The Red Bull Air Race comes to town again, and is happening above the Swan River in the city on 1 and 2 November 2008.

Qualifying rounds are held on Saturday and the race itself is on Sunday. There’s also plenty of other entertainment throughout both days, with gliders, skydivers and other fly bys.

On Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday you’ll already see the planes flying around for training.

The temporary runway is on Langley Park, and you can do a pit walk there on Saturday between 9.30 and 10.30am.

Viewing the race is free, with best viewing from the South Perth foreshore, Sir James Mitchell park. There will be plenty to see there, including screens and commentary.

There is also ticketed Grandstand seating, see the Red Bull Air Race website for hospitality packages.

See the Red Bull website for further details including the specific program.

The Avon Descent is a two day, 134km race down the Avon and Swan Rivers (Northam to Perth) in a variety of paddle and power craft.
There are numerous spectator viewing points, and some festivals in the towns along the way and start and finish spots!

An overview…. see the Avon Descent website for much more detail (such as access, parking, shuttle busses).

FRIDAY
Northam’s Avon River Festival – 6pm till late

SATURDAY
Toodyay International Food Festival – 10am to 4pm

Best Vantage Points Day One

Start Line – Northam – Ppower craft from 8.00am and paddlers from 8.50am.
Katrine Bridge
Extracts Weir – Power craft from about 8.30am, paddlers from 10.30am.
Duidgee Park, Toodyay – excellent viewing point, commentary, Food Festival from 10 to 4.
West Toodyay Bridge and Ti Trees checkpoint
Wetherall Reserve
Finish Day 1 – Cobblers Pool Campsite

SUNDAY
City of Swan’s Family Fun Day – Sandalford Wines, Caversham – 11am to 3pm
City of Belmont’s Family Fun Day -Garvey Park, Fauntleroy Avenue, Ascot – 11.30am to 3.30pm
City of Bayswater’s Finish Line Event – Riverside Gardens, Bayswater – 11am to 6pm

Best Vantage Points Day Two
Start Day 2 – Cobbler Pool -7:00am for paddle craft – 12:00pm for power craft.
Emu Falls – Paddlers from 7.30am, power craft from 12.15 pm.
Walyunga National Park – Paddlers from 10am, power craft from 1pm.
Bells Rapid – most popular. Shuttle bus from Brigadoon Equestrian Centre. Entry is $10 per vehicle.
Sandalford Winery – City of Swan Picnic in the Park with lots of entertaiment – Paddlers from about 11.30am and Power Boats from about 1.10pm.
Finish Line – Riverside Gardens, Bayswater – from 11.30am – lots of entertainment, screens, ‘community day’. Presentations commence at 4.00pm in the main marquee arena!

Avon Descent website

The highlights of what’s on in Perth, Western Australia, from Friday 28 December 2007 to Sunday 6 January 2008.

Also check out, ‘What’s on in December‘, the Perth Event Calendar for other events and please submit events that I’m missing. Have a good week!

MISCELLANEOUS

Separate posts about New Years Eve 2007 and New Years Day 2008.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race starts in Fremantle on New Years Day, from midday. See the New Years Day article.

Hyundai Hopman Cup XX at Burswood Dome from Saturday 29 December to Friday 4 January

XXXX GOLD Beach Cricket at Scarborough Beach on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 January

Outdoor cinema at various venues

MUSIC

Chuck Love at Ambar Niteclub on Friday 28 December 2007

Rollercoaster Festival (Hilltop Hoods, You Am I, Shihad, Jebediah etc) in Mandurah on Saturday 29 December 2007

Vanilla Ice at Metro City on Sunday 30 December 2007

Separate post about new years eve events 2007! Some quick mentions: Jebediah and more at Amplifier, End of Fashon, Dalles Crane and more at Gloucester Park, Hoodoo Gurus and The Stems at Mulberry on Swan.

New Years Day 2008 – Perth Cup, Hed Kandi@Leederville Hotel, djs at The Deen.

Southbound Festival in Busselton from 4 to 6 January 2008 – Kings of Leon, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Groove Armada, The Waifs etc etc

Daryl Braithwaite & Mental As Anything – Friday 4 January at Mundaring Weir Hotel

Amon Amarth at Amplifier on Saturday 5 January 2008

Steve Poltz at the Fly By Night on Saturday

VANS Boys of Summer Tour featuring SILVERSTEIN at Capitol on Saturday

Summadayze Festival at Supreme Court Gardens on Sunday 6 January 2008

The Special Beat feat Neville Staples at Newport Hotel on Sunday

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at Metropolis Fremantle on Sunday 6 January 2008

For other gigs check out the calendar and this comprehensive gig guide. Also, browse the Perth Concerts List occasionally for future gigs, I don’t write separate posts for many of them!

THEATRE

The Magic Pudding by Prompt Corner in King’s Park (for children) from 4 to 20 January 2008

The Red Bull Air Race World Series is in it’s third year, and this is the second time it concludes in Perth over the Swan River.
Qualifying rounds take place on Saturday 3 November and the final is on Sunday 4 November, 2007.

