Qualified horticulturist and award-winning gardener Dhyan Blore will present a series of workshops for home gardeners at Rahamim Ecology Centre. Topics covered during the one-and-a-half to two-hour interactive workshops will include caring for plants in dry times, maximising water in gardens and plants, and the importance of mulch. Workshops will be held at 10am on October 10, 18 and 24; 2pm on November 2; 10am on November 11 and 19; 10am on December 4 and 11; and 2pm on December 7. To register, visit www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/waterrestrictions

Arthritis NSW Support Group will meet at the Bathurst RSL from 10am-noon. Call Nelma Brooks, 0431 829 709.

Bathurst Highland Society meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month. Call the secretary, 6337 1283.

Friday, October 11

Multicultural Women's Group will meet at the Neighbourhood Centre at 96 Russell Street at noon. Call Isabel, 6332 3019, or Hai-Choo, 6332 4669.

Scentsy Halloween Party will be held at 2pm at 12 Sundown Drive, Kelso.

Acoustic Autograph will play at the Dudley Hotel from 6pm.

Bathurst Men's Shed will be open at 140 Havannah Street from 9.30am-2.30pm. Call Ross McCourt, 6337 2536.

Saturday, October 12

The annual Great Race Festival Saturday Street Fair from 10am to 4pm will feature food and market stalls, entertainment by local artists and activities for the kids, including $2 rides. The Disney Kids' Zone, with Mack the Transporter and Lightning McQueen, is back.

Learn how to create a scarf from merino wool from 10am to noon. For more information, call Carol Dobson, 0427 314 776, or email caroldobsondesign@gmail.com.

Luke O'Shea and Lyn Bowtell's Love and Laughter Tour will be at Panthers Bathurst at 7pm.

Coming up

Can Assist Bathurst will hold a fundraising Christmas lunch at the Bathurst RSL on November 14. Cost for the lunch is $40 per person and it will feature a two-course meal, tea and coffee, raffle prizes and lucky door competition. Call Barbara Piddington on 6332 1036 for tickets.

Charles Sturt University Bathurst graduate Charlotte Wood will return to the city to launch her latest book, The Weekend. Wood will talk about the novel at the Victoria from 6pm on Friday, October 18. Tickets are $15 and available from BooksPlus on 6331 5994 or by emailing admin@booksplus.com.au. Bookings are essential for catering purposes.

Allegri Singers and friends will perform Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man on Saturday, November 2 at All Saints' Cathedral, Bathurst and Sunday, November 3 in the Derek Pigot Auditorium, Kinross Wolaroi School, Orange. Tickets are available from Books Plus, Bathurst, Orange Regional Conservatorium of Music at www.trybooking.com or at the door.