate, curated atmosphere and you’ve got a tasting experience like no other. From curious sippers to serious collectors, this is your chance to discover rare spirits, innovative flavours and future favourites before the crowds.
Bounce, splash and slide – Inflatable Fun is back at Albion Park Pool. Photo: Shellharbour City Pools.
Inflatable Fun — Albion Park Pool
When: Saturday 7 February, 1 pm to 3 pm
Where: Albion Park Pool, 8/10 Russell Street, Albion Park
Cost: Ault $6.50 | Child 3.50 | Family $12 | Spectator Free | Payable upon entry.
Make a splash and level up your pool day with Inflatable Fun at Albion Park Pool. Tackle wobbly obstacle courses, bounce, climb and slide your way across the water – the perfect mix of fun, fitness and confidence-building.
All children must complete a 25m swim test without flotation to access the inflatables, ensuring safety while the fun never stops. Bring your friends, your energy and your sense of adventure for an afternoon of big water fun.
Dance, song and story collide — join the thrilling Garabari gathering in Wollongong. Photo: Jeff Busby.
Garabari – A Contemporary Gathering
When: Saturday 7 February, 7:30 pm
Where: Wollongong Town Hall, corner Crown and Kembla streets, Wollongong
Cost: Adults $55 | Concession/Student $45 | Under 30s $40 | Mobtix $25 | Groups 8+ $40 | Family of 4 $160 | Book via TicketSearch.
Bodies, light, and sound come together in Garabari, a contemporary celebration of story, song, and dance. Developed on Wiradjuri Country and shared on Dharawal Country, this immersive event invites audiences to move, feel and become part of the performance alongside Indigenous and non-Indigenous performers.
Experience the Giilang – the story and song of Marramalngidyal Marrambidyagu, the making of the Murrumbidgee River – in a powerful gathering that transforms the civic space into a vibrant dance party.
Sunday
All aboard for a day of trains, history and family fun at Albion Park. Photo: Illawarra Light Railway Museum.
Down the Line
When: Sunday 8 February, 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Illawarra Light Railway Museum, 48A Tongarra Road, Albion Park Rail,
Cost: Adults $21.50 | Children/Concessions $16.50 | Family $74.20 | Book via ILRM.
Step back into the golden age of railways at Down the Line. Ride the main diesel train, enjoy miniature railway adventures, explore playgrounds and open spaces and wander through the loco shed to soak up railway history.
With food, picnic shelters and fun for all ages, it’s the perfect family day out. Tickets available online or at the museum — all aboard for a memorable adventure.
Enjoy food, fun and community spirit. Image: Shell Cove Community.
Neighbourhood Festival Shell Cove
When: Sunday 8 February, 11 am to 3 pm
Where: Anchorage Park, Anchorage Parade, Shell Cove
Cost: Free.
Taking place at Anchorage Park, this family-friendly event brings neighbours together for a day of connection, creativity and fun.
Enjoy a barbecue sausage sizzle raising funds for the local school, craft activities for kids, live music and games for all ages. With a focus on unity and collaboration, this festival is the perfect way to meet your neighbours, share some laughs and soak up the sunny vibes of Shell Cove.
Calling all Illawarra cinephiles. Image: Holy Cow.
Illawarra Film Society 2026 Season
When: Sundays from 8 February, various times
Where: Gala Twin Cinema, 204 Cowper Street, Warrawong
Cost: Membership $99 for 30+ films | Book via IFS.
Film lovers, rejoice! The Illawarra Film Society is back with its 2026 season, screening over 30 handpicked films on Sunday evenings. Established in 2012, this not-for-profit community brings together enthusiasts to explore a diverse range of cinema in a welcoming, social setting. For just $99, you can enjoy a full year of screenings, meet fellow cinephiles and experience stories from around the world, all from the comfort of the Gala Twin Cinema.
Sunday February 8 kicks off with Holy Cow, following carefree 18-year-old Totone who is suddenly left alone to look after his younger sister and their struggling family farm. He sets out to make the best comté cheese in the Jura region, the one that would win him a gold medal and 30,000 euros. Set in the picturesque French Alps, it is a charming coming-of-age story and an ode to cheese.
Wednesday
Bring your ideas, curiosity, and collaborators — Ideas Club is launching in Shellharbour. Image: Ideas Club.
Ideas Club – Maiden Voyage
When: Wednesday 11 February, 6:30 pm to 9 pm
Where: The Imaginarium, Wentworth Street, Shellharbour
Cost: Flexible price (suggested donation $10) | Book via Humanitix.
Shellharbour Council and Unashamedly Creative invite you to the launch of Ideas Club – The Unusual Suspects, a new quarterly salon celebrating creativity, collaboration and the messy brilliance of ideas coming to life.
Hear local innovators share their stories in bite-sized presentations, rehome ideas you can’t pursue, pick up sparks for your next project and mingle with fellow dreamers in a relaxed networking mixer. This safe, inclusive space applauds curiosity, courage and collaboration. Leave inspired, connected and ready to create.
