5 free or cheap events to check out his August

August – a bit of a weird month of the year, isn’t it?

We’re not quite in Spring, not quite out of the winter woods, there’s no public holidays, and everyone’s in a bit of limbo waiting for warmer weather and the festive season to commence…

To that we say nay! Turns out there are plenty of fun things to do this coming August, and in the spirit of making things even easier for you (and on your wallet), here’s five-and-a-bit upcoming shindigs that will cost you barely a cent to check out.

Avon Descent Family Fun Days, Various

After an (understandable) year off in 2020, the areas surrounding Northam, the Avon River and the Swan Rivers will come alive this August with the return of The Avon Descent. Traversing 124km across two days (August 14 and 15), this iconic Western Australian event will be an action-packed couple of days filled with powerboats and paddlers navigating from Northam, down through Toodyay, Emu Falls and Bells Rapids before winding up in Bayswater.

And while it’s a wonderful spectator sport in its own right, not all the action takes place out on the water! This year there’ll be a wonderful opportunity for families and the community to get involved at one of a series of free Family Fun Days, taking place across four destinations over the weekend with something for everyone. The star attractions would have to be the huge Toodyay International Food Festival & Family Fun Day on Saturday the 14th along with two grand finale events on the Sunday – City Of Swan Avon Descent Festival and City Of Bayswater Avon Descent Finish Line Family Fun Day. 

For more information on each event head to the Avon Descent Family Fun Days WEBSITE.

Made-It Markets, Whiteman Park

A regular in the spectacular surrounds of Whiteman Park, MiLi’s famous Made-It Markets return Sunday 29 August from 10am-4pm, showcasing over 70 stalls filled with handmade arts and crafts, fashion, gifts, sweet treats and foodie delights. In addition to the markets, WOOF at Whiteman will also be on hand for a best in show selection of pet-related goods and services.

It’s free entry with free parking, and there’ll be plenty to keep the kids occupied with food trucks, activities and entertainment galore with all that Whiteman Park has to offer.

Ballooning Championships & Festival, Northam

For something a little different, why not make a beeline for Northam at the end of the month and be a part of the National Ballooning Championships & Festival, making its return after successful events in 2015 and 2017. It kicks off Saturday 28 August and runs until September 4, when the Shire Of Northam will be throwing a spectacular array of activities including the Elevate Festival; ‘Balloon Glow’; a history of ballooning display at the Visitor Centre; a photographic gallery; pop-up ballooning shop and more. Get more info HERE.

Yates Tulip Festival, Araluen

One of the most spectacular events on the WA calendar all year, Araluen Botanic Park will once again come alive this Spring for the annual Yates Tulip Festival, featuring over 150,000 tulips in bloom kicking off from August 20. Araluen is already a wonderful place to visit all year, but it really turns into something special over Spring with food trucks, treasure hunts, performers, guided walking tours, canvas art classes and much more.

Entry to the park is only $10, and you can go on specially-guided tours for just $8! Get all the info you need and book HERE.

Brickworks Exhibition, Fremantle

An epic new lego exhibition has dropped anchor in Fremantle’s Maritime Museum – Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO Bricks. Discover the stories of eight world famous shipwrecks revealed in stunning model detail courtesy of Ryan “The Brickman”  McNaught. Working with expert maritime archaeologists, Brickman has recreated large-scale LEGO models of ships like WA’s Batavia, the Titanic, the Terror, Erebus and more.

The detailed and immersive exhibition will go on a deep dive into the voyages and souls aboard the ships, how they met their watery graves and the underwater detectives who find them. On now until early next year, it’s free for kids under 5, $12.50 under 14 and $15 above that – get more info and book HERE.