Last show Saturday 14 December
Set in early 19th-century France, Les Misérables is the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant and his desire for redemption, after serving nineteen years in jail for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child. Valjean decides to break his parole and start his life anew after a bishop inspires him by a tremendous act of mercy, but he is relentlessly tracked down by a police inspector named Javert. Along the way, Valjean and a slew of characters are swept into a revolutionary period in France, where a group of young idealists attempt to overthrow the government at a street barricade.
Show times: Wed, Fri & Sat curtains up at 7.30pm. Sun matinees 2pm. Marloo Theatre, 20 Marloo Rd, Greenmount. Visit website

Training starts Saturday 7 December
A small group multisport training program in Chidlow designed to get you active and outdoors before the festivities start! Just $20 per session.
X-Tri = Cross (off-road) triathlon training: 
Week 1: Trail jog/run
Week 2: Open water swim
Week 3: MTB trail ride
Program runs Saturdays, starting 8.30am. Visit website for more information.

Sunday 01 December
Perth Trail Series (PTS) organises a whole calendar of trail running events across Perth including in some spectacular Perth Hills' locations. PTS events cater for all levels - from beginners to serious athletes. All events are fully supported on fully marked trails, with music and laughter guaranteed. Head up to Lake Leschenaultia to check out the action!  Race starts at 8.30am. Find out more about this and other PTS events here.

Sunday 1 December
The Chidlow Tavern is hosting its annual Car Cruise and Blue Car Show & Shine fundraiser, with all proceeds to beyondblue. This is an open event for ALL makes and models (blue cars will be parked in front of the pub). This promises to be a great day out with cars arriving between 11am-12pm, plus live entertainment, markets and more! Check Facebook event for more details.

Sunday 1 December
Join The Hills Choir for its annual Christmas concert. This joyous event will showcase some of our awesome local talent, plus there'll be afternoon tea and yummy treats served after the performance! Concert starts 2.30pm.

Eastern Hills Senior High School Music Auditorium, Keane St, Mt Helena. View event on Facebook here.

Sunday 1 December
Celebrate Indigenous music with Madjitil Moorna, a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who sing in language. The group is led by award winning Aboriginal song writers and performers, who will be singing a mix of traditional and soulful joyous contemporary songs. Support performance by Phil Bartlett. Register here to win one of the great prizes on offer. 4pm-6pm. Mundaring Sculpture Park, Jacoby St, Mundaring.

If you are thinking of gathering a group of family or friends together for a pre-Christmas catch up this month, then here's a heads up on some of our local eateries offering special Christmas-themed set menus. Bookings are essential.

Exhibition closes Sunday 22 December
Gallery 1 - Surface Tension
Ceramic artists Stephanie Hammill and Andrea Vinkovic explore how clay transforms when interacting with other materials and echoes the journey of discovery, collaboration and skill sharing these senior practitioners have undertaken over the past two years.

Gallery 2 - Things with Wings
Explores the role of pollinators in ecosystems, with a focus on local native birds, bats and insects, school children from across the eastern region have explored the theme Things with Wings for the Mundaring Environmental Art Project.

Mundaring Arts Centre:
Open Tues-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat and Sun 11am-3pm. Closed Mon and public holidays.
Christmas closing: Tues 24 December, re-opening 31 January 2020. T: 9295 3991 Visit website.

Saturday 7 December
Get yourself into the Christmas Groove with this special Christmas carols and local markets event in Chidlow. There'll be activities for the kids, plus a visit from You Know Who.  Pick up some Christmas goodies, then join in the festivities with some good old-fashioned carol singing. 

5pm-7pm, Chidlow Village Green, Old Northam Road, Chidlow. View event on Facebook.

Saturday 7 December
Get Santa
Enjoy a family friendly evening at the movies with a picnic or a tasty bite from one of our local businesses. There's some pre-show fun in store too with face-painters, giant bubble activities, local fire brigades, community group stalls, ice cream and coffee vans and much more. Gates open at 6.00pm with film starting at sunset. Boya Oval, Scott St, Boya. View event on Facebook here.

