The Music Lounge inside Wollongong Town Hall and Shellharbour Library are hosting forums on literature, ideas and storytelling from the Sydney Writers' Festival.

Shellharbour will have 'Live and Local' events from Friday to Sunday - details via: https://libraries.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/events/city-library/

Wollongong will have 'Live and Local' events on Saturday - details via: https://merrigong.com.au/shows/sydney-writers-festival-live-and-local/

Midsummer Nights Dream

Shakespearean comedy in modern dress, from April 30 until May 9 at the Roo Theatre in Shellharbour.

The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta.

For more details and ticket, visit: www.roo-theatre.com.au/

Bloomin' Art Opening

A 3D, multi-sensory exhibition will open at Wollongong Art Gallery on Friday night, utilising the skills of many talented florists from across the region.

Bloomin' Art uses striking paintings from the gallery's collection as inspiration for floristry experts, students and visual artists to create an arrangement in response.

It officially opens Friday night at 6:30pm, and runs until September 15 at Wollongong Art Gallery.

Into The Woods Jnr

Arcadians present Stephen Sondheim's and James Lapine's cockeyed fairytale musical across Saturday and Sunday.

It featuresfavourite characters - Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk) and the Witch - in this lyrically rich retelling of classic Brothers Grimm fables.

The musical centres on a baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk.

When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse, and wind up changed forever.

More details through www.arcadians.org.au

Jackaranda says not to Bullying

Young drag star Jackaranda, 12, has teamed up with some entertainer friends and One Door Mental Health for an all ages show at the Wollongong Steelers Club. Doors open 6:30pm for a 7pm start on Saturday.

"I hope to bring everyone together on one night from all different parts of our community to unite and do a small part in helping people suffering from bullying and help eliminate the stigma around mental health," the young performer said.

Performers include: Ciaran Gribbin (ex-INXS), Roxee Horror, Zipporah, Kate Wilmot and more.

https://events.humanitix.com/jackaranda-says-no-to-bullying-part-2

KISS arts festival

A mix of circus, comedy, magic, music, burlesque and cabaret will be spread over the afternoon in two shows - one for families and another more risque event for adults at The Pavilion on Saturday.

Artists on the lineup include acrobats, breakdancers, an accordion player, a hula hoop dancer extraordinaire, and The Pitts Family Circus to name a few.

For more details visit: www.facebook.com/KISSArtsFestival

The KISS Arts Fest family-friendly event is 2pm Saturday May 1, the adults only cabaret is at 7pm - both at The Pavilion on Bong Bong Street.

Waterfront market at Shell Cove

Checkout the new Shell Cove Marina while looking for a Mothers Day gift at the markets, on 9am to 2pm at The Waterfront Town Centre.

Showcasing a range of local makers and creators with a focus on good food, high-quality products and live music running all day, there is something for everyone at the South Coast's newest market.

The lawn area will be set up for lounging and live music. Locals- ride your bike or stroll on down to avoid parking and enjoy a day out discovering the best of the makers and creators in this region.

Nan Tien Wellbeing Market

From 9:30am to 2:30pm, this boutique market is focused on holistic health and sustainability - at the Nan Tien Institute in Berkeley.

Each stall's been specially selected to offer high quality, environmentally-sound and uplifting products, while they will also have meditative bird-watching around the Temple gardens and 'Community Care' Workshop - All free of charge.

www.nantien.org.au

Open day at Grevillea Park

From 10am to 4pm Grevillea Park in Bulli is open to the public, and includes plant sales.

There is an entry fee of $7 per adult, children are admitted free. Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a lead at all times. The chapel will not be open.

Prices for plants range from $5 for tubestock through to $100 for grafted.

So pack a picnic, bring a blanket and visit the new sundrenched picnic area. And don't forget the vine forest walk out through the back gate, it's dried out nicely after recent rains and there are ferns everywhere, at least a dozen different species to spot.

For more details visit: https://illawarragrevilleapark.com.au

May Day Folk Concert

At City Diggers Club in Wollongong from 7pm

The Folk Club has lined up a pretty long list of the Illawarra's best folk performers so you will be spoiled for variety. Heading the list will be Maurie Mulheron who bringing his old mate Pat Craigie down from Noosa to join him on stage so he can pretend to be a band. T

hen there is our own singing larks Sally Forth, one of the Illawarra's finest singer/songwriters, Paul Spencer, Mount Kembla's nightingale Chris Wilson (from Az-I-Am), Zlatko from (Zlatko's Balkan Cabaret), John Tubridy from Carefree Road Band, our Berkeley poet, Treva Taylor, Claire Roberts and the Illawarra Union Singers.

https://events.humanitix.com/may-day-concert-sat-1st-may-2021

Family-friendly Live Jazz

Wollongong's newest live music venue, The Shy Postie on lower Crown Street, is hosting live jazz sessions every Sunday in May from 2pm to 5pm.

It's free to see and welcome for families. Band leader Eric Dunan said they often have jazz musicians pop up out of the audience for a jam, including one of his 10-year-old piano students.

https://www.facebook.com/theshypostie

Pre-mothers Day Market

Plenty of stalls at Kiama Black Beach from 10am - 3pm this Sunday.

The specialty stallholders will sure to have something to delight mum. There will activities to keep the kids happy too.