Festival of Lights
This event celebrates Chinese culture through 32 silk lanterns, some 20-metres wide and eight-metres high. Windmills, dinosaurs, flowers, insects, animals and more will feature. There will also be roving performers and a dumpling bar.
- Greaves Reserve, Bennet Street, Dandenong. Friday 26 August to 9 October, 6pm to 10pm daily. Tickets are $12 for children, $18 concession, $20 for adults and $60 for a family of two adults and two children. Bookings are essential. Visit lightfestival.com.au
Music at the market
Japanese buskers George and Noriko are known as the Japanese blues cowboy and the Tsugaru shamisen player. Fast blues licks and growling harmonica combine with the percussive sounds of the traditional, fretless three-string shamisen.
- Dandenong Market, corner Cleeland and Clow streets, Dandenong. Sunday 28 August, 11am to 2pm. Call 9701 3850.
Venation in art
Five contemporary Australian artists explore the veins of histories and customs in this exhibition though photography, tapestry and printmaking. Venation refers to the arrangement of veins, as in a leaf or in the wing of an insect.
- Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre, corner Walker and Robinson streets, Dandenong. Until Saturday 27 August, 11am to 5pm weekdays and 11am to 3pm Saturdays.
Rhythm of the Weave
Tim Gresham is an unusual tapestry artist. He’s a man in a predominantly female field and his work is abstract, looking to minimalism rather than figuration and representation.
- Heritage Hill Museum and Historical Gardens, 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong. Until Wednesday 31 August, 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday and noon to 4pm on the first Sunday of the month.
Australian Poetry Slam
Audience members will judge slam poetry performances. Two finalists will compete in the state final, vying for two places at the national final in Sydney.
- Dandenong Library, 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong. Friday 26 August, 6.30pm. Entry is free. No bookings required. Call 1300 630 920 for more information.
Keysborough school swap
Swap household goods, home-grown produce, jams, preserves, baked goodies, seedlings, seeds, eggs and more. BYO mug for a free cuppa.
- Resurrection School Keysborough’s productive gardens, next to Keysborough Freedom Club. Enter via the driveway next to the retirement village at 414-418 Corrigan Road, Keysborough. Saturday 27 August, 10am to 11am.
