HERE’s a chance to sing along with the best!

THE High Court’s Christmas concert on Sunday, December 21 will be a line-up of local favourites including singers Toby Cole, Louise Page, Helen Swan, pianist Phillipa Candy and trumpeter Zach Raffan with The Trumpet Club, to create a program of Christmas delights. 1.30pm to 3.30pm, FREE event. Building on last year’s concerts, they’re responding to requests for more audience participation and this concert is billed as ‘a very special event’.

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BUDDING Theatre has “Unwrap Me,” ten short plays each beginning with a character entering carrying a Christmas present, Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre until December 20. Director Kirsty Budding promises domestic chaos, family deceit, bickering housemates and Christmas lunch sabotage. Proceeds go to Doctors without Borders and World Animal Protection. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

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DESIGNCRAFT, the Craft ACT Shop, is occupying a vacant shopfront in Lonsdale Street Traders as well as the retail shop at the Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre in the North Building, Civic. Both shops are jammed with highly designed and beautifully-made home wares and soft furnishings, jewellery, accessories and more. There’s guaranteed to be something for everyone and we’d love to see you in store before we close for the year! The Craft ACT pop-up shop at Lonsdale Street Traders will be open until Saturday December 20 with the Craft ACT shop open until Friday, December 19.

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GALLERY@BCS presents “Eclectic Mix,” an eclectic mix of handicrafts and abstract art pieces by Felicity Spellman and Michelle Sims, at the gallery in Belconnen Community Centre, Swanson Crt, Belconnen until January 9, 9am-4:30pm Mon-Fri. There are intricately woven woollen scarves, ‘interesting’ wooden door stops and decorated altered jars and more.

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“BEHIND the Lines 2014,” where Australian cartoonists line up to immortalise our political superheroes is on again. Political Cartoonist of the Year is Mark Knight, of the “Herald Sun”. At the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House until November next year.

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QUEENSLAND singer/songwriter Jessie Ryan-Allan will be performing at Smith’s Alternative in Alinga Street with local band Myriad Ways, tomorrow, December 19 from 7:30pm. Tickets at the door.

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IT’S Christmas stockroom clearance at Aarwun Gallery, 11 Federation Square, O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls, 10am-5pm, and 7 days. They have a selection of treasures and they are priced to go! Including works by Pro Hart, Max Mannix, David Bromley, Robert Pengilley, Ian Lakey, Velia Newman, Steven Roberts and more.

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“SOLID Ground,” land and skyscapes by Braidwood artist Kate Carruthers, is showing at X Gallery, 32 Gibraltar Street, Bungendore, until February 9. It’s her third show in this space.

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“THE Gospel According to John Illuminated,” an exhibition of original watercolour paintings by Fiona Pfennigwerth, can be seen until January 11 in the Visitor Centre Gallery at The Australian National Botanic Gardens, 9.30am – 4.30pm, free.

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RIFF-rock trio Dallas Frasca have just released their brand new single and video, “You Are Beautiful” and will be launching it in Canberra at 8pm tonight, Thursday December 18, at Transit Bar with Renegade Peacock and Tonk. Bookings to moshtix.com.au/v2/event/dallas-frasca/73540

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CHILDREN have taken over another part of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House with “Play Up,” a fun exhibition that looks at the Rights of the Child by placing childrens’ voices at the heart of the experience. Children explored the idea that mischief can be a powerful form of protest, and created photographic, video and graffiti works which are displayed in the exhibition. Play Up also has the museum’s ‘Occupy Small Street’ collection, toy figurines with political placards created by visitors during Enlighten 2014. Daily 9am–5pm, with the current theme The Right to Play on display until June 2015.