Things to do in Sydney this week

Amy Shark. Daryl Braithwaite. Tommy Little. Bluey and Bingo. Now if that’s not a list of some of the country’s most beloved entertainers, we don’t know what is. And it also just happens to be a little glimpse of the epic line-up for Encore Manly – a brand new music and comedy festival coming to Sydney’s Northern Beaches on August 17. Encore will see more than 60 established and up-and-coming music and live comedy acts hit up the pubs, bars and clubs of Manly. Whether you're a child, a music-lover, or a comedy fanatic, there's truly something for everyone. 

After five-years of world touring, Fleurs de Villes, a splendid bespoke flower show that has taken the world by storm, is coming to Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens. 2022’s theme is FEMMES, with this year’s exhibition taking on the varied talents of local Sydney florists to create a jaw-dropping floral testament to 15 remarkable women. This exhibition is unlike any other seen in Sydneytown, with it showcasing life-size mannequins dressed entirely in intricate and immense flower designs, featuring the likes of  Kylie Minogue and Frida Kahlo in a fabulous and flowery format that has to be seen to be believed. 

Ever since the irrefutably inimitable Bernie Dieter and her infamous troupe of bombastic Bohemians sashayed out of her sold-out Spiegeltent shows in March, Sydney has been begging – nay, gagging – for Club Kabarett to return and make our dark and debauched wishes come true. Pitching a tent down at Circular Quay yet again for a limited six-week run (Aug 16-Sep 25), night after hazy night will be filled with dangerously funny kabarett, breathtaking circus, gender-bending aerial and fire-breathing sideshow – and it's all set to the soundtrack of a live Weimar-punk jazz haus band. 

YCK Laneways, the nightlife hub bound between York, Clarence and Kent Streets, is switching on a brand new festival from August 3-31 that’s all about showcasing female and non-binary talent in arts and culture. The precinct’s surfeit of top bars – including PS40, Sammy Jnr, the Barber Shop, Burrow Bar, the Duke of Clarence, the Swinging Cat, Uncle Ming's, Joelene's, Prince of York, Santa Catarina, Grandma's and Papa Gede’s – will be thronging with over 50 events platforming artists, DJs, jazz musicians, singers and creatives in exciting and unexpected experiences. Most events are generously free, though bookings are recommended.

Exciting, delicious news ahead: Rosa Cienfuegos of the Tamaleria and Mexican Deli in Dulwich Hill is launching a series of intimate and nostalgic taco nights, celebrating all things about the bite-sized staple. After a two-month stint exploring and eating her way through Mexico, Cienfuegos will launch her very own culinary adventure at her Redfern Itacate venue that will explore the flavours, preparation, origin and importance of a variety of tacos. Introducing "Rosa's Taco Journeys", a celebration of Mexican culture and cuisine – inherently intertwined and rich in history. Over six special nights throughout August and September, diners can get involved in a taco making master class. 

If you thought the Sydney Opera House was a rarefied hall that only staged classical ballet and opera, it’s time to acquaint yourself. This month its intimate Studio venue will light up for Deejay x Dancer – an explosively energetic show in which Sydney-based choreographer Nick Power (Two Crews, Between Tiny Cities) pays tribute to hip hop’s origins. Drawing inspiration from the legendary block parties of 1970s New York, world champion turntablist DJ Total Eclipse (a veteran who’s toured with AB Original and Funkoars) will bring the beats as three of Australia’s most respected breakers throw it down.

Two teenage boys meet under a lemon tree. After a rough start, a fragile friendship fruits into a heady romance. If history had played out a little differently, they might have stood a chance. But it’s the early 19th century, Ty is River Mob, Neddy is Mountain Mob, strangers from a far distant land are on the march, and the land they stand together on is about to be declared ‘Australia’.  Whitefella Yella Tree is a gripping and heartbreaking tale exploring how the development of queer Aboriginal identities was impacted by British colonisers importing their ideas (and laws) surrounding homosexuality.

The year is 1978. Wall Street has been taken over by a new generation. The flood of petrodollars has elevated US banking to an indomitable position. Luxury hotel rooms, fine dining and attractive company is the life of those who jet around the globe selling loans to developing countries eager to borrow, and there are plenty.But the writing on the wall tells a different tale. It tells of the overwhelming recklessness of the banks, of countries struggling to repay their debts. And before long, an unthinkable nightmare starts to be made reality.

Love Korean cinema? You’re in luck because the best of Korean filmmaking is set to hit Australian shores. Enjoy some of the world’s best performances, alongside incredible storytelling and cutting-edge cinematography, at this year’s Korean Film Festival in Australia. Part of a country-wide tour, the festival is set to hit Sydney’s Event Cinemas on George Street on Thursday, August 18 for six huge days of showings. Showcasing some of the best films from Korea’s film industry – from popular blockbusters to underground noir films, romantic comedies to thrillers – the festival spans a variety of genres.

The most exciting new gallery worth your next day trip from Sydney has been filled to the brim with an explosion of colour created by two of Australia’s most vibrant artists, Ken Done and Rosie Deacon. Both artists are known for their bold colour palettes and ability to capture the quintessential Australian experience, and Spring Collection offers a rare encounter of two colliding worlds. Commissioned by Ngununggula gallery to create a work inspired by Done, Deacon’s immersive installation grows and stretches from the gallery walls, floors and ceiling, allowing the viewer to feel like they are essentially walking inside a painting. 

