Canberra set for 2013 centenary celebrations

To mark 100 years since the naming of the city, Visit Canberra plans to attract Australians to visit, revisit and re-imagine Australia's national capital.
A year-long program of celebrations has been launched with Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister Katy Gallagher saying that 2013 would be "one very big year" with events runing throughout Canberra's centenary year.
Chief Minister Gallagher stated "the celebrations for the Centenary of Canberra have been years in the planning and include something for everyone from arts projects, huge sporting events and the biggest birthday bash the city has ever seen.
"It will be an unforgettable year in Canberra's history that shows what a thriving and culturally diverse city we have developed into with our first 100 years."
The Centenary of Canberra is the first time the city's annual calendar of events and activities has been brought together under a single banner and presented to a national and international audience.
To begin the year, a sea of followers dressed in yellow will descend on the Australian Institute of Sport arena on 4th January to watch the Canberra Capitals kick off the sporting calendar in a Centenary-themed match against Dandenong Rangers.
The National Arboretum opens on 2nd February, while on 6th February Manuka Oval will host the Australian cricket team for the first time ever in a day-night international match under the new lights, playing the West Indies.
Chief Minister Gallagher added "any time in 2013 will be a great time to visit or revisit Canberra and discover what a lively 21st century city it is, with the Big Birthday Long Weekend on 8th to 12th March."
The Big Birthday Long Weekend will see five days of festivities, highlighted by the "once-in-a-lifetime birthday bash" around Lake Burley Griffin on 11th March 2013. The event includes the world's longest ever bubbly bar, interactive art projects, a rock concert and the performance of a new Centenary symphony.

http://www.canberra100.com.au