Canberra in a Spin with Weekends on Wheels

A month-long celebration of Canberra's love for all things that spin is about to get rolling as part of Canberra's Centenary celebrations.

SPIN: Canberra's Weekends on Wheels

is a month-long celebration of everything that spins. What's on offer? Everything from cars, bicycles, skateboards, wheelchair basketball, ultimate frisbee, BMX and roller derby to caravans, potters' wheels, DJs spinning tracks, spin bowling and that speciality of the national capital - political spin.

A major highlight of the Centenary of Canberra events calendar, SPIN will include sporting events, art classes, a collection of caravans, and a car-themed rock show led by Mark Seymour of Hunters and Collectors fame.

Centenary General Manager Adam Stankevicius said the massive program of events spread over four packed October weekends includes something for everybody.

'SPIN brings new and existing Canberra events under the one umbrella in October, including the 2013 24-Hour Mountain Bike Championships and the Invitational Australian Skateboarding Championships,' Mr Stankevicius said. 'I encourage everybody to go to the website and start planning their month.'

As part of the program, a special Centenary-curated event on 19 October will combine music, fashion and circus performers with roller derby, rock stars and all things cars.

'SPIN Saturday is a big day of car-themed performances, installations and artworks for the whole family at the Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS) depot in Fyshwick,' Mr Stankevicius said.

Spin Saturday will be a day of performances, installations and artworks that are car themed or created from cars, where the stories of Canberra will be viewed from behind the wheels of our favourite vehicles. It's billed as an event for petrol heads, dance enthusiasts, those who like to kick tyres, those who like to change them and those who like a bit of fun and culture in their weekend.

The TAMS depot at 255 Canberra Avenue turns into the showroom for SPIN Saturday from 12 - 5pm, and comes alive with a day of wheel-inspired family fun, an afternoon of art, culture and cars as only Canberra can do.

Vintage cars from around Australia will be on display while retired vintage ACTION public bus Matilda will be turned into a boutique cinema for the day.

'There will be car crushing, spray painting displays, circus performers and dance groups, before the Canberra Roller Derby League showcases its sport in a series of demonstration bouts,' Mr Stankevicius said.

'Adults are invited to kick on with Spin Wear, a fashion parade of garments made from car parts, before rocking out to a one-off gig from The Petrolsexuals, led by Mark Seymour of Hunters and Collectors.'

The Petrolsexuals will perform a one-off gig with songs that all feature lyrics, rants and rhythms that are odes to the car. Mark will be joined on stage by Felicity Urquhart and the Brass Knuckle Brass Band.

As well as the sensational spectacle of SPIN Saturday, visitors can also indulge in their love of wheels over four packed weekends with events like the Canberra Roller Derby League doubleheader, 24-Hour Mountain Bike Championships and the Willowglen 4x4 Challenge.

The cream of Australian amateur and professional skateboarders will compete for $18,000 in prize money at Belcopalooza: Nike X SBA 2013 Australian Pro/Am Invitational Skateboarding Championships at Australia's biggest and best outdoor skateboard park on 5 October.

The grounds of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will be open to the public on 18 October for the 12th World Solar Challenge Vehicle Display with the three solar vehicles used by the Dutch teams in the World Solar Challenge on display.

Over the weekend of 18-20 October the Museum of the Long Weekend will celebrate recreation, holidays and relaxation. The museum is made up of a convoy of about 40 vintage caravans that have travelled to Canberra from all over Australia. It is a living and travelling museum of leisure culture, exhibited in and around vintage caravans and presented by their owners in collaboration with artists.

About 80 specially-hacked bicycles will join together in a choreographed spectacle of sound, speed and light created by composer Jon Rose for The Canberra Pursuit on 18 October.

Hubs around the city, including Lakeside, Woden, Inner North, Fairbairn and Kingston, will come alive for Hub Capital from 19-20 October with a wide variety of participatory workshops, come-and-try events and expert demonstrations.

To download the complete program for SPIN: Canberra's Weekends on Wheels, or for more information on other Centenary of Canberra events, please visit www.spinweekend.com.au