December and January bring the best of both worlds – festive celebrations and lazy summer days perfect for outdoor adventures. As school holidays arrive and the community gathers for seasonal celebrations, slow down, connect with neighbours, and make the most of everything Ginninderry has to offer over the next two months. 

From Christmas festivities and art exhibitions to nature play and creative workshops, there’s something for everyone. Here’s your complete guide to what’s on in and around Ginninderry this December and January.

COMMUNITY EVENTS & WORKSHOPS 

Christmas in the Park 

Christmas in the Park is back at Ginninderry, and we’d love for you to join us for a magical evening under the stars. On Saturday 13 December, from 5 pm until 9 pm at Paddy’s Park, bring your friends, family or neighbours and enjoy live music, carols, roving performers, festive storytelling and kids’ activities. There will be local food vendors, plenty of Christmas cheer and of course, a very special appearance from Santa! 

Feel free to BYO (family-friendly) picnic and settle in for a relaxed night in the park.

The entertainment kicks off from 5 pm with Dan and Magnifique, followed by Maddy P at 6 pm, a delightful Christmas Pantomime with Kippax Uniting Church at 6:50 pm, Canberra Symphony Orchestra with Kingsford Smith School at 7 pm, and Special K from 8 pm to round out the night. 

Entry is free, and everyone is welcome! Parking will be limited, so we encourage you to walk, ride or carpool where possible, with the best parking available in the overflow carpark on Gullifer Street, Strathnairn. 

Mark your calendars and come celebrate the festive season with the Ginninderry community! 

Saturday 13 December, 5 pm to 9 pm | Paddys Park | More information here.

Navitas Skilled Free English Classes 

If you or someone you know is looking to build confidence in English, Navitas Skilled Futures is offering free English language classes in Belconnen through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), funded by the Australian Government. These classes are designed to help migrants and refugees improve their English and digital skills in a friendly, supportive environment – whether it’s for everyday conversations, community life, work, or further study.

Classes run on Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:10 am–2:40 pm at the Belconnen Community Centre (26 Chandler Street, Belconnen). If you’d like to find out more or check your eligibility, you can contact Karma Dorji at Navitas Skilled Futures via karma.dorji@nsf.navitas.com or 0488 080 884.

Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:10 am until 2:40 pm | Belconnen Community Centre | More information here.

Festive Fancies with Michelle Grimston

Take a step back from the consumption of the holiday season and explore sustainable making techniques. In these workshops, you’ll learn how to deconstruct worn and discarded textiles and explore processes of twining, coiling, stitching and incorporating found objects to create small pieces that could become jewellery, vessels, Christmas ornaments and more. 

You can expect to learn and try each of these different processes, leaving with a wide range of inspiration to continue creating at home.

Saturday 6 December | Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank | More information here.

Free Botanical Drawing & Painting Workshops

Step away from your daily routine and discover the art of botanical illustration with artist Margaret’s welcoming workshops at The Link. Running on 10 December from 10 am to 12:30 pm, these sessions teach you to bring plants and flowers to life on the page through true observational skills rather than simply copying photographs. 

Margaret’s structured teaching style includes practical demonstrations, detailed class notes, and guided exercises suitable for both beginners and experienced artists. 

Workshops are delivered as short course series (four to six classes, twice monthly), with each series focusing on a specific seasonal plant. A materials list will be provided upon booking. It’s a perfect opportunity to uncover your inner artist whilst connecting with nature and community.

Saturday 10 December, 10 am until 12:30 pm | The Link, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | More information here.

Knitting & Crochet with Good Omen Goodeze 

Join Good Omen Goodeze for an afternoon of knitting and crochet. Whether you’re learning a new skill or practicing an old one, come down for a cuppa, a chat and a wonderful afternoon. All supplies are provided, with an opportunity to make goodies to donate to patients at Canberra Hospital or take home and enjoy for yourself. 

Every Friday afternoon during the school term, 1 pm to 3 pm | The Link, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | More information here.

