The Avon Descent is a two day, 134km race down the Avon and Swan Rivers (Northam to Perth) in a variety of paddle and power craft.
There are numerous spectator viewing points, and some festivals in the towns along the way and start and finish spots!

An overview…. see the Avon Descent website for much more detail (such as access, parking, shuttle busses).

FRIDAY
Northam’s Avon River Festival - 6pm till late

SATURDAY
Toodyay International Food Festival – 10am to 4pm

Best Vantage Points Day One

Start Line - Northam - Ppower craft from 8.00am and paddlers from 8.50am.
Katrine Bridge
Extracts Weir - Power craft from about 8.30am, paddlers from 10.30am.
Duidgee Park, Toodyay - excellent viewing point, commentary, Food Festival from 10 to 4.
West Toodyay Bridge and Ti Trees checkpoint
Wetherall Reserve
Finish Day 1 - Cobblers Pool Campsite

SUNDAY
City of Swan’s Family Fun Day - Sandalford Wines, Caversham - 11am to 3pm
City of Belmont’s Family Fun Day -Garvey Park, Fauntleroy Avenue, Ascot - 11.30am to 3.30pm
City of Bayswater’s Finish Line Event - Riverside Gardens, Bayswater - 11am to 6pm

Best Vantage Points Day Two
Start Day 2 - Cobbler Pool -7:00am for paddle craft - 12:00pm for power craft.
Emu Falls - Paddlers from 7.30am, power craft from 12.15 pm.
Walyunga National Park - Paddlers from 10am, power craft from 1pm.
Bells Rapid - most popular. Shuttle bus from Brigadoon Equestrian Centre. Entry is $10 per vehicle.
Sandalford Winery - City of Swan Picnic in the Park with lots of entertaiment - Paddlers from about 11.30am and Power Boats from about 1.10pm.
Finish Line - Riverside Gardens, Bayswater - from 11.30am - lots of entertainment, screens, ‘community day’. Presentations commence at 4.00pm in the main marquee arena!

Avon Descent website

The highlights of what’s on in Perth, Western Australia, from Friday 28 December 2007 to Sunday 6 January 2008.

Also check out, ‘What’s on in December‘, the Perth Event Calendar for other events and please submit events that I’m missing. Have a good week!

MISCELLANEOUS

Separate posts about New Years Eve 2007 and New Years Day 2008.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race starts in Fremantle on New Years Day, from midday. See the New Years Day article.

Hyundai Hopman Cup XX at Burswood Dome from Saturday 29 December to Friday 4 January

XXXX GOLD Beach Cricket at Scarborough Beach on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 January

Outdoor cinema at various venues

MUSIC

Chuck Love at Ambar Niteclub on Friday 28 December 2007

Rollercoaster Festival (Hilltop Hoods, You Am I, Shihad, Jebediah etc) in Mandurah on Saturday 29 December 2007

Vanilla Ice at Metro City on Sunday 30 December 2007

Separate post about new years eve events 2007! Some quick mentions: Jebediah and more at Amplifier, End of Fashon, Dalles Crane and more at Gloucester Park, Hoodoo Gurus and The Stems at Mulberry on Swan.

New Years Day 2008 - Perth Cup, Hed Kandi@Leederville Hotel, djs at The Deen.

Southbound Festival in Busselton from 4 to 6 January 2008 - Kings of Leon, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Groove Armada, The Waifs etc etc

Daryl Braithwaite & Mental As Anything - Friday 4 January at Mundaring Weir Hotel

Amon Amarth at Amplifier on Saturday 5 January 2008

Steve Poltz at the Fly By Night on Saturday

VANS Boys of Summer Tour featuring SILVERSTEIN at Capitol on Saturday

Summadayze Festival at Supreme Court Gardens on Sunday 6 January 2008

The Special Beat feat Neville Staples at Newport Hotel on Sunday

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at Metropolis Fremantle on Sunday 6 January 2008

For other gigs check out the calendar and this comprehensive gig guide. Also, browse the Perth Concerts List occasionally for future gigs, I don’t write separate posts for many of them!

THEATRE

The Magic Pudding by Prompt Corner in King’s Park (for children) from 4 to 20 January 2008

The Red Bull Air Race World Series is in it’s third year, and this is the second time it concludes in Perth over the Swan River.
Qualifying rounds take place on Saturday 3 November and the final is on Sunday 4 November, 2007.