Sunday 8 December
Mundaring Sunday Markets has a great range of stalls, including seasonal fruit and veg, jewellery, scarves, bags, clothes, craft items, garden ornaments, plants, soap, honey, chutneys and preserves. Snap up a bargain, then enjoy a bite to eat at the Mundaring Hotel, just a few steps away. View info. on Facebook. Markets open 9am-2pm, Nichol Street, Mundaring

Sunday 8 December
Race 2 of The Exceed Super Sprint Triathlon makes its way to Lake Leschenaultia. This is a 3 race series of draft legal triathlon. This fast and furious style racing has some of the most skilled and elite triathletes in Australia racing as well as junior and youth triathletes vying for spots on the WA School Sports team. The action starts at 7am. Racing is spectator-friendly and great fun. View event on Facebook here. 

Grab your picnic basket and blanket and head out to the Kookaburra Cinema for an evening of great entertainment under the stars. Check out this month's program:-

Sun 1: Zombieland: Double Tap (MA15+)
Fri 6: Gemini Man (M)  
Sat 7 & Sun 8: Judy (M) *Screening TBC*
Fri 13 & Sat 14: Terminator: Dark Fate (MA15+)
Fri 20 & Sat 21: Blinded by the Light (PG)
Sun 22: Last Christmas (CTC)
Thurs 26 & Fri 27: Maleficent:
Mistress of Evil (PG)
Sat 28 & Sun 29 Ford v Ferrari (CTC) 
Gates open 6.30pm, show starts 7.45pm.
Cost $15 adults, children $10. Program details here

Sunday 8 December
Design and carve your own custom rubber stamps for printing seasonal gift wrap, tags, and cards in this 4 hour workshop with Phoebe Todd-Parrish. No previous relief printing experience is required, just come with your ideas, holiday cheer, and any extra things you’d like to print on for the holidays. Kraft Paper, cardstock, rubber for stamps, tools and inks included.

Mundaring Arts Centre, 10am-1pm. Suitable for 12-20yrs. View event on Facebook here

Sunday 15 December
A great place to meet the amazing creatives from Perth Hills and Beyond. The Perth Hills Artisan Markets is the hills' biggest up and coming artisan market around. Come and see for yourself and enjoy a fabulous day out in the hills of Perth!
10am-4pm. Mundaring Christian College, Parkerville. View on Facebook here. 

Sunday 15 December
Want to improve your photography and gain a better understanding of the settings in your digital camera? Join this small-group beginner course and learn some simple techniques to help you remember what you need to do to improve your shots, including using different settings on your camera like aperture, shutter speed and metering. Discuss composition to help you transform a snapshot into a WOW shot, then put your learnings into practise with expert guidance and assistance. 

Whilst this course is aimed at beginners, it is also ideal for those who are a little rusty and want to brush up on knowledge and techniques. 9am-12pm. Find out more here.

Wednesday 25 December
The Chidlow Tavern is one of the very few places locally who will be open and serving up scrumptious traditional Christmas Fare this Christmas Day, which means you can just sit back, relax and enjoy The Big Day without all the associated stress (or dishes).  Book early to avoid disappointment.  Seating at 11am. Chidlow Tavern, 4 Thomas St, Chidlow. View menu/event on Facebook.

Sunday 15 December
Mundaring Weir Hotel's special Christmas event is a great way to catch up with family and friends. The kids can enjoy a visit from Santa, with a free gift and free hotdog. Fresh donuts and popcorn also available. For the adults the full weekend menu is available, including counter meals, woodfired pizzas, steak sandwiches and, of course, their famous Lamb Spit burgers. Lunches from 11:30am, Spit available from 1pm. Visit from The Big Man between 2pm-3pm. Live music in the beer garden 1pm-4pm. More here.

Saturday 21 December
Shopping done? Time for fun!  Make merry with Cafe Mojo's very own home-grown musical group No Strings Attached. Join in the sing along, with all your favourite Christmas Carols 10am-11am. View on Facebook here.
Cafe Mojo has a beautiful garden, a kids play area, is pet friendly and caters for GF, HFLC, coeliac and many other dietary requirements. Open 7 days Craig St, Mundaring. 

