After a hiatus in 2020, Wollongong City Libraries are excited to bring the much-loved Comic Gong festival back to Wollongong with a murder mystery on Thursday night, a pop culture trivia at Wollongong Town Hall on Friday and a smorgasbord of events Saturday May 15.

Costumes are encouraged for the Murder Mystery at the Helensburgh Community Centre - suited to ages 16+. Doors open at 5.45pm for drinks and nibbles, event to start at 6pm. Teams of two or three participants.

Other activities on Saturday include: drawing Pokémon characters, creating comic books, and learning the basics of pixel art animation are all on the agenda. There is also a call out for the little ones to take part in Superhero Training and a parkour masterclass for teenagers to try.

For more details on the pop culture festival CLICK HERE.

Grace Under Pressure

Bullying, humiliation and sexual harassment in the medical profession are being brought to light in a Wollongong stage play based on true stories.

Grace Under Pressure delves into workplace and training culture of nurses and doctors, and is finally touring to the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre from Wednesday May 12 until Saturday May 15.

There are some confronting stories in the play but also moments of joy and satisfaction.

For more information visit: www.merrigong.com.au

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Angels in America

At the Wollongong Workshop Theatre in Gwynneville from May 14 until May 29.

It focuses on the stories of two troubled couples, one gay, one straight: "word processor" Louis Ironson and his lover Prior Walter, and Mormon lawyer Joe Pitt and his wife Harper. After the funeral of Louis's grandmother, Prior tells him that he has contracted AIDS, and Louis panics.

Tickets through www.eventbrite.com.au

Hars Tarmac Days

From 9:30am to 3:30pm, Friday to Sunday at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Shellharbour Airport.

The Tarmac Days are held outside the HARS hangars and involve the static display of some of its distinctive aircraft.

Members of the public will be able to board and sit in some of the aircraft cockpits including F-111C fighter bomber, Lockheed Super Constellation, Catalina, Neptune submarine hunter.

There will also be guided tours of the aircraft on display.

Please note that the Museum is also open seven days a week. Guided tours are available every half hour. Please allow one to two hours for a comprehensive tour. Please note due to COVID, that access to some aircraft is limited.

There are also premium tours of the Boeing 141-438 'City of Canberra' - Wing Walk Experience, Total Boeing 747 Experience and the 747 Cockpit Experience.

For more information and bookings call 02 4257 4333.

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Tullimbah LandCare

From 9am to 12pm, Shellharbour Council's BushCare and LandCare volunteer groups provide an incredible service greening our city and improving the local environment.

Join in a working bee to see what it's all about. Tullimbah LandCare will meet at Brownlee Reserve (end of Digby Close, Albion Park).

Contact Ruth Jenkins for details - 0402 027 221.

3Sixty Skate Park Open Day

3Sixty indoor skate park is celebrating "making it through the pandemic" with a free skate coaching and sessions for their open day, Shred-O-Rama.

3Sixty promotes itself as the new safety standard in skate parks and even has dedicated times for tiny tots, under 5's, and beginner riders to get in and give it a go without the fear of the older riders.

The park is at Unit 3/2 Drummond Street, Wollongong - but those wanting to attend must make a booking for their one-hour free skate or 15-minute coaching.

Bookings: https://www.3sixtyskatepark.com.au/book-now-open-day or call (02) 4243 7805

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

Queer Market Day

Celebrate local queer culture at the Queer Market Day at MacCabe Park in Wollongong, from 9am to 3pm.

Local crafts, handmade goods, artwork, food, and entertainment. With activities for kids to live music, we have it all. Rainbow Attire is encouraged to spread diversity awareness.

The day is in honour of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia which is on May 17, while May 16 is International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day which is celebrated with a candlelight vigil in honour of those who have fought and lost HIV/AIDS.

This is a ticketd event - Family Deal - $22 (2xAdults + 2xKids aged 12 -17); Adults - $10; Kids (12 - 17) $5; Under 12 - Free; A portion of ticket price goes to HIV/AIDS Research.

Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/queer-market-day