Guided Walks through the Conservation Corridor 

Reconnect with nature and explore the beauty of the Ginninderry Conservation Corridor with a guided walk. Led by a knowledgeable ranger, these walks offer a great opportunity to learn about the Corridor’s wildlife, ecosystems, and the current conservation efforts in the area. 

Not to mention you’ll get a front-row seat to stunning views of the Murrumbidgee River, Brindabella Mountains, and surrounds. 

Saturday 6 December, 8 am until 10 am | The Link, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | More information here.

ZEST: Dance for Wellbeing 

ZEST: Dance for Wellbeing classes are designed for adults who want to experience the joy of dancing and keep their body and brain active and healthy, regardless of their mobility, skill or age. 

Feed your body and spirit with music and movement, be physically and mentally inspired and stimulated, have fun, meet some new friends and feel good!  Participants dance while sitting on a chair, with options to stand and travel. No previous dance experience is necessary.

Tuesdays & Fridays (dates subject to change during holiday period) | Belconnen Arts Centre | More information here.

Repair Café 2025

Held on the first Sunday of every month at The Link Building by SEE-Change and Kippax Uniting Church, this is your opportunity to work with repairers to learn how to mend anything from clothing and lamps to toasters, kettles, smartphones, and more.

Have nothing to repair? Head along to learn some new skills – like knitting, sewing, mending, and crocheting. It’s fun, relaxing, social, and makes you feel good. All welcome, just drop in!

Sunday 7 December & Sunday 4 January, 1 pm to 3:30 pm | The Link, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | More information here.

Silent Book Club @ Café Stepping Stone

Taking place fortnightly on Sundays, this Silent Book Club is open to everyone, with no fees or age limits. You can engage with others as much or as little as you like! Unlike traditional book clubs, there’s no assigned reading or discussion, just a peaceful space to read your book among fellow book lovers.

Here’s how it works: arrive, settle in with a drink, and maybe share what you’re reading, spend a quiet, undisturbed hour reading, and then socialise (or continue reading if you prefer). Take your current read, order your favourite beverage, and enjoy some uninterrupted reading time.

Sunday 4 January , 2 pm to 4 pm | Café Stepping Stone, Gullifer Street, Strathnairn | More information here.

Hartley Hall Markets

The Hartley Hall Markets, held at the charming Hall Village Showground just 10 kilometres north of Canberra, are one of Australia’s largest home-made and home-grown goods markets. Since their beginnings in 1987 with just 36 stalls, the markets have grown into a much-loved family tradition, attracting thousands of visitors with their friendly atmosphere and rural charm.

Shoppers can browse fresh produce, baked goods, plants, crafts, unique gifts, clothing, jewellery, and more, while enjoying live music, entertainment, and delicious food. 

Entry is by a gold coin donation, with all proceeds supporting Hartley Lifecare’s disability programs and services.

Sunday 7 December 9 am to 2 pm  | Hall Showgrounds | More information here.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES & EXHIBITIONS 

Christmas Stories with R.A Spratt 

In this whirlwind of storytelling, R.A. Spratt (best-selling author of Friday Barnes and Nanny Piggins) will be performing her favourite Christmas tales. 

This will be high-energy, action-packed, side-splittingly hilarious storytelling at its festive best, and featuring Christmas carols written by Nanny Piggins herself. This is the perfect family show for anyone who enjoys a good holiday season giggle. 

Local bookstore, The Book Cow, will be selling books and R.A. will be available to sign books after the show.

Friday 19 December at 2 pm  | The Theatre, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank | More information here.

Blueberries 

Blueberries is a dance, music and drama program for two-to-four-year-olds. The program is designed for toddlers to attend with their parents for an hour of high-energy fun. There’s no uniform, with little ones encouraged to dress up and express themselves! It’s family-friendly, with other siblings (i.e. babies in prams) welcome. 

Weekdays, dependent on term schedule | Belco Arts Dance Studio, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.

