Western Australia has a reputation for having 3000 blue sky hours each year, and Perth averages 9 hours of sunshine every day with about 131 blue sky days, so in October, the middle of spring, you’ll find it warm and sunny with daily temperatures between 20° and 25°C. There tends to be little rainfall, and Western Australia comes alive with bright spring flowers, in fact there are many wild flower trails throughout the region. It sounds pretty good to us.

But if you don’t feel like wandering through the wild flower meadows, what else is on in Perth this October?

2014 BLACK SWAN ART PRIZE ART EXHIBITION, 9-19 October

This exhibition is Western Australia’s most prestigious art exhibition with the $50,000 Portraiture Prize, and the $20,000 Heritage Prize on offer. There is also the opportunity to cast your vote in the People’s Choice Prize either online or at the exhibition and be in the running to win a $250 voucher from the Wild Fig Cafe.

It is being held on two sites:

The Linton and Kay Gallery at 137 St Georges Terrace hosts the Portraiture Prize exhibits

Brookfield Place Foyer at 125 St Georges Terrace is displaying the Heritage Prize exhibits.

You can view the paintings daily, between 10am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and between 10am and 4pm on Sunday. And it’s free!

BRIAN COX: MAKING SENSE OF THE COSMOS, Riverside Theatre, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, 16 October, 8pm.

The former member of the pop band D:Ream and now particle physicist will be making science seem easy with language we can all understand and a few engaging visuals.

Does physics get much sexier than this, we ask?

Tickets cost between $70 and $195.

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
Photo courtesy of Nachoman-au (A digital photograph taken by myself)

MTB CAPE TO CAPE, 23 – 26 October

This 4 day mountain biking event starts at the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse at 12-30pm on Thursday and finishes in Dunsborough on Sunday and there will be plenty of opportunities to watch the 1500 riders test their cycling skills. It is sure to be a competitive ride with prize money totalling $15,000 for the winning riders.

Although the registrations are full for the four day event, there is still the opportunity to register for the weekend ride at a cost of $250. That event starts in Margaret River on Saturday and finishes in Dunsborough the following day. The registration will close on 21 October unless the limit is reached sooner. It is free to spectate, but take a look at the website to discover the best spots to do so. It’s also worth checking the site if you’re a keen mountain biker as there are tips there on how to master the course.

RICHARD AVEDON PEOPLE EXHIBITION, Art Gallery of Western Australia, 2 August – 17 November

Richard Avedon was a hugely influential figure in the world of photography, capturing the images of artists, celebrities and political activitists for magazines including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. The images on display were taken between 1949 and 2002.

Tickets are $14 and the gallery is open from Wednesday to Monday between 10am and 5pm, closed on Tuesdays.

Art Gallery of Western Australia
Photo courtesy of Art Gallery of Western Australia

DIWALI MELA, Claremont Showground, Perth, 12pm – 9.30pm, Saturday 25 October

Last year 19,000 people attended the Indian Society of Western Australia’s annual festival of lights and it’s expected to be even bigger this year. There will be a full day of performances including music, dance and a fashion show, as well as fairground rides, bouncy castles and even camel rides. There will also be stalls selling everything from jewellery to mobile phones, food and sweets. The day will draw to a close with a firework display – it is the festival of lights after all!

Tickets are $10 on the day, but you can buy early bird tickets online for $6. It will be an alcohol and smoke free event.

CARNIVAL MACABRE, Northbridge Piazza, Perth, Friday 24 October – Sunday 2 November

Now in its second year, this is a week-long celebration of Halloween, the Mexican Day of the Dead and All Saints Day. The event kicks off at 9pm on Friday 24 October with a screening of the appropriately creepy (and appropriately Mexican) film Pan’s Labyrinth.

The rest of the week features more film screenings , performances, exhibitions, food and markets as well as parties and lots of opportunities to dress up for the occasion. Visit the Mexican Day of the Dead Shrine, make your own mask, and even attend the sugar skull workshop! There’s a spooky prints exhibition, a Vampire Ball, a Game of Thrones weekend with the chance to dress as your favourite character, and the Hearses and Hot Rods Car Show. If it’s macabre (or just plain weird) you’ll find it here.

ISPS HANDA PERTH INTERNATIONAL, Karrinyup Country Club, 23-26 October

The ISPS Handa Perth International is a golf tournament for blind and disabled golfers. It’s being held just a 15 minute drive north of Perth.

Tickets vary between $22 and $49 depending on the day and concessions are available. There’s also a weekend pass for $79. These are online prices; if you pay at the gate it will cost an extra $5.

You can find out more about the work of the ISPS here.

SUNDAY SOUNDS AT NORTHBRIDGE, Northbridge Piazza, Perth

Head over to Northbridge Piazza any Sunday afternoon between 1pm and 3pm from the beginning of September until 15 May 2015 and listen to live music with Sunday Sounds at Northbridge. It won’t cost a bean!

 

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