Mark Dabin is running a new open mic night for musicians at the Wiseman Park Bowling Club in Gwynneville.

Established or up-and-coming artists can register for the monthly gig to showcase their talent and test new songs.

Registrations are from 7pm with the music to begin at 7:30pm, on the first Wednesday of every month.

www.markdabin.com/marks-open-mic

The Australian Ballet

For two nights only The Australian Ballet perform the romantic classic, Giselle, at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre.

This transcendent love story follows an innocent village girl transformed into a tender spirit after dying of a broken heart.

With its hauntingly beautiful ensemble of white tutus, classical technique and heartbreaking story of boy-meets-girl, Giselle is the perfect must-see ballet.  

For all you need to know about the ballet like what to wear and when to clap CLICK HERE

Tickets $31 for children under 13, $67 for adults – performances are Wednesday and Thursday only. For more information and ticketing is at www.merrigong.com.au 

The Listies - ICKYPEDIA LIVE

The Listies, are bringing their best-smelling book ICKYPEDIA: A Dictionary of Disgusting New Words to the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre on Friday and Saturday.

It’s a seriously silly show that answers all of life’s important questions: How do you take a SMELLFIE? What does POOETRY sound like? Who is the world’s worst chef? What is a HOOTENGRANNY? And how does one avoid a FARTQUAKE?

Recommended for ages 4+ All tickets $32 – www.merrigong.com.au 

UOW Oktoberfest

Enjoy pretzels and a stein on Jugglers Lawn at the University of Wollongong – Northfields Avenue, from 5pm – 11pm.

Admission is FREE for UOW Students or $10 for everyone else.

A FREE shuttle bus will be there after the show.

Bus departs from Northfields Avenue between 10:30pm-12:00am stopping at North Wollongong Station, Weerona, Campus East, I-House and Wollongong.

Festival of Wood

The first ever Illawarra Festival of Wood opens Friday at 10am at Bulli Showgrounds, continuing Saturday.

Free workshops, chainsaw carving demonstrations, wooden surfboards, chopstick making, jewellery, floristry, wood-turning, basket weaving, timber milling and more.

From 10am – 5pm Friday and Saturday. Tickets $15, children FREE.

https://illawarrafestivalofwood.com/ 

Twilight Markets & Light The Night

To mark the beginning of the season the Leukaemia Foundation will also “Light the Night” and turn the lighthouse blue to raise awareness of people facing blood cancer.

Every day 35 people are diagnosed with blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood disorders and they’ll turn to the Leukaemia Foundation for help.

The markets are run by Corrimal Rotary, the green below the iconic lighthouse will turn to market stalls, buskers and artists on the first Friday of the month until next March.

From 5:30pm – 8:30pm

Scarborough Art Show Opening Night

The annual event showcasing arts and crafts plus raise money for the local primary school is on again at Scarborough Public School.

Opening night is the perfect opportunity to view the exhibition and have first pick of more than 160 works, meet the artists and enjoy a range of delicious canapés, wine, beer and live music. 

Tickets for opening night are $20 via www.trybooking.com

Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 10am-4pm – weekend admission $5 adults, $3 concession.

www.scarboroughartshow.com/ 

Family Day at Killalea

Free art and craft activities for the kids including Shellharbour Library’s Paint Shellharbour Read and Youth services Aerosol art project. Goldsworthy Sculpture Workshop with Artist Gaillyn Cooper; Neural Knitworks Workshop; Drumming Circle with Joe Powers on the main stage.

Food stalls, jumping castle and more from 10am.

The Great Gong Clothes Swap

Bulli PCYC becomes a pandora’s box for upcycled clothing from 1pm – 4pm.

20 items is the quota. 30 for predrops. $5 participation fee.

Food and snacks will be available for sale at the canteen. This event is for adult size clothing.

For more information on how it works CLICK HERE

Air Born Cheerleading 

Air Born Cheerleading is throwing their doors open from 11am - 3pm, 3 Ball Street in Woonona.

Free mini classes - play on the tumbling equipment as well as trying a cheerleading, silks or dance class.

Live performances from students showing you what you can do on silks or as a cheerleader.

Free sausage sizzle, face painting, special offers and give bags. For more information visit FACEBOOK.

Twilight Markets at Sculptures At Killalea

Part of the annual arts festival – enjoy artisan markets, food, beer, wine, live art demonstrations, live music and entertainment from 2pm – 7pm at The Farm.

Plus see 61 sculpture installations set up along the coastline (ending Sunday).

www.sculpturesatkillalea.com.au 

Zine Fair & Author Readings

The Zine There, Done That Coal Coast zine fair is on at Thirroul Institute Railway Hally from 10am – 3pm.

Presented by Molly Lasker, Zine There, Done That aims to reignite Wollongong's interest in DIY publishing and the zine.

It’s part of the Wollongong Writers Festival. Tickets $2 and available from the door.

It’s followed by an evening of spoken word, graphic art and music from Shining Bird at the Railway Institute Hall from 7pm.

Celebrate 50 years: Fitzroy Falls

Be part of this fun day at Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of NPWS from 9:30am – 3pm.

There'll be great activities for everyone to enjoy, including a free sausage sizzle barbecue lunch.

Aboriginal cultural talks about traditional tools and artefacts; Didgeridoo performances; Guided bush tucker walks and other guided nature walks; Kids' activities; and Photo exhibition recording how the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre precinct was developed.

Fitzroy Falls is about a 53 minute drive from Wollongong, out past Robertson along Myra Vale Road.

www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

A Festival of Russian Ballet

The Imperial Russian Ballet Company return to Australia in a ballet extravaganza at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre until Tuesday.

Labelled as a “festival” the three hour program includes highlights from some of the world’s greatest traditional and contemporary ballet’s including Don Quixote, Bolero, The Dying Swan, Le Corsaire and more.

Tickets from $72 – for more information visit www.merrigong.com.au