Earth Hour, a music festival and more - what to do in the Highlands this week

This week, you can enjoy the Bowral Autumn Music Festival, see art from people across the country, and celebrate the 150^th anniversary of one school.

Check out the list of events below.

The festival has a lineup of a group of musicians and composers from the Highlands and beyond. Some will perform at the festival for the first time and other concerts will debut unique compositions. Enjoy it all from Thursday, March 23 to Sunday, March 26 at St Jude's Church in Bowral. Information about the program and tickets can be found on bowralautumnmusicfestival.org.au.

The BOCCA is a fundraiser held by the Bowral District Children's Foundation, to support young people and children in the Highlands. All funds raised go to the foundation. Kim Shannon has curated the exhibition and artist Ben Quilty will judge the works. See the exhibition from Friday, March 24, at the Bowral Art Gallery, with an opening at 6pm. There will be drinks and attendees can meet the artists.

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Melting Pot Theatre has reimagined one of Shakespeare's most beloved plays in modern times, with the Ukrainian war as a backdrop. When people sit in the audience, they will be in "pods", and immersed in all of the action. See it on Friday, March 24 from 7.30pm, at the Soldier's Memorial Hall in Bundanoon. The doors open at 7.15pm and tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for concession card holders and students, through Trybooking.

This exhibition focuses on the concept of belonging and bringing First Nations cultures together. Tjoritjarinja means 'belonging to the Western MacDonnell Ranges' and Ngununggula means belonging in Gundungurra language. Fifteen artists and their families from the Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre, located in located in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), will showcase their work. This exhibition will feature a collection of watercolour landscape paintings that explore family connections to history, place, ancestral stories and community. See it at Ngununggula Gallery from Saturday, March 25 at 10am.

This is a celebration of 150 years of history and memories at Avoca Public School. There will be live music, games, a barbecue, wine tasting, market stalls and more. Celebrate on Saturday, March 25 at Avoca Public School from 10am to 3pm. The event is free.

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To commemorate Earth Hour, this event will have workshops for children, sustainability stalls and the sculpture in the gardens competition. When the lights go out at 7.30pm, the movie Black Cockatoo Crisis will be screened. Refreshments will be available and people can bring along a picnic blanket. Come along on Saturday, March 25 at the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens, from 5pm to 9pm. The event is free and people can reserve a spot through Trybooking. The children's workshops are $5 and can be booked through Trybooking.

A group of indigenous artists from Bula 'Bula Arts in Ramingining, Arnhem Land, showcase a series of woven pieces crafted from natural materials. See the exhibition until Sunday, March 26 at Sturt. The gallery is open from 10am to 5pm seven days a week.

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Find crafts, art, tasty treats, a playground and more at this market. Make sure you head over to Berrima Public School on Sunday, March 26 from 9am to 2pm to check it out.

This exhibition is in collaboration with Country Style Magazine, and examines the spaces where lands meet the seas. See it until Sunday, March 26 at the Michael Reid Southern Highlands gallery in Berrima. The gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

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