May’s headliner is Brian Cox at RAC Arena, but there are a lot of other big events on this month: a Margaret River winemaker dinner, Friday Night Netty, debate club at Lawson Flats, and bottomless drinks in Northbridge that finish before dinner.
Here’s what’s on this month.
A community call to action: volunteering at Whiteman Park
There are plenty of ways to support your community, but few are as tangible — or as local — as lending a hand at Whiteman Park. Each year, tens of thousands of visitors go through the gates to experience Western Australia’s living history, bushland and waterways, cultural experiences, and family events. Much of what they see and enjoy is powered by volunteers.
More than 600 people have already donated their time across the Park’s volunteer-led attractions, welcoming guests, guiding tours, restoring machinery, caring for collections, gardening, supporting events, and keeping the backstage wheels turning. The roles are as varied as the people who fill them — whether you bring a trade, a knack for storytelling, a love of heritage, or simply a few hours to spare, there’s likely a place where your skills can make a visible difference.
Things to do in Perth
For anyone curious about getting involved, Whiteman Park is holding a volunteer information session on Saturday, May 23rd, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Representatives from the attractions will be on hand to answer questions and help prospective volunteers find a starting point that suits their interests and availability.
Places can be reserved by calling 9209 6000 or emailing [email protected].
Brian Cox brings Emergence to RAC Arena
Professor Brian Cox returns to Perth on Saturday, May 23rd, with his new world tour, Emergence — the follow-up to Horizons, which played to close to half a million people globally. The show traces how the universe builds dazzling complexity from a small set of physical laws, taking the audience from the cosmic web of galaxies down to snowflakes and the structure of the human brain.
Cox has spent the last 15 years fronting BBC science programmes, including Wonders of the Solar System and The Planets. For Emergence, he’s pulled together scientists, musicians, filmmakers, and graphic artists, with the production running across some of the largest LED screens currently available.
Where: RAC Arena
When: Saturday, May 23rd
Tickets are available here.
Debate Club lands at Lawson Flats
Lawson Flats has a new addition to its calendar this May: Debate Club, an evening of arguments on a question shaping communities right now — exclusivity versus inclusivity. One team makes the case for open doors and broader perspectives; the other defends curation, trust, and a strong identity over scale.
A judging panel calls a winner, but the final vote goes to the room. Dinner at Luis’ follows for anyone who isn’t quite ready to go home.
When: Tuesday, May 19th
Where: Lawson Flats
Cost: Members $15.00 per person, public $25.00 per person (drink on arrival included)
Daycap at The Rechabite
Bottomless drinks have moved to the afternoon. Daycap runs at The Rechabite every Saturday from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm with free-flowing pours, a DJ keeping the room moving, and a share-style menu from Chef Navarre Topp.
The drinks list runs through Lemoncello and Yuzu Spritz, Sakura Blossom, and Silk Road cocktails alongside wines and tap beers. The food includes crispy prawn wontons, kimchi dumplings, and wagyu yukhoe tartare, with vegan and gluten-free dishes integrated into the menu rather than tacked on as an afterthought. Wrapping at 4:00 pm leaves you well-positioned to either head home or push straight on into Northbridge.
When: Every Saturday, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: The Rechabite, Northbridge
Lawson Flats Wine Club turns two
A day after Debate Club, Lawson Flats throws a second birthday for its Wine Club. Host Emma Farrelly pours six wines across the evening — bubbles to open, something from a magnum, and a blind tasting with a bottle on the line for whoever calls it correctly.
Cake is locked in. So is a playlist. A DJ is not out of the question.
When: Wednesday, May 20th
Where: Lawson Flats
Cost: Members $40.00 per person, public $70.00 per person
West Coast Fever
May is Fever month as RAC Arena plays host to three West Coast Fever games.
The first match-up sees Friday Night Netty hit RAC Arena. The showcase is one of Super Netball’s marquee fixtures and the only Friday night game of the whole season. This one isn’t just for the kids; grab your friends and make a night of it with the Green Army.
The Fever will also be in action against the Swifts and Mavericks as they look to lock their spot in the top four.
West Coast Fever May Schedule
- Fever vs Thunderbirds: Friday, May 8th at RAC Arena, 6:00 pm
- Fever vs Swifts: Sunday, May 17th at RAC Arena, 2:00 pm
- Fever vs Mavericks: Saturday, May 30th at RAC Arena, 5:00 pm
Hot Keys piano nights at Deadbeat Bar
Friday and Saturday nights at Deadbeat Bar belong to Hot Keys — live piano, crowd-led requests, and group sing-alongs of the classics, usually a few drinks past the original key. Pre-night or post-night, it works either way.
When: Every Friday and Saturday
Where: Deadbeat Bar, 440 Murray Street, Perth
Salsa lessons at The Leederville
Every Tuesday from 6:30 pm, the Red Room upstairs at The Leederville runs beginner salsa with Liliana and the Ritmo Caliente crew. No experience expected, no partner required; just a way to do something on a Tuesday night that isn’t dinner and a movie.
When: Tuesdays from 6:30 pm
Where: The Leederville Precinct, 2/742 Newcastle Street, Leederville
Producer Wine Dinner — McHenry Hohnen at City Cellar
McHenry Hohnen winemaker Jacopo Dalli Cani is in town for an intimate dinner in Cherubino City Cellar’s Private Dining Room. The Margaret River estate works biodynamically across three vineyards in the southern reaches of the region, with classics like Chardonnay and Cabernet alongside Marsanne, Roussanne, and Grenache.
Six wines are on pour, including the 2024 Hazel’s Chardonnay, the 2023 Grenache, the 2020 Hazel’s Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2019 Rolling Stone — paired with a relaxed dinner from the City Cellar kitchen.
When: Thursday, May 14th, from 6:30 pm
Where: City Cellar