The Red Bull Air Race is an exciting competition in which the world’s most talented pilots are up against each other in a race based on speed, precision and skill. The competition features a dynamic new discipline of flying, called ‘air racing’ where the objective is to navigate a challenging race course in the sky, in the fastest possible time.

Best free viewing
Once again Perth people can see the race up close for free, with the best vantage point being Sir James Mitchell Park, South Perth. There will be commentary, music, on-ground side acts and big screens. This year there will also be audio commentary on the Perth Esplanade foreshore near Langley Park (though Langley Park itself is the airport!).

Grandstand tickets
This year there will also be grandstands, for which you can buy tickets through Ticketek.
One day passes available for Saturday from midday ($50) and Sunday from 10am ($99).
Two day passes are $132.

Once again there will be aviation acts to support the race, and a static air display known as the Air Race Expo.

You will also get the opportunity to see the aircraft and pilots up close during the Pit Lane Walk, on Saturday 3 November (timing to be confirmed, but it will obviously be quite early in the day).

For more details, including the program and info for local residents, check out the Red Bull Air Race website!

The highlights of what’s on in Perth, Western Australia this week(end), from Monday 20 to Sunday 26 August 2007.

Also check out what’s on for all of August 2007 and the Perth Event Calendar for other events and please submit events that I’m missing. Have a good week! – Simone

p.s. I’ve added a heap of concerts to the Perth Concerts List this week (more than usual!) Make sure you occasionally browse the list, as I don’t always write separate posts for each one (there’s too many!).

VARIOUS: FESTIVALS, CIRCUS, COMEDY, EXPOS

National Science Week from Saturday 18 to Sunday 26 August

The Scitech Comedy Debate at the Playhouse Theatre on Thursday 23 August

Balingup Medieval Festival (3 hrs south of Perth) in Balingup, on Saturday and Sunday

Treasured Craft Creations at Claremont Showgrounds from Friday to Sunday

City to Surf from Perth CBD to City Beach on Sunday

Cirque du Soleil – Varekai, Grand Chapeteau on The Esplanade – from 17 August to 16 September 2007

It’s Yates Springtime at Araluen Botanic Park, Roleystone till 1 October

Egyptian Antiquities from the Lourve at the Art Gallery from Saturday 21 July to 28 October. (Anton wrote a great post about his visit)

National Treasures from Australia’s Great Libraries – Free exhibition in State Library, daily till 26 August.

City of Perth Winter Arts Festival from 1 June to 31 August

MUSIC

Down to Nothing at HQ on 21 August and Rosemount Hotel on Wednesday 22 August

Mental As Anything dinner and show at Friends Restaurant on Wednesday

Bob Dylan at Burswood Dome on Thursday 23 August 2007

Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen Tribute) at Breakwater Tavern, Hillarys on Thursday

Kill Devil Hills and Schvendes at Rosemount Hotel on Friday 24 August

Elvis Tribute Concert (Garry Wesley) at Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 25 August 07

Shout Out Louds at Rosemount Hotel on Saturday

Broad at Perth Concert Hall on Sunday 26 August 2007 (Deborah Conway, Anne McCue, Sally Seltman, Jade MacRae and Abbe May)

For other gigs check out the calendar and this comprehensive gig guide.

THEATRE/OPERA/ETC

The Vagina Monologues at Hackett Hall from 17 August to 1 September

Rigoletto at His Majesty’s Theatre from 14 to 25 August

Mark Storen’s A Drunken Cabaret at Subiaco Arts Centre from 13 to 25 August

A Coward In Vegas at Old Mill Theatre from 15 to 25 August

Etcetera etcetera at PICA from 21 to 25 August

Don Quixote by Youth Ballet WA at Burswood Theatre from 22 to 25 August

Respect, The Musical at Regal Theatre from 25 August to 23 September

East (by Steven Berkoff of Trainspotting and Snatch) at The Blue Room from 25 to 31 August

Danny Green takes on Puerto Rico’s Manny Siaca in an IBO world title elimination bout at Challenge Stadium on Wednesday 30 May 2007, from 5pm.

In what promises to be one of his toughest bouts yet, Green 23-3 (21 KO`s) tackles the highly rated and KO specialist Siaca 20-6 (18 KO`s). Siaca who fought for the world title on 6 occasions, is well known for taking Anthony Mundine’s WBA super middle weight world title in May 2004.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster, for between $48 and $135.

See the official Danny Green website for more info.

The world’s biggest men and women’s surfing World Qualifying Series (WQS) surfing event will be held at Surfers Point, Margaret River from Monday 26 March to Sunday 1 April 2007.

Come along and be part of the excitement of the world’s biggest six-star surfing tournament. See top international and Australian surfers compete on our world-famous Margaret River surf break.

There will be heats all week, the women’s final on Saturday and the men’s final on Sunday. See below for a brief overview of the program (including entertainment at Settler’s Tavern), and see the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro website for all the details.

Wednesday 28 March from 10am – official opening ceremony with the Wardan People

Thursday 29 March from 8pm –Little Birdy at Settlers Tavern

Friday 30 March from 8pm – reggae and funk band Veeva Feeva at Margarets Beach Resort and The Sunshine Brothers (reggae and soul) at Settlers Tavern.

