The 7 Best Things To Do In Perth This February
February in Perth is always full of frenzied, feverish festival fun and the buzz throughout the streets is contagious. From the weird and wonderful Fringe to the contemporary Perth International Arts Festival through to the beachside Summerset Arts Fest: there is no shortage of events for Perthians to attend. But in the off chance that you may have a free night in your calendar, we’ve put together a list of seven more things to keep you preoccupied to see out the summer.
#1 Get your skates on at the Urban Roller Club at the Fringe World Fairground
In case you haven’t heard, Elizabeth Quay, Perth’s newest jewel in the crown, has finally been unveiled to the public and everybody is busy celebrating its opening. And what better way to celebrate than to stage the Fringe World Fairground here, paying homage to the fairground that stood on the same riverbank back in the ’20s. Embrace the nostalgia, channel your inner-child and join in on the frolicking festivities. What has us most excited, however, is the outdoor Urban Roller Club. So what are you waiting for? Put up your socks, don those skates, enter the rink and skate like nobody is watching you.
#2 Follow the indie kids to Laneway Festival
No plans for Valentine’s/Hallmark/Singles Awareness Day? Well, then put together your best festival outfit, follow the hordes of indie kids down to Freo by the Esplanade and have the ultimate Sunday sesh dancing away to the sweet beats of Flume, Grimes, CHVRCHES and many more local and international artists. Lovebirds, feel free to take a romantic spin in the resident Coachella-esque Ferris wheel for brilliant views of the harbour.
#3 Watch a movie under the stars at UWA Somerville
The award for most picturesque outdoor cinema definitely goes to the Somerville at UWA. Nestled among tall pine trees, you’ll feel as if you’ve inadvertently stumbled into an abandoned forest clearing; albeit one with a huge silver screen and delicious aromas wafting over from the food vendors. Showcasing the best of world cinema, you won’t find Zoolander 2 included in the Somerville’s diverse program, but you will be guaranteed something interesting. Pack a picnic and settle in for an evening under the stars. Season Two runs from February 8 to April 10, 2016.
#4 Satisfy your street food fix at the South Beach Sunset Market
Perthians love the beach and are mad over street food – so why not combine the two? Enter the South Beach Sunset Market! Formerly at Bathers Beach, the market has grown substantially and has moved across to a stunning new location at South Beach. Held every Saturday evening during the summer, there is a smorgasbord of food vendors serving up a variety of cuisines to suit everybody’s palette. Soak up the good vibes and settle into the sand dunes to watch the glorious sun dipping over the Indian Ocean with bao in hand – it never gets old.
#5 Pop into Perth’s first vodka bar
We have rum bars, we have gin bars, we have tequila bars…and now, get ready to welcome Perth’s very first VODKA bar. Located in a basement on Queen Street, Bluzou Bar offers an extensive selection of quality vodkas (probably not of the $5 happy hour shots variety) from around the world as well as an eclectic food menu including an assortment of vodka-infused dishes. The folks behind Bluzou are determined to shine the spotlight back on this sometimes overlooked spirit and it looks like Perthians will be shouting out ‘Wódka!’ in no time.
#6 Spend time in a yurt at Grr Nights
Fancy spending time in a yurt? Well now you have the chance! As part of the Summer Nights 2016 program, Grr Nights is hosting 13 bizarre, curious and undoubtedly entertaining performances in an intimate handmade yurt at the Blue Room Theatre. Expect the unexpected but always remember the first rule of Grr Nights: what happens in a yurt stays in a yurt.
#7 Enter foodie heaven at Long Chim
Did you know that Perth has a Michelin-starred chef in our midst? Foodie-swoon. Australian chef and Thai food connoisseur David Thompson has returned home and he has brought his culinary expertise and panache out to the west coast to set up Long Chim, a restaurant serving up authentic mouth-watering Thai dishes full of abundant flavour and aromatic spices. Located in the basement of the recently refurbished State Buildings, it’s a refined epicurean experience for a fraction of the cost. Be sure to make a reservation in advance; your taste buds will thank you later.
(Lead image: Laneway Festival Fremantle)
