Another month has gone by from this incredibly fast-moving year, and our monthly highlights list has come back around.
Our guide is packed full of over 270+ events, spanning everything from festivals to musicals, to comedy and concert tours, all throughout Perth’s iconic venues and even into our gorgeous natural environment. May is truly about celebrating our state and the talent it produces, with events that let us get a taste of the best it has to offer.
Read below for our highlights for May, and what we’re looking to catch in between 33 concert tours, 5 musicals, 8 theatre shows and more!
Perth Comedy Festival
April 20 – May 17
An April highlight continues through to May with 65+ shows performing throughout the month.
With so many shows, it can be tough to choose between catching a list of international stars or supporting homegrown talent – luckily, you can get the best of both worlds in the variety shows running every Wednesday and Thursday throughout the festival.
Introducing the Perth Comedy Festival Gala and the Hour of Power – each night features a surprise lineup of global stars and Aussie talent, providing a sample of the best of the fest for the price of one show!
Bickley Harvest Festival
May 2 – 31
The Perth Hills’ annual autumn celebration kicks off this weekend, with festivities running throughout the month across the Perth Hills.
The whole festival is the perfect excuse for a day trip, with the best of the Bickley Valley ready to explore just 35 minutes from Perth.
The program is made up of everything you’d want out of a visit to the storied wine region – tastings, workshops, intimate wine experiences and unique cellar doors open for discovery.
Plus, delicious food and wine aren’t the only draw – there are open studios to explore throughout the Hills region, events at Perth Observatory, Mother’s Day Flower Workshops and more. You’ll have no trouble bringing the kids along, either, with mini-golf, fairy door trails and kid’s art classes all part of the festivities.
Dracula
May 15 – 30
Coming off a critically acclaimed tour in Adelaide (which hadn’t happened in 25 years), the West Australian Ballet presents Dracula, settling in at His Majesty’s Theatre for a two-week run.
In a world where ballet has been touted as a dead art form (thanks Timothee Chalamet), this production of Dracula turns this accusation on its head. Based on the classic novel by Bram Stoker, the show has been praised by Adelaide reviewers as succeeding in everything it sets out to achieve, and not just in the excellent dancing, but in proving the high calibre of performance available in Australia.
Tickets are on sale now, but we wouldn’t wait too long to book our spot.
UnWined Perth
May 15 & 16
Langley Park West is set to be taken over by the best of Western Australian food, wine and entertainment for UnWined Perth.
There are loads of ticket options available to explore our state’s top offerings – you can wander and sip your way through the tastings from leading wineries, breweries and distilleries, or purchase a tipple to enjoy as a picnic on the lawns, with exclusive event discounts.
If you’re up for something a little more elevated, the Bottomless Long Table session could be for you, with two hours of free-flowing wine and beer paired with tapas. There’s live music, fire pits, gourmet bites, and everything you’d want for a day out riverside, made only greater by local artisans and their produce.
The Swan Valley Show
May 23
Meet The Swan Valley Show – a brand-new entry onto Perth’s events calendar.
This year marks the debut event, where the produce from WA’s oldest wine region is celebrated through the classic agricultural show experience, with a twist of exciting entertainment.
Bring the whole family to the WA State Equestrian Centre for amusement rides, showbags, line dancing, monster trucks and motorbikes, market stalls, competitions, showjumping and more! Plus, entry is free, making for a day out you can stress less about.
