Get down and pumpkin

Just realised the Collector Village Pumpkin Festival is on this Sunday. The wheelbarrow race is definitely worth watching. Will have to ask them to run a 'best pumpkin soup' competition next year - I need me a Collector Village Pumpkin Festival prize ribbon...

German films and brain food

Thursday 3 - Sunday 6 May: German Film Festival. Ecstatic celebrations when I realise it's coming to Canberra for the first time. Crushing lows when I read further and find out that we're getting the serious, moody Germans, not the lighthearted fun ones (plus half of the films are at times I can't see them). However, it's still in German. Best option looks like a doco about the Alps.

Saturday 5 May: Handmade Market with an 'everything fashion' theme, at the National Convention Centre.

11-20 May: Canberra International Music Festival. Strangely much less contemporary music than in previous years, but still includes a series in some spectacular venues and a few interesting performances - see my picks below. Kudos too for the gorgeous designs used in the program and on the website.

Tuesday 15 May: Naturally Obsessed, a free film at the National Library about three graduate students and their ambition to become scientists. Put on by the US Embassy.

Friday 18 May: Blue Poles concert at the National Gallery of Australia. Jazz-ish group playing a world premier by Miroslav Bukovsky inspired by the Jackson Pollock painting. Concert starts at 6pm, tickets $39/$35.

Sunday 20 May: Sounding the Courtyards walking tour/CIMF event with concerts at the National Film and Sound Archives and at New Acton, plus architectural talks. I've done a couple of the Acton Walkways tours and they're highly recommended.

Friday 25 - Sunday 27 May: Eurovision! Straight from Azerbaijan to you. All the preview videos are online now, in case you want to spoil the surprise and start planning your votes... I'm just assuming the SBS schedule will be similar to last year, but check closer to the time.

Later:

• 9-11 June: Merimbula Jazz Festival (starring In Full Swing)
• 25 and 26 September: Mnozil Brass in Melbourne and Sydney (check out their clips...)