Saturday 31 March – Women’s Finals and Presentations, and from 4pm local bands playing live at the main stage. From 8pm, Ash Grunwald (folk, rock, blues) at Settlers Tavern.

Sunday 1 April – Men’s Finals, closing ceremony and presentations during the day. Matt Gresham (blues, reggae, roots) at Settlers Tavern from 8pm.

Aussies 2007, the Australian Surf Life Saving Championshops are about to begin! It’s all happening from Tuesday 20 to Sunday 25 March at Scarborough Beach!

With more than 6,000 athletes, from more than 200 clubs around Australia, competing in 290 events, it’s the largest sporting event of its type in the world and is uniquely Australian. Events include surf races, surf ski paddling, board paddling, beach events including sprints, and the world famous surf boat races.

The newly built 5000-seat amphitheatre will provide the perfect setting to watch the action along the shore and in the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean

See the Aussies 2007 website for all the details!

There’s a webcam looking over Scarborough Beach (North), but I don’t know if you’ll be able to see anything on it.

My weekly summary with the highlights of what’s on in Perth, Western Australia, this week; Monday 19 to Sunday 25 March 2007.

Many of the events below are free, some are under $20 and others you will need to book tickets, so please always click on the links to see more information.

Festivals etc:

Subiaco’s Wild West Comedy Festival begins on Wednesday 21 March and goes till 1 April 2007 with world class acts!!

The City of Melville International Film Festival is on from Tuesday till Saturday.

City Food and Wine Month – special offers and events

The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships are held at Scarborough Beach from 20 to 25 March 2007, Aussies 2007!

Harmony Week is on until 21 March with a lot of free events.

South Perth Fiesta is on till 1 April 2007. Kiddy Kapers is a free event held at Neil McDougall Park in South Perth on sunday from 10am to 1pm.

Active Together Festival is held at Herb Graham Recreation Centre in Mirrabooka on Sunday from 11am to 3pm. All sorts of activities, rides, entertainment, free City of Stirling event!

It’s Conservation Week from 17 to 25 March, and there’s over 50 events around WA.

The V8 Supercar Championships are held at Barbagallo Raceway in Wanneroo from Friday to Sunday 25 March 2007.

Performing Arts:

Subiaco’s Wild West Comedy Festival, 21 March to 1 April 2007. This weeks main acts are Flacco and Marty Murphy and Jimeoin!

Imperial Russian Dance Company’s Flying Tzaars at Burswood Theatre, 24 March 2007

Henry V opens at UWA’s iconic New Fortune Theatre on 9 March and is on till 24 March.

The Laramie Project by Black Swan Theatre Company is on at PICA from 16 March to 5 April.

The Impact World Tour comes to Perth with shows all over the metro area in March, and all free (it’s sponsored by local businesses, individuals and churches), sharing a positive message of hope and destiny.

It’s on at the Don – performing arts festival at The Don in Thornlie.

Check out one of the weekly comedy nights!

Check out all the outdoor cinemas at this post!

Music:

Lady Sovereign at Club Capitol on Tuesday 20 March 2007

God Forbid perform at the Amplifier Bar, also on 20 March.

The Mars Volta at Metro City, Wednesday, 21 March 2006 – cancelled at last minute due to illness

Daryl Braithwaite performs at the Woodvale Tavern on Wednesday 21 March.

Jazz in the Park in Stirk Park, Kalamunda from 6pm on Thursdays

Vin Garbutt at Fly By Night on 23 March 07

Eric Bibb with Danny Thompson at the Fly By Night on Saturday 24 March 2007

Al Jarreau and George Benson for An Evening on the Green at King’s Park, 24 March 2007

Cancelled – D&D Ball at Adventure World on 24 March 2007

Hearing Aid Family Concert (Rogue Traders, Ross Wilson, Courtney Murphy etc) at the Supreme Court Gardens on 25 March 2007

Simon London and the Spirits perform free at Banks Reserve in the Town of Vincent for their summer concert series, on Sunday from 3.30pm.

Red Shell Storm perform at Wilkinson Homestead in Gosnells on Sunday from 5.30pm, a free summer concert.

Free music every Sunday: Freo Arts Centre courtyard music, and Sunset@Subi in Subiaco.

For other gigs check out this comprehensive gig guide.

Other:

Freo Dog’s Day Out is held at Dick Lawrence Oval in Beaconsfield on Sunday from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

Ballajura Rotary Annual Fair is held on Sunday from 10am to 3.30pm in Kingfisher Park.

Bike in the Valley is a family bike ride organised in Whiteman Park, with a $3 sausage sizzle afterwards. Sunday from 9am.

The Fremantle Village Art Markets are held from 10am to 5.30pm every Thursday until the end of April. This week the markets will be part of Harmony Week celebrations.

Joondalup Sunset Markets are held from 6pm on Friday. From 7pm there is free music on Reid Promenade.

The Mandjar Markets are held at the Waterfront in Mandurah every Sunday from 1 to 5pm until the end of April.