It may only be January, but our 2018 calendars are already beginning to fill up with exciting events – and we’re not just talking about the year’s stellar line-up of not-to-miss movie releases.
With a year packed full of royal births, Olympic games and Kardashian babies you could easily miss something truly amazing. That’s why we’ve rounded up the 11 things you should definitely do this year to make 2018 your best year yet. Diaries at the ready.
1. Host a Royal Wedding viewing party
You know you want to. Grab a pen and mark May 19 in your diary, stat, because your new favourite royal couple will be making it official. Pour the champagne and invite your girlfriends over to toast to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they tie the knot at the wedding of the year. Ah, love.
2. Get behind the World’s Greatest Shave
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave. If you’ve ever thought about shaving your head to raise money for the amazing cause, this year is the perfect time. We all know someone who has been effected by cancer; in 2018, be brave and make the chop. Simply sign up online, create your own Shave Page, and the money you raise will go towards helping those fighting blood cancer and contribute to the funding of blood cancer research projects.
3. Pink tickets
Ask anyone who’s ever attended a Pink concert – the lady can throw one heck of a show! This year, the three-time Grammy award winner is bringing her Beautiful Trauma tour down under and you’re not going to want to miss it. Grab tickets now before they sell out.
4. Binge watch season 4 ‘Outlander’ the weekend it comes out
Life has been so lonely without Jamie. There’s yet to be a confirmed release date but thanks to a small teaser released by Starz (the makers of the cult time-travelling drama), we’re already too excited to cancel all our plans and binge-watch season four of Outlander the weekend it comes out. With Jamie and Claire to hang out with, who needs real-life friends anyway?
5. Catch an event at the Commonwealth games
Taking place on the Gold Coast from the 4-15 April, the Commonwealth Games will see some of the world’s most impressive athletes (although, unfortunately not the above two) make their way down under. Grab tickets to one of the events and cheer the Aussie team on! FYI royal watchers: Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla will be attending too.
6. Check out live comedy
Sometimes, all you need is a good laugh – it’s good for the soul! This year, put live comedy on your bucket list and look out for comedy fests and local acts. This year’s Sydney Comedy Festival is seriously impressive and includes a bunch of international names, including Shawn Wayans and Ross Noble, with a Showcase Tour that ventures to regional towns and other states.
7. Pre-book your cinema tickets to see Ocean’s 8
Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway and Sarah Paulson. Need we say more? Hitting cinemas June 7, Ocean’s 8 is set to be one of the year’s biggest box-office hits. The all-female spin-off about Danny Ocean’s sister Debbie (Bullock) will have cinemas packed – and you won’t want to be late to the party.
8. Noosa International Food and Wine
You don’t need to be any good in the kitchen to enjoy a food festival. This year, why not head up to beautiful Noosa to check out one of Australia’s most acclaimed food festivals? Showcasing some of the nation’s best food and wine, the Noosa International Food and Wine Festival will take place from 17-20 May. From golf-course lunches to beach tipi dinners and champagne masterclasses, there is something for everyone.
9. Try all the 2018 food fads (at least once)
The foodies have spoken and this year it will be all about the edible flowers, super powders (time to try matcha?) and dessert tacos. Why not give your kitchen game an update and experiment with this year’s trending ingredients and recipes (regardless of how strange they sound!).
10. Host an outdoor movie night with the kids
Take it back to the days of the drive-in cinema and set up your very own outdoor theatre at home. Get the kids involved and deck out the backyard with comfy cushions and fairy lights. Use a sheet and your clothesline as a makeshift screen, and hire out a projector for the night, and enjoy a flick under the stars.
11. Start a book club (and actually read the books)
Being in a book club means being up to date on all the books everyone is talking about, catching up with friends and (usually) a chance to enjoy a glass of red and some delicious cheese – so, what’s not to love? If you’ve attempted the book club thing before but failed, 2018’s impressive line-up of new releases will make things a lot easier.
Me Before You‘s Jojo Moyes is releasing the next installment in the series, Still Me, and Rose McGowan‘s tell-all memoir about her childhood in the Children of God cult and her experiences with Harvey Weinstein, Brave, will be a sure page-turner. For those wanting a Gone Girl style read, The Dry, by Aussie author Jane Harper, is perfect. Set in drought-stricken rural Australia, the author’s debut novel has already had its film rights optioned by Reese Witherspoon‘s film production company.
Brought to you by Leukaemia Foundation
