Our HEIA events calendar has been rather busy since last month! We’ve now got 31 events, activities and deadlines listed for November alone, with plenty more coming up before the year is out.
From movie nights and concerts featuring Estonian music, to Christmas markets and gingerbread workshops, there’s plenty happening across Australia this November. So, what’s coming up?
What’s happening in November?
- 4 November, 7.00–9.00 pm — BRISBANE: Latvian Radio Choir and Genevieve Lacey perform music by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. Concert Hall, QPAC, corner of Grey and Melbourne Streets, South Brisbane QLD 4101. Info & tickets
- 6 November, 6.30 pm — PERTH: EstWest’s annual general meeting featuring a folk dance performance by Pöörituli. Hillview Intercultural Community Centre, 1–3 Hill View Place, Bentley WA 6102. Info | See also EstWest’s September 2026 newsletter
- 6–8 November, all day — GOLD COAST: Queensland Family Camp for Estonian children and families. Tyalgum Ridge Retreat, 783 Tyalgum Creek Road, Tyalgum NSW 2484. Info
- 6–8 November, all day — BONEGILLA, VIC: “Spring into Bonegilla” cultural weekend. Bonegilla Migrant Experience, 132 Bonegilla Road, Bonegilla VIC 3691. Info
- 7 November, 7.00–9.00 pm — MELBOURNE: Latvian Radio Choir and Genevieve Lacey perform music by Arvo Pärt. Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, 31 Sturt Street, Southbank VIC 3006. Info & tickets
- 8 November, 2.00 am (Sydney/Melbourne time) — ONLINE: Preserving Estonian cultural heritage abroad through digital archiving, part 2. Online course in collaboration with the National Archives of Estonia and the Global Estonian Youth Network. In Estonian. Register | HEIA article 1 | HEIA article 2
- 8 November, 1.30–3.00 pm — SYDNEY: Gingerbread Mania Cooking Class. Estonian House, 141 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010. Info
- 8 November, 2.00–3.00 pm — ADELAIDE: Our Home Coop Society’s (OHCS) annual general meeting. Estonian House, 200 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide SA 5006. Estonians in Adelaide | VIRGATS October 2026 newsletter
- 8 November, 3.00–3.30 pm — ADELAIDE: Estonian House Social Club’s annual general meeting. Estonian House, 200 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide SA 5006. Estonians in Adelaide | VIRGATS October 2026 newsletter
- 10 November, 6.00–7.30 pm — MELBOURNE: Changing Wilds Ensemble presents “85 Seconds to Midnight“, featuring Arvo Pärt’s Für Alina. Primrose Potter Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre, 31 Sturt Street, Southbank VIC 3006. Info & tickets
- 10 November, 7.30–9.30 pm — PERTH: Latvian Radio Choir and Genevieve Lacey perform music by Arvo Pärt. Winthrop Hall, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009. Info & tickets
- 12 November, 6.00 pm registration; 6.30–8.00 pm cruise — SYDNEY: Cruise with the Europeans 2026, a European–Australian business networking event (EACCI). The Starship, King Street Wharf No. 4, Darling Harbour, Sydney NSW. Info & tickets
- 12 November, 7.30–9.30 pm — ADELAIDE: Latvian Radio Choir and Genevieve Lacey perform music by Arvo Pärt. Adelaide Town Hall, 128 King William Street, Adelaide SA 5000. Info & tickets
- 14 November, 7.00–9.00 pm — CANBERRA: Latvian Radio Choir and Genevieve Lacey perform music by Arvo Pärt. Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music, Building 100, William Herbert Place, Canberra ACT 2601. Info & tickets
- 15 November, 9.00 am–1.30 pm — SYDNEY: Estonian House Clean-up. Estonian House, 141 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010. Info
- 16 November, 7.00–9.00 pm — SYDNEY: Latvian Radio Choir and Genevieve Lacey perform music by Arvo Pärt. City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Place, Sydney NSW 2000. Info & tickets
- 22 November, 10.00 am–2.00 pm — SYDNEY: Christmas Markets. Estonian House, 141 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010. Tickets | Book a stall | Pre-order pirukad
- 22 November, 2.00–4.00 pm — ADELAIDE: Movie afternoon presenting the Estonian film “December Heat” (Detsembrikuumus). Estonian House, 200 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide SA 5006. Estonians in Adelaide | VIRGATS October 2026 newsletter
