Geelong is set to host a diverse range of events this week, from solemn Anzac Day commemorations to vibrant art exhibitions and the Geelong Pride Film Festival. Here is your comprehensive guide to what's happening across the region.
Anzac Day Commemorations and Sports
St Joseph's Football and Netball Club Anzac Day Clash
For the 17th consecutive year, St Joseph's Football and Netball Club will face off against South Barwon Football and Netball Club in the annual Anzac Day match on April 25. The family-friendly event is held at the corner of Finchaven Street and Edinburgh Avenue in Herne Hill. The day features junior and senior netball and football games, including the first senior match under St Joey's new light towers at 5pm. A Last Post ceremony will take place at 12pm. Full canteen barbecues and two bars will operate throughout the day. For more information, visit www.stjoeys.com.
Anzac Day Service and March – Barwon Heads
The Barwon Heads RSL will host Anzac Day commemorations on April 25. A march of veterans will commence at 8.45am along Hitchcock Avenue, starting at the Bridge Road roundabout and concluding at the Barwon Heads Community Centre. A commemoration service will follow at 9am at the community centre, located on the corner of Hitchcock Avenue and Ozone Road. This event is free and open to the public.
Anzac Day Drive-in Movie Night
Geelong Showgrounds at Gate 2, 79 Breakwater Road in Breakwater, will host a special Anzac Day drive-in movie night on April 25 from 5pm to 7.30pm. The event features a free screening of the classic family film Babe. Gates open at 5pm, with the movie starting after dark. A food truck will be onsite. If the drive-in area fills, guests are welcome to bring chairs and blankets to enjoy the movie from the front viewing area. Spaces are limited, so early arrival is recommended.
Art Exhibitions
Kirsten Roberts Shadows Exhibition
The Lon Retreat Gallery at 25 Gill Road in Point Lonsdale is hosting Kirsten Roberts' solo exhibition Shadows, open daily from 9am to 4pm until May 17. Kirsten's art explores the quiet power of stillness, inspired by her personal journey after developing a debilitating neurological condition in 2019. Her work examines what remains when identity and structures that once defined life are stripped away. The pieces are inspired by the rich colours of Lon Retreat, from lichen along the beach path to banksia flowers, the shifting ocean, and the roving sun. For more details, visit lonretreat.com.au.
Becoming – Transformations in Glass
Untether Gallery at 5/132 Little Malop Street in Geelong presents Becoming – Transformations in Glass, an exhibition featuring glass artworks by Jude Walker, Gwyn Wise, Glenys Hargreaves, Kaylene Axelson, Chris Gray, Jan Verouden, and Nat Ireland. The exhibition also includes a range of 2D visual art from selected artists. It is open on April 24 from 11am to 6pm and April 25 from 12pm to 4pm. Admission is free.
Jeff Raglus – Free Jazz
Boom Gallery at 41 Pakington Street in Geelong West is showcasing a solo exhibition by local artist and musician Jeff Raglus, titled Free Jazz. The exhibition runs daily from 10am to 4pm until May 16 and is free to attend. Visitors can experience wooden heads, theoretical landscapes, lowbrow UFO encounters, and cosmic country settings where hills and boulders have feelings and come to life in carved 3D form. Jeff Raglus is a pop art painter who blurs the line between graphic and fine art. An opening celebration and meet-and-greet with Jeff will be held on April 23 from 5.30pm.
Yoko Georgiou, 'Flow'
Boom Gallery also presents a solo exhibition by Yoko Georgiou, titled Flow, running on various dates until May 16. The exhibition explores the flow of water, air, conversation, and times, with the universe existing in flux and continuous change. Georgiou's works are woven into woollen pieces, pressing pause on moments in time. An opening celebration will take place on April 23 from 5.30pm. Admission is free.
Luisa La Fornara and Jessica Sanzaro – Retrospective and Connection
Untether Gallery will host an exhibition by Luisa La Fornara and Jessica Sanzaro from April 30 to May 16. The exhibition features mono prints, paintings, textile, and fibre art. Interconnected bloodlines join the two artists' works, derived from expressionist methods and inspired by their surroundings. The show delves into the past, reflecting on previous works to move forward, exploring the human condition and universal experiences. Admission is free.