The Red Bull Air Race is an exciting competition in which the world’s most talented pilots are up against each other in a race based on speed, precision and skill. The competition features a dynamic new discipline of flying, called ‘air racing’ where the objective is to navigate a challenging race course in the sky, in the fastest possible time.

Best free viewing
Once again Perth people can see the race up close for free, with the best vantage point being Sir James Mitchell Park, South Perth. There will be commentary, music, on-ground side acts and big screens. This year there will also be audio commentary on the Perth Esplanade foreshore near Langley Park (though Langley Park itself is the airport!).

Grandstand tickets
This year there will also be grandstands, for which you can buy tickets through Ticketek.
One day passes available for Saturday from midday ($50) and Sunday from 10am ($99).
Two day passes are $132.

Once again there will be aviation acts to support the race, and a static air display known as the Air Race Expo.

You will also get the opportunity to see the aircraft and pilots up close during the Pit Lane Walk, on Saturday 3 November (timing to be confirmed, but it will obviously be quite early in the day).

For more details, including the program and info for local residents, check out the Red Bull Air Race website!

The highlights of what’s on in Perth, Western Australia this week(end), from Monday 20 to Sunday 26 August 2007.

Also check out what’s on for all of August 2007 and the Perth Event Calendar for other events and please submit events that I’m missing. Have a good week! - Simone

p.s. I’ve added a heap of concerts to the Perth Concerts List this week (more than usual!) Make sure you occasionally browse the list, as I don’t always write separate posts for each one (there’s too many!).

VARIOUS: FESTIVALS, CIRCUS, COMEDY, EXPOS

National Science Week from Saturday 18 to Sunday 26 August

The Scitech Comedy Debate at the Playhouse Theatre on Thursday 23 August

Balingup Medieval Festival (3 hrs south of Perth) in Balingup, on Saturday and Sunday

Treasured Craft Creations at Claremont Showgrounds from Friday to Sunday

City to Surf from Perth CBD to City Beach on Sunday

Cirque du Soleil - Varekai, Grand Chapeteau on The Esplanade - from 17 August to 16 September 2007

It’s Yates Springtime at Araluen Botanic Park, Roleystone till 1 October

Egyptian Antiquities from the Lourve at the Art Gallery from Saturday 21 July to 28 October. (Anton wrote a great post about his visit)

National Treasures from Australia’s Great Libraries - Free exhibition in State Library, daily till 26 August.

City of Perth Winter Arts Festival from 1 June to 31 August

MUSIC

Down to Nothing at HQ on 21 August and Rosemount Hotel on Wednesday 22 August

Mental As Anything dinner and show at Friends Restaurant on Wednesday

Bob Dylan at Burswood Dome on Thursday 23 August 2007

Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen Tribute) at Breakwater Tavern, Hillarys on Thursday

Kill Devil Hills and Schvendes at Rosemount Hotel on Friday 24 August

Elvis Tribute Concert (Garry Wesley) at Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 25 August 07

Shout Out Louds at Rosemount Hotel on Saturday

Broad at Perth Concert Hall on Sunday 26 August 2007 (Deborah Conway, Anne McCue, Sally Seltman, Jade MacRae and Abbe May)

For other gigs check out the calendar and this comprehensive gig guide.

THEATRE/OPERA/ETC

The Vagina Monologues at Hackett Hall from 17 August to 1 September

Rigoletto at His Majesty’s Theatre from 14 to 25 August

Mark Storen’s A Drunken Cabaret at Subiaco Arts Centre from 13 to 25 August

A Coward In Vegas at Old Mill Theatre from 15 to 25 August

Etcetera etcetera at PICA from 21 to 25 August

Don Quixote by Youth Ballet WA at Burswood Theatre from 22 to 25 August

Respect, The Musical at Regal Theatre from 25 August to 23 September

East (by Steven Berkoff of Trainspotting and Snatch) at The Blue Room from 25 to 31 August

Danny Green takes on Puerto Rico’s Manny Siaca in an IBO world title elimination bout at Challenge Stadium on Wednesday 30 May 2007, from 5pm.

In what promises to be one of his toughest bouts yet, Green 23-3 (21 KO`s) tackles the highly rated and KO specialist Siaca 20-6 (18 KO`s). Siaca who fought for the world title on 6 occasions, is well known for taking Anthony Mundine’s WBA super middle weight world title in May 2004.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster, for between $48 and $135.

See the official Danny Green website for more info.