- 27 November, 7.00–8.15 pm — BRISBANE: Music of Estonia – Lumens Chamber Choir and Symphoria. An evening celebrating Estonian composers, performed by Brisbane-based musicians. Performing Arts Centre, St Peters Lutheran College, Dron Auditorium, 66 Harts Road, Indooroopilly QLD 4068. Info & tickets
- 29 November, 10.30 am — SYDNEY: Christmas-themed Intergenerational Play Day at Thirlmere. Thirlmere Estonian Retirement Village, 25 Estonian Road, Thirlmere NSW 2572. Info
- 29 November, 11.00 am–3.00 pm — ADELAIDE: Baltic Christmas Markets. Estonian House, 200 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide SA 5006. Estonians in Adelaide | VIRGATS October 2026 newsletter
- 29 November, 3.00–8.00 pm — SYDNEY: Sõrve Games Night. Estonian House, 141 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010. Info
- 30 November, 2.00 am (Sydney/Melbourne time) — ONLINE: Lecture exploring Estonian diaspora history and identity, with Ede Schank Tamkivi and Maja Soomägi. Ülemaailmne Eesti Noortevõrgustik (ÜENV) invites Estonians worldwide to explore Estonian migration, diaspora communities, shared memories and Vabamu’s exhibition on Global Estonians, Ilmaküla eestlased. In Estonian. Info | Register
See HEIA’s Events Calendar here for the full list of events. (On mobile, turn your phone sideways for a horizontal view.)
A few deadlines worth knowing about
We’re now also adding selected application and registration deadlines to our calendar. These include scholarships, cultural grants and opportunities that can help community organisations organise events and bring Estonian performers to Australia, among other things. In November:
- 15 November, 5.00 pm (Sydney time), application deadline — ONLINE, SCHOLARSHIP: Seisler scholarships for young singers to join Kooskõlas choir. Young singers aged 14–29 are invited to apply for scholarships supporting their participation in the choir and in Laulupidu 2028. Expressions of interest: kooskolas@gmail.com. Info | HEIA article
- 15 November, submission deadline — ONLINE: Share your family’s potato salad recipe! Chef Margit Kirss-Elsayed is collecting kartulisalat recipes and family stories for a new cookbook. Email recipes to eestikartulisalat@gmail.com. HEIA article
- 30 November, registraton deadline — ONLINE, EOI: Baltic craft stallholders wanted for Melbourne Lithuanian Christmas Market (6 December). Baltic stallholders invited to sell their goods and crafts. Email what you plan to sell and how many tables needed to: melbournelithuaniancommunity@gmail.com. Info
- 30 November, registration deadline — ONLINE, EOI: Baltic craft stallholders wanted for Australian Lithuanian Days (29 December). Makers of traditional Baltic crafts and Baltic-themed goods are invited to participate in the Baltic Craft Fair & Markets in Melbourne. Info | EOI details
So, if you’re planning something, looking for funding or hoping to get involved, it’s worth keeping an eye on the calendar. Some opportunities have deadlines well before the activities themselves!
Christmas is coming (and so are the pirukad)!
Christmas celebrations are popping up across Australia, and several Estonian communities have already opened ticket sales. We’re waiting for a few last details to land on our desk before sharing a separate Christmas events roundup. But don’t wait for us to make your plans — check the HEIA events calendar for dates, locations and booking links. We’d hate for you to miss out on the festivities (or the pirukad)!
What’s on our calendar (and what’s not)?
We collect one-off events, festivals, workshops, performances and community gatherings. Regular choir rehearsals, folk dance practices, playgroups and language lessons aren’t included — check directly with your local groups for those.
Some organisers send us their events (thank you!), and we find others through community websites and social media. But here’s the thing: if nobody tells us what’s happening in your neighbourhood, we might never know. And if we don’t know, we can’t share it. And we really want to!
So, organising something? Spotted an event? Send the details to news@eesti.org.au, and we’ll add it to the calendar.
And remember, event details can change, so please check directly with the organisers before attending.
