There is no shortage of things to see and do in Albany this weekend, with Lighting the Sound sitting at the centre of it all.
Presented by FORM and created by Finnish light artist Kari Kola, the large-scale installation invites people to slow down and look outward. Visible from multiple vantage points across the townsite, it transforms the night sky above Princess Royal Harbour, shifting with the wind, the tide and the weather, and revealing more the longer you spend with it.
Some will choose to experience it from the energy of Anzac Peace Park, while others will find a quieter vantage point, press play on the accompanying soundtrack, and take it in at their own pace.
Across the city, the weekend unfolds with Lighting the Sound as a constant night-time backdrop.
At Anzac Peace Park, the lights are paired with a full program of activity, including cultural performances, a DJ, a pop-up bar by The Dam and a wide range of food vendors. The Mamang Koort floral installation continues to evolve, with colour and form shifting this weekend, while it continues to invite visitors to step inside the living artwork.
Along Stirling Terrace, twilight markets, late-night trading and live music from 6pm to 9pm create a lively street atmosphere. Friday features Jazztrix Duo, Saturday brings David Gillett and Mae Elliot with a folk set, and Sunday closes out with Baldhead performing blues.
For a full live music experience, Live @ at the Town Hall returns on Friday night with a major co-headline show. Perth indie favourites DICE and Sydney’s Letters to Lions lead a strong national line-up, joined by Gap Year, Lauren and the Goodfights, and Alison Parade, spanning indie rock, punk and folk across a packed program.
At the Albany Entertainment Centre, the Harbourside foyer hosts Josephine and Eddy Jay on Friday evening, blending accordion, fiddle and storytelling inspired by traditions from England, Wales and Ireland in a relaxed, drop-in setting by the water.
The National Anzac Centre is also open late, offering a powerful after-dark experience that pairs naturally with the installation.
During the day, there is just as much to explore. Albany Then and Now continues at the Museum of the Great Southern, offering a layered, immersive look at Albany’s past and present.
The Vancouver Arts Centre is also open on Saturday from 10am to 2pm, showcasing Laura Newbury’s Lost Lounge. Through collagraphs and mixed media, the exhibition explores domestic interiors and everyday moments, revealing the quiet, personal histories that sit behind Albany’s broader story.
On the waterfront, visitors can step aboard the STS Leeuwin II during the Friday and Saturday open days. As night falls each evening, the ship becomes part of the scene, sitting against the illuminated green harbour.
Whether you build your weekend around Lighting the Sound or encounter it between markets, music, exhibitions and waterfront experiences, it is the thread that ties everything together.
However you choose to experience it, this is a weekend to look up, slow down, and see Albany in a different light.