Music and Performances
A Book of Hours
Platform Arts at 60 Little Malop Street in Geelong will present A Book of Hours on April 24 from 7pm to 8pm. Tickets are $30. This multimedia experience combines animation and screen dance with a live musical performance, inspired by the ways we spend our time. Created by composer Kate Neal, filmmaker Sal Cooper, and choreographer Gerard Van Dyck, and performed by the contemporary classical ensemble Rubiks Collective, the show includes a quartet for toothbrushes, vegetables swirling in stop-motion, and wind-up toys whirring across a stage full of instruments.
Riffs and Reckoning
The Barwon Club Hotel at 509 Moorabool Street in Geelong will host Riffs and Reckoning on April 24 from 7.30pm to 11.30pm. Tickets range from $10 to $15. Headlining the night is Bendigo's Lost In The Past, joined by Geelong co-headliners 4Days, with fellow Bendigo heavy hitters Two Steps Forward opening the show. This event promises a loud, high-energy night for music fans.
Lunch with Kym Dillon – Australian Youth Classical Music Competition
Truffleduck at 66 Hyland Street in Fyansford will host a lunch with local composer and musician Kym Dillon on April 29 from 12pm to 2pm. Tickets are $75 and include a superb two-course lunch with a complimentary drink on arrival. Kym will discuss her journey through music as part of an awareness event for the Australian Youth Classical Music Competition.
Cosentino Tricked – An Evening of Wonder
Geelong Arts Centre at 50 Little Malop Street will present Cosentino Tricked – An Evening of Wonder on April 30 from 7.30pm to 9pm. Tickets are $95.10. Australia's greatest illusionist, Cosentino, takes audiences on an unforgettable journey with his brand-new production, featuring breathtaking grand stage illusions, mind-boggling close-up wonders, and heart-stopping escapes. This immersive theatre experience is suitable for all ages.
Film and Festivals
Geelong Pride Film Festival Opening Night – Rainbow Shorts
The Geelong Arts Centre – The Open House at 50 Little Malop Street will host the opening night of the 2026 Geelong Pride Film Festival on April 30 from 6.30pm to 8pm. Tickets are $12. The evening includes a welcome reception followed by a collection of uplifting short films from across the LGBTQI+ Rainbow spectrum. The fabulous Dolly Diamond will serve as MC for the evening, and she also features in the short film Big Johnny from director Jeanie Kane.
Community Events
St Leonards Memorial Hall Centenary Celebration
St Leonards Memorial Hall at 1342 Murradoc Road in St Leonards will celebrate its 100-year centenary on April 25 from 11am to 2pm and April 26 from 10am to 2pm. The free event includes fascinating memorabilia, historic photos, local stories, live jazz music, and free morning tea.
Pram Walk and Talk
Parks Victoria will host a free toddler-friendly event at Serendip Sanctuary, 100 Windermere Road in Lara, on April 28 from 9.30am to 11am. Engage the senses while connecting with nature, learning about the sanctuary's unique plants and wildlife. The event includes an interpretive tour on a pram-friendly walking track, approximately 1km and taking 60 minutes. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to sit and connect with other local families. Bookings are essential.
Computer Basics – Part Two
Newcomb Library at the corner of Wilsons Road and Bellarine Highway in Newcomb will host a free session on computer basics on April 28 from 10am to 11am. This straightforward session is designed for beginners to gain confidence in using computers in everyday life.
Geelong All Abilities Sports and Family Expo
The Geelong All Abilities Sports Hub at St Albans Reserve, 207 St Albans Road in Breakwater, will host a free family expo on April 30 from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Designed for families with children aged 1 to 5, the event features inclusive sports activities, opportunities to connect with local family services, and information about available supports. Children can participate in fun, inclusive sports activities run by the Geelong All Abilities Sports Club.
Literary Events
Bellarine and Surf Coast Global Book Crawl
Surf Coast bookstores and The Book Bird at Shop 1 Pakington Village, 111 Pakington Street in Geelong West, will participate in the Global Book Crawl on April 25 and 26 from 9.30am to 6pm. This free event brings together bookstores and book lovers from around the world to celebrate local literature, community, and culture. Participants visit multiple shops, connecting with local book culture and discovering hidden gems. Participating bookstores are listed on the website: geelongaustralia.com.au/events.
