There’s lots to see, hear and experience in this week’s “Artsweek” column from HELEN MUSA.

QUEANBEYAN’S first Diwali Mela festival gets started at 6pm, November 18, at Queen Elizabeth II Park with cultural performances and food from local vendors.

CANBERRA Mandolin Orchestra has an afternoon of foot-tapping music, dancing demos and whirling around the dance floor with/without a partner – at the Folk Dance Hall, Hackett, November 19.

THE NFSA has the Iranian Film Festival Australia, films celebrating resilience and creativity in Iranian cinema November 17-19. Also, at the NFSA is “Australian New Wave: Snapshot,” November 18.

Stage

• THE inaugural Canberra Cabaret Festival will be at ACT Hub, Kingston, November 16-18.
• “THE Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]”, Canberra Rep Theatre, Acton, November 17- December 2.
• “PAUL McDermott Plus One – Blood Orange”, performed with Glenn Moorhouse, will be at The Playhouse, November 17.

Concerts

• NOT-for-profit samba percussion band Raio de Sol is celebrating its 10th year with a free street fiesta, “Pachanga”, featuring seven local bands and dance groups, as well as free public workshop. Kambri and ANU, November 18. The Australian Chamber Orchestra will be joined by piano virtuoso Polina Leschenko in “Chopin & the Mendelssohns”, Llewellyn Hall, November 18.
• “BLAMEY Street Big Band Swings The Beatles” concert is at Harmonie German Club, November 18.
• ART Song has Roland Peelman and AJ America performing “America Sings!”, Wesley Music Centre, November 19.
• FOUR WINDS is holding a Spring Youth Music Festival, the “Bunaan Garindja” Festival, (Dhurga for Youth Gathering), Barragga Bay, November 19.
• PIANIST Aaron Chew will present a concert dedicated to the works of Canberran composer Michael Dooley, featuring “Australian Landscapes” and “In An Asian Garden”, Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, November 22.
• CANBERRA Symphony Orchestra performs “Llewellyn Four: Living Green”, Llewellyn Hall, November 22-23.

Galleries

• NANCY Sever Gallery in Civic has “Marie Hagerty New Paintings”, November 19-December 17.
• MYRON Mykytiuch’s exhibition “Wood Spirits Unearthed” uses recycled and repurposed materials to produce a diverse range of wood art. Yarralumla Gallery and Brasserie, until December 10.
• Megalo Fundraising Auction, aimed to support a residency program, will end at Megalo headquarters in Kingston on November 17 with an artist party to celebrate and close the bidding.