Top 10 things to do around the region - October 25

1) North Australian Championships

Friday, October 29 to Sunday, October 31
Various locations
The best surf sport athletes in North Queensland will battle it out over three big days of competition at the North Australian Championships. Athletes will compete in the full suite of surf sport events and the competition features an IRB competition, surf boat competition, pool rescue competition and Champion Lifesaver. More info. https://bit.ly/30jMakQ

2) Sarina Art Gallery Exhibition

Until Friday, October 29, from 10am to 3pm
Sarina Field of Dreams Parklands

See local artwork on display at the Sarina Art Gallery’s latest exhibition, before it ends on Friday. The free exhibition features artists Joy Hold, Pam Ellis, Katherin Murray, Jenny Tibbett, Susan Day, Tahra Carniato and Julie Anderson. https://bit.ly/3FWrlw3

3) Try the 5 – Walking/running

Until Sunday, October 31
Various locations
It’s the final week to participate in Try the 5! Don't forget to scan a QR code on the Try the 5 posters at the event for a chance to win $2000 in prizes! You can also use the hashtag #trythe5 on social media, with a photo/video of getting active in October, for a chance to win one of five $100 sporting vouchers. mackay.qld.gov.au/trythe5

> Friday, October 29, 7.30am
Mall walking at Caneland Central (meet at riverfront entry)

> Saturday, October 30, 7am
Mackay parkrun at Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens. Registration required, parkrun.com.au/register/

> Saturday, October 30, from 2pm to 4pm
Come and try track and field at Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex. Registration required, https://bit.ly/2Z7LhLV

> Saturday, October 30, 3pm
Mackay Charity Zombie Walk from Dudley Denny City Library to Bluewater Quay

> Sunday, October 31, 6am
Pioneer Valley Charity Fun Run at Melba House, Marian. Registration required, https://bit.ly/3n8VEai

4) Dads ‘n’ Bubs Baby Bounce

Saturday, October 30, from 10am
Dudley Denny City Library
The session features nursery rhymes, finger plays and action songs, and is a great opportunity for dads to do something special and beneficial with their little one. Please bring a small blanket to lay your child on as the library is unable to provide resources at this time. Bookings required via https://bit.ly/3n85b1j

5) Agro: Up Late

Saturday, October 30, from 7.30pm
MECC Auditorium
Grab your Samboy Chips, Troll Dolls, Tazo’s and your favourite Goosebumps book – Australia’s most iconic puppet is back, and he is naughtier than ever! After 30 years in the business, Agro and “the bald man under the table”, Jamie Dunn are back together and live on stage! Hosted by Big Brother’s Ben from Brisbane, get ready to stroll down memory lane and hear the naughtiest and funniest Aussie showbiz stories behind an accidental puppet that became an Aussie icon. https://bit.ly/3lHu5FN

6) Happy Hallowe’en at Greenmount Homestead

Sunday, October 31, from 9am to 1pm  
Greenmount Homestead
Take a terrifying tour, play some ghastly games, enjoy a batty book or two during story time, and bring home a haunted Hallowe'en craft. Don't forget to dress up in your best costume to have a crack at winning our costume contest! Coffee available on site; BYO picnic to enjoy on the homestead's spook-tacular grounds. Join if you dare for a Hallowe'en scare! https://bit.ly/3lJ2Ome

7) Giant inflatable fun

Sunday, October 31, from noon to 4pm
Mackay Aquatic Recreation Complex
Free weekend entry will continue during October! A giant inflatable croc will be set up in the 50m pool on Sunday from noon to 4pm with small floaties available all weekend. https://bit.ly/3AG7tcR

8) Sarina Sugar Shed Halloween Party

Sunday, October 31, from 3pm to 7pm
Sarina Sugar Shed, Field of Dreams Parklands
Enjoy twilight tours and trick or treating at the Sarina Sugar Shed from 3pm, with spooky twilight tours between 4pm and 6pm. Dress up in your spookiest Halloween costume to get half price tickets and free fairy floss! Adults can enjoy spooky cocktails, plus a frightening yummy café menu. Bookings are essential via sarinasugarshed.com.au/tours

10) The MECC and Shake & Stir Theatre Co. presents Animal Farm by George Orwell

Tuesday, November 2, from 7.30pm
The MECC Auditorium
Animal Farm, one of the most enduring political commentaries returns in a multi-award winning, critically acclaimed theatre production. George Orwell’s intensely powerful fairy tale allegorizes  and satirizes communist governments while illustrating with stunning simplicity how greed and power corrupts with devastating consequences to all who yield. Tickets available at  https://bit.ly/3n4Ts3M

Reminders:

John Williamson ‘Winding Back’ - Celebrating 50 years

Friday, November 5, from 7.30pm
The MECC Auditorium
Australian icon John Williamson, will celebrate his 50^th anniversary in the music industry as he ‘winds back’ on touring Australia. Don’t miss the opportunity to see him live in Mackay and hear songs that capture the beauty of the Australian landscape and its people. Book tickets via  https://bit.ly/30DY0GO

Collage and drawing with Jonathan McBurnie

Saturday, November 6, from 10.30am to 3.30pm
Foundation Gallery, Artspace Mackay
$25 per person
Learn the secrets of artist and cartoonist Jonathan McBurnie’s image making process. Skipping over roughs and sketches, McBurnie instead uses collage as a compositional process, allowing him to create visual mashups from comics, film, art and photography. Participants will plan a work using collage and then draw it, learning a fun and time-effective way of producing work that can easily incorporate the interests of the individual participant. The workshop begins with a free public artist’s talk from 10.30am with McBurnie discussing his latest exhibition BIRDLAND on show in the Foundation Gallery. Workshop participants will follow the talk with McBurnie’s practical image making experience in the workshop room from 11.30am. This workshop is for people aged 13 years and above. Book via artspacemackay.eventbrite.com