What’s On // Your Guide To Living Your Best Life In The Illawarra In September
Must Do’s, Don’t Miss Outs + You’re Nuts If You Don’t Go...
Spring is here, yaaaay! Shake off those winter cobwebs and make the most of every September day.
Here are some of the best things to do this month. Don’t forget to check out our Event Directory for even more, powered by the legends at Wests Illawarra.
Let’s do it!
CELEBRATING DAD// Father’s Day in The Illawarra
Sunday 1 September is Father’s Day and there are plenty of local restaurants, cafes, bars, wineries and hotels rustling up special meals to celebrate the father figures in our lives.
We’ve also put together a great big guide to finding the perfect Dad’s Day Gift in the Illawarra- whatever takes his fancy, you’ll be totally covered and go to the top of his faves list.
HOLIDAY TIME // Spring School Holidays
Believe it or not, the end of September is also the start of the spring school holidays! Huh?? Didn’t they just finish the winter ones? Oh, how time flies!
Our directory has plenty of fun ways to keep the kiddos entertained these holidays from library fun to art classes, workshops and more! Check it out here.
GREEN THUMB // Time to Get Gardening
Now that the weather is warming up, it’s the perfect time to flex those green thumbs and get out in the garden. Grab some fresh buds from the Greenplan Plant Sale on the 20th or hit up another local garden centre around town.
If you’re keen to learn more about what and how to plant natives then head to Dapto library on the 4th to chat with passionate horticulturalist Carl Glaister.
Or if you don’t have a garden of your own but would still like to get amongst it join Blackbutt Bushcare Group on the first Sunday of the month as they work on community gardening projects around town.
Anyone who’s bonkers for Bromeliads should most definitely mark their calendars for the Illawarra Bromeliad Society’s 30th Annual Spring Show. There will be Bromeliad displays, competition plants, plants for sale, as well as a raffle.
And if you’d rather admire the flowers than plant them, welcome the season by filling your home with a beautiful bouquet from a local florist. We adore the friendly team at Twig & Bo who are always ready to help us make our floral dreams a reality.
QUIZ IT // Take Up Some Trivia
Gather your brainiac buddies and declare this the month of trivia nights. Time to flex those mental muscles! We’ve got a list of pubs and clubs ready to put your smarts to the test.
Kick things off at Quizzame at Wests Illawarra. Their Thursday night sessions are free for all ages, and they’re handing out $100 worth of prizes. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to flaunt all that knowledge you’ve been storing in that big brain of yours.
BOOT SCOOTIN’ BABY // Line Dancing At Thirroul Library
Give line dancing a try at Thirroul Library on the 20th. It’s a fun social dance where you don’t even need a partner! Not only will you get to groove to toe-tapping tunes from country, rock, and pop, but you’ll also boost your memory, coordination, and fitness while you’re at it.
No boots required! Just wear comfy clothes and shoes, bring some water, and get ready to dance your cares away. This event is for adults 18 and over, and there’ll be light refreshments served after the workshop.
ART HOUR // Connecting The Dots
Head to Shellharbour Civic Centre for an hour of fun dot painting and learning. You’ll explore the art of Indigenous dot painting and learn about the symbols and signs used in Aboriginal culture. No skills are required, making it perfect for beginners. Just bring your painting hand and an open mind. All materials are provided, and you’ll get to take home your artwork.
ON YA BIKE // Ride Wollongong Festival of Cycling
We’re super keen to start celebrating everything on two wheels at this 2-day festival in Wollongong. Get the family registered for one of the free rides and make sure those bicycle bells are polished and ready to go. Ever since the UCI rolled through town in 2022, we’ve been bike-mad, and we’re excited to embrace that energy again!
BEER ME // Fun For Beer Lovers
If you’re partial to a schooey [or 3] of the amber nectar then we’ve sure got a couple of fun events around town for you!
The Urban Craft Beer Crawl on the 7th sounds like a total blast! Spend your Saturday hopping from brewery to brewery, sampling their best brews. It’s a fantastic way to explore Wollongong’s excellent bar scene while having a sip-tastic time.
And to keep the good times brewing [see what we did there?], don’t miss Oktoberfest at Stoic on the 20th. Word is they’ll be unveiling a new brew just for the occasion. Prost!
BE ENTERTAINED // Festivals And Shows
Spring usually marks the start of festival season around the Illawarra and this year is no exception. You can bet we’ll be making a beeline for the TBH Beer, Food & Wine Festival. Here’s hoping the rain stays away this year!
The Dapto Country Show is also happening this month and once again will be filled with all the things we love about a classic country show. Think horses, live music, animal displays, wood chopping, market stalls and much more.
And if you’re gagging for a good giggle then the Berry Comedy Gala is set to be a laugh-fest. Catch Tommy Dean, Cam Knight and Fady Kassab as they work their comedic magic on the audience.
MAKE A DAY OF IT // Family Fun Days Out
Kiddos will love this Marvel and DC-themed scavenger hunt. This year’s event is bringing back the superhero hijinks with fan favourites like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Wonder Woman, plus special guests like Bumblebee, The Flash, and Batman. Get ready to hunt for clues, meet your heroes, and maybe even snag a prize or a secret cosplay photo op!
Over in Albion Park, we love the sound of the Park Sound Factory Spring Festival. A day full of live music, activities, food & drinks and special prizes, yes, please!
Or if it’s fur kids you need to entertain then it’s gotta be the North Gong Dog Day 2024. We paw-bsolutely love this event for our puppers with a fantastic lineup of activities to raise awareness about pet adoption. There’ll be live music, rescue dog stalls, a puppy ball pit, pet market stalls, a Puppy Paw-casso art table, a best-dressed dog competition, and a best trick contest. So cute!
TUNE OUT // Live Music Galore
We can always count on our region to have some awesome live music and this month is no exception.
If you’re a fan of the Nutbush queen herself then make sure to grab your tix to this Tina Turner Tribute show. She’ll show us what love has to do with it. Speaking of tribute acts, we’re also excited by the Killer Queen show at Centro this month as well as The Johnny Cash Show at The Builders Club.
Stepping away from tribute acts you can actually catch iconic Aussie legends The Whitlams in the real at The Co-Op Gerringong.
Beats for the Blues 2024 at The Servo is all about great tunes for a great cause. Enjoy uplifting workshops, interactive Q&A panels, and live music from local artists, all while supporting mental well-being and community connections. Plus, don’t miss Music for Medicine at Wollongong Town Hall. A fantastic night of music raising funds for The Flying Doctors.
TAKE A WALK // Seven Mile Beach Sand Track Loop – South
Stretch those legs and take a stroll along the STUNNING Seven Mile Beach Sand Track Loop. We recently had a go at this one ourselves and found it to be a wonderful family-friendly walk close to the towns of Gerroa and Berry.
It might not be warm enough to get your feet wet in the water just yet but it’s still worth it for those cracker views. Here’s all you need to know before you go.
Woah how about a jam-packed month? And would you believe there’s even more going down in our Event Directory?! Your diary has never looked fuller.