LIFE AS AN OLD DOLL – Art Exhibition by Robyn Davis

The Link Gallery presents Robyn Davis’s powerful collage exhibition exploring ageing through vintage doll imagery. Each piece layers old photographs with patterned protection, creating portraits that balance resilience and fragility with uncanny playfulness. 

Drawing on childhood memories of paper doll play, Davis uses these assembled figures to voice her inner world and confront the realities of ageing – the physical vulnerabilities, social invisibilities, and existential reckonings we often refuse to acknowledge. 

It’s unapologetically personal yet universally resonant. These quiet, persistent figures insist on being witnessed.

Until Sunday 5 January | The Link, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | Free entry | More information here. 

Threatened Species Photographic Exhibition 

Nature lovers, this one’s for you. 

The third annual National Threatened Species Day Open Photographic Exhibition at Wildbark has been extended by popular demand and will now run until Sunday 15 December.

 Presented by Gungahlin Arts and Wildbark, the exhibition features 185 incredible photographs celebrating Australia’s threatened species in all their beauty and fragility. It’s a powerful, thought-provoking and visually stunning reminder of what we stand to lose – and why protecting our unique wildlife matters. 

On until Sunday 15 December | Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank | More information here. 

FITNESS AND MINDFUL MOVEMENT 

Evening Taekwon-Do to wind down after a busy day

If you want gentle exercise but not first thing in the morning, enjoy evening Taekwon-Do classes at The Link. The class is aimed at beginners of all ages, from preschool age and over – adults are also most welcome and encouraged to join in with their children. Of course, anyone with TKD experience is also very welcome.

No experience necessary – the class will accommodate fitness levels of all sorts, from those with a high degree of fitness and flexibility to those who don’t. After all, we all have to begin somewhere!

Mondays between 6 pm to 7 pm (subject to change during holiday season) | The Link, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | More information here

West Belco Bike Bus 

Join a bunch of like-minded people and cycle into work. The West Belco Bike Bus has a set route and timetable so it can pick up more ‘passengers’ along the way. 

Cycling is a quick, fun way to get to work while keeping fit and healthy, along with saving emissions from a car or bus commute. The West Belco Bike Bus starts off from Kippax shops, then cycles through to the Belconnen Town Centre, Civic, Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and on to Barton. 

Monday 2 December and Monday 5 January, 7 am to 9 am  | Meet at Kippax Fair, 26 Hardwick Crescent, Holt | More information here.

Salsa Dance Classes by Move Me Studios 

Get your groove on with these free beginner classes – no partner or experience required. Take your two left feet and enjoy a fun and welcoming atmosphere. Dance is a fantastic way to get fit, stay active, and meet new friends. 

You don’t need to bring a partner, but feel free to take one along for a fun date night! Spots are limited, so make sure you book your spot. Did we mention it’s free? 

Sundays, 4 pm to 5 pm (subject to change during holiday season) | Belco Arts Dance Studio, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.

Roll your way into fitness 

Strap on your skates and join RollerFit instructors Matt, Amelia, and Zeb to learn the amazing style of roller dance! Roller dance, also known as rhythm skating, has deep roots in Black North American culture. 

This unique style combines different steps, turns and individual moves to get multiple skaters flowing and moving in sync. It’s a sure way to get fit!

Fridays, 6 pm to 7:30 pm (subject to change during holiday season) | Belco Arts Dance Studio, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.

Fitness in The Park

Fitness class for all levels of fitness for the whole community. Join Ginninderry local Vince as he takes you through a group fitness class in the fresh air at Paddys Park.

Every Wednesday, 7.30 am to 8.30 am | Paddys Park, Asimus Avenue, Strathnairn (subject to change during holiday season) | Find out more here.

Tap into your zen with yoga classes

Get bendy on Thursday evenings at a yoga class! You don’t need any experience – just head along for the slow-flow class that will help melt away tension, build strength and mobility, and give you a chance to recharge. Take along a yoga mat, water bottle, and comfy clothes.

Every Thursday, 6.45 pm to 7.45 pm (subject to change during holiday season) | The Link, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | More information here.