Various

GUNNEDAH: IT's going to be a big day. Cushans Reserve will host the much-loved Raft and Craft Race, which starts at 9am on Australia Day. You can lounge around the pool for free and in the heat of the day settle in for a free screening of Babe at 1:30 pm at the Civic Cinema. There's also a citizenship ceremony and and evening dinner. LIVERPOOL PLAINS: There will be barbecues, dog races, cricket matches and fireworks to light up celebrations this year at Quirindi, Warrah Creek and Werris Creek. The Liverpool Plains ceremony starts 10am at the Royal Theatre Quirindi, Warrah Creek celebrations kick off at 9am at the recreation centre and Werris Creek's events start at 7pm at David Taylor Park. TAMWORTH: Thousands of people will pack up their picnic rugs and camping chairs and head to Bicentennial Park for a free concert. The Bushwackers (the headline act) will mark their 50th anniversary in style at the event.

Country music

Various

The country music festival might be off, but the fun is still on. There will be an informal, venue-led 10 days of music (timed for January 15 to 24 when the festival would have been on), with a number of Tamworth venues taking part. It will still be hot, the drinks will be flowing and the music will be tuned up. A great reason for a day out. Various, Tamworth and surrounds.

Laneway mural

At home

Checking out the new Maize Mill mural? Don't forget to look in on the new laneway art in the walkway from Conadilly Street through to Coles in Gunnedah. The work references community groups and Aboriginal culture, as well as the region's art and culture. See if you can spot the green plains, local fishing spots and, of course, Gunnedah's famous koalas in the work.

Water fun

At home + Road trip

The days are hot, it's time to cool off. There are plenty of great spots to duck in for a dip, with Lake Keepit, near Gunnedah, and Chaffey Dam near Tamworth, keeping locals (and tourists) alike in the swim this summer. You can also dip in your toes (or throw in a line) at the Warrabah National Park and Split Rock Dam, near Manilla, Sheba Dams, near Nundle and the Wooldridge Recreation and Fossicking Reserve Swimming Hole, outside Uralla. If there has been some rain, check out the waterfalls at the Horton Falls National Park, near Barraba.

Parkrun

Road Trip

Dubbo park run will celebrate its 250th event on January 23 with a green theme - green being the shirt colour for the 250 milestone. So if you're planning on running, dig out that green outfit (perhaps channeling a little bit of Ireland in the process). As usual, the run will start at 8am. If you want to join in, head to Sandy Beach Park, Dubbo to cruise (on foot) around the scenic course along the Macquarie River and Tracker Riley Cycleway.

art @ Tamworth

Nearby

Three exhibitions will keep you engaged (and out of the heat) these summer holidays. Seed Stitch Contemporary Textile Award 2020 features the contemporary textile work of 25 finalists in materials from waste to silk, touching on themes including AI, the environment and COVID-19. Continuing the textile theme, Ellen Howell's Never Ending Thread mixes age-old traditions with modern block-printing techniques to tell stories through weaving, drawing and dyeing. Artists Gabrielle Collins and Sandra McMahon's work is showed in a joint exhibition called One Way or Another. The first two exhibitions are on until February 31, with the third until January 31. Tamworth Regional Gallery, 466 Peel Street Tamworth

Country Markets

Plan ahead

Looking for some local goodies? Then put the monthly Gunnedah Country Markets in your calendar. The next one is February 20. On the third Saturday of the month Wolseley Park comes alive with all things handmade, home grown and lovingly crafted by locals. The event is run by the Two Rivers Arts Council, with profits going towards an annual art show. Stalls are set up from 6am and the fun winds down mid-afternoon. Wolseley Park, Conadilly Street, Gunnedah, third Saturday of the month.

Silo Art Trail

At home + Road trip

What began as a small project has blossomed into a national trail - and there are works to be seen on our doorstep. At Barraba you'll find a farmer divining for water on the silos on Manilla Road. At Tamworth the water tank at the Oxley Lookout (on Flagstaff hill) has been painted with a cockatoo. Gunnedah is home to the Military Water Tower Museum art which pays tribute to Vietnam vets from Australia and New Zealand. You'll find it at Anzac Park, South St. The latest addition, on Gunnedah Maize Mills, features the poet Dorothea Mackellar. The 29-metre tall mural has a stanza from My Country and a horse-drawn wagon, maize, a windmill and farming equipment on the northern side of the silo.

NERAM

Road Trip

There is plenty to keep you occupied for hours at the New England Regional Art Museum this summer. Kurt Sorenson's Things Must Have an End explores crimes, crimes and mysteries through photographs, 15 local artists showcase the elements of The New England landscape that inspire them and Summer School looks at the history of artists taking part in the University of New England summer school program. NERAM, 106 - 114 Kentucky Street, Armidale.

ART WORD PLACE

At home

This exhibition has already won fans after touring last year and it now stops in Gunnedah, with local artists Anne Bell and Maree Kelly featuring. What will you see? The exhibition looks at the interplay between text and images, with 18 writers creating short poems about their home landscapes and then artists creating works based on the words. Explore this unique journey at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery at 81 Chandos St until January 31. Book tickets online.