The Parkerville Tavern is a lovely old family pub and restaurant in the heart of Perth Hills. Steeped in history, this double-storey federation style pub is a local favourite. The beautifully restored “Parky” is ideal for families with a great line up of live, local music between 3pm-6pm every Sunday. Keep an eye on their Facebook page to find out what's on the calendar for this month.
6-18 Owen Rd, Parkerville. T: 9295 4500

The iconic Mundaring Weir Hotel provides the perfect laid-back atmosphere for a Sunday chill out. The traditional lamb spit roast is served every Sunday - carving and serving starts at around 1pm.

Live music from one of three resident folk bands, together with the spectacular backdrop of Beelu National Park makes this an extra special way to spend a Sunday in the Perth Hills. Mundaring Weir Precinct. Tel: 9295 1106 or visit website.

Known locally as The Mounties, the historic Mount Helena Tavern was brought to life in 1902. The Tavern is a traditional Australiana-style pub with a country feel that appeals to families, withits large beer garden and kids playground - perfect for relaxing through the lazy days of summer.

Live music Friday & Saturday nights. Visit Facebook here to check out what's coming up this month. 900 Keane St, Mount Helena. T: 9572 2121

The Mundaring Hotel is a family-friendly restaurant, bar and beer garden located in the heart of Mundaring. The hotel offers an extensive A La Carte Menu with top quality pub favourites as well as exquisite dishes from The Daily Specials Board, tapas bites and kids meals. Check out the menus here. Courtesy bus Fridays &  Saturdays from 6pm-midnight.
LIVE MUSIC on Friday and Saturday 7.30pm-10.30pm. Visit them on Facebook page. Cnr Nichol/Jacoby St, Mundaring.  T: 9295 1006

Tucked away in a beautiful bushland location adjacent to John Forrest National Park, Malmalling Vineyard is an award winning boutique winery offering delicious lunches and daily specials on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in a casual cafe setting, with live music every Sunday!

Malmalling produces small volumes of fine quality wine, including a multi-award winning selection of reds spanning a number of vintages.

Open for lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12pm-5pm. 3025 Beacon Road, Parkerville. Tel: 9295 5691. View Facebook.

Make time this month to visit the spectacular Wild Goose at Noble Falls Estate in Gidgegannup. Their restaurant service will be closing on Sunday 22 December in preparation for its transition to an exciting special events and function centre, so this is your last opportunity to enjoy.
Receive 60% discount off all items in The Old Soap Factory. Pick up some beautiful, unique gifts or stocking fillers for Christmas, valid while stocks last. Closing 22/12/19. Conditions apply. Check out their Facebook page to find out more! Wild Goose, Noble Falls Estate, 2927 Toodyay Road, Gidgegannup. T:9574 6255

Have fun this summer school holiday at BIG4 Perth Midland Tourist Park close to Perth Hills, Swan Valley and easy access to the city. Enjoy savings on 2+ night stays in selected family accommodation or van sites and a complimentary voucher inclusive of one home-made ice cream and coffee at Mondo Nougat factory in the Swan Valley. Conditions apply. Enjoy the Park’s outdoor spa-swimming pool, outdoor games in large open spaces or have a game of pool in the recreation room!

Details of the Summer School Holiday deal are available on the website. Offer is valid for stays 20 Dec 2019-2 Feb 2020. Conditions apply. T: 9274 3002. BIG4 Perth Midland Tourist Park, 6 Toodyay Rd, Middle Swan. Open Mon-Sun 8am–6pm

Exhibition runs throughout December
‘Bush Bounty’ explores the many ways people, past and present, encountered West Australian flora.  From food and medicine, to decoration on clothing and domestic items, this exhibition celebrates how the State’s extraordinary botanical diversity has been utilised in the everyday and commonplace. 

Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun 10am-2.30pm (except Xmas Day and Boxing Day) Mundaring District Museum, Old School, 7225 Gt Eastern H'way, Mundaring. 
Emily Pelloe Illustration, from Charles Gardner & Emily Pelloe, Wildflowers of WA, 1938