If reality has been getting you down lately, we have a pretty dreamy solution. Enter: Eternityland, a pop-up fantastical theatre experience full of multi-roomed adventures, wild storytelling, live music, crazy characters, circus performances, massive and surreal set-design, secret bars and legit battles with ancient heroes from myths past. Akin to stepping into the worlds of Squid Game or Westworld (but without all the grim torture and death bits), Eternityland is an interactive theatre experience that looks like nothing we've ever seen in Sydney before.

The inaugural Winter Blast festival is bringing all the best parts of a snowy European winter to Macquarie Mall over two consecutive weekends in August (11-14 and 18-21). There will be live entertainment (including acoustic performers and DJ sets), plenty of fun children’s activities, a glowing light trail and even real-life snow falling from the sky.

Kicking off on Tuesday, August 2, venues like Guzman Y Gomez, Din Tai Fung, Hero Sushi, Zeus Street Greek, Ben and Jerry's and plenty more will be offering eligible folks (that's anyone with a student card) a bit of reprieve with mini chicken burritos, steamed pork buns, avocado rolls and heaps more. All you've gotta do is show your student ID, scan a QR code and fill your tummy.

Tiger Trek is an entertaining and free experience that is bound to delight kids and adults alike. The experience is included in your ticket to Taronga, and attendees are invited to get into a flight simulator that takes them (very quickly) from Mosman to the Way Kambas National Park in Sumatra.Upon landing, you walk through an Indonesian-inspired village, meandering down a path past village shops and through a rainforest that looks uncannily like you’re in the Indonesian archipelago. At the end, you will get the chance to see the zoo’s three tiger cubs, who were all born in 2019, as well as their beautiful mother, father, uncle and grandmother. 

Practice your pop choreo and get ready to live out your teenage dream, the smash-hit musical sensation Fangirls is about to burst onto the Sydney Opera House stage. Before Pixar’s latest feel-good tween romp Turning Red was celebrated for its unabashed embrace of teen girls and intensive boy band fanaticism, this poptastic Aussie musical was already celebrating the misunderstood power and passion of teenage fandom. Now Fangirls is back to win more hearts after previous sell-out seasons.

Here at Time Out, we're big fans of cheese in all its forms: hard, soft, brie, blue, smoked, cake – we love it all. But if there's a cheesy dish guaranteed to melt (and slightly clog) our hearts, it's the ultimate oozy Swiss delight: raclette.Harbourside hangout Opera Bar – with its glorious views you can never quite tire of, no matter how many times you go – is now dishing up this cold-weather favourite in roving carts, along with a selection of wintertime treats like s'more and mulled drinks.  

A thigh-slapping farce with a premise so ludicrous you can almost see Will winking at you between the lines, The Comedy of Errors is getting a brand new production from Bell Shakespeare with a four-week season at Sydney Opera House kicking off on August 17. How ludicrous you ask? Try this. Shipwrecked and separated 33 years earlier, two sets of long-lost twins find themselves in the same city on the same day. To make matters worse, the two pairs are both called Antipholus and Dromio. Are you keeping up? 

Daniel Boyd is considered one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists, so it’s about time that the first major solo exhibition of his work was held in an Australian state art museum. Presented at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Treasure Island features more than 80 works from across Boyd’s two-decade career, tracing the artist's deep thinking around ideas of legacy and inheritance and his continued engagement with the histories of Australia.

Ultra Unreal will be submerging the MCA from July 22 to October 2, and will be all about exploring how ancient mythologies can be used to reveal the complexities of current realities and new worlds. This totally free and multisensory exhibition will feature the diverse work of six artists and collectives with practices linked to nightlife ecosystems from all over the world. 

Starting on July 24, the Paddo Inn will transform itself into Casa Patrón, a tequila fanatic’s personal paradise, with the front bar set to get decked in lush greenery and tropical pops of pink and orange. Along with live music performances and general good vibes, the Paddington stalwart will be putting on a seriously exotic curated tequila cocktail menu for all those willing to get swilling. 

With a distinctive Art Deco design restored to its former 1930s glory and an impressive sound system, the Ritz is one of the finest cinemas in all of Sydney. This Randwick landmark is celebrating its 85th birthday in 2022, and the movie maniacs at the Ritz are marking the occasion by screening 85 iconic films in 85 days. While you’re headed that way for a screening, don’t forget that the inimitable Bar Ritz boasts a marble bar and balcony upstairs – perfect for pre- and post-film drinks.

Every Wednesday evening, the Art Gallery of NSW welcomes you into its hallowed halls and throws the ultimate in absolutely free mid-week social and cultural events. Until 10pm, Art After Hours offers a regular program of live music, lectures and celebrity talks, drawing workshops, film screenings, gallery tours and other events – and, of course, nocturnal access to its latest exhibitions. 

The latest from award-winning playwright Vanessa Bates (previously of Sydney Theatre Company’s Darling Oscar, and Barking Gecko Theatre’s A Ghost in My Suitcase) and directed by Darren Yap (Griffin Theatre’s Diving for Pearls) is the amusing, chaotic story of two Malaysian-Australian siblings, Mel and Eric, grappling with the impending visit of their dominating mother Helene (Gabrielle Chan), and what it means to be Eurasian.

Teethy vaginas and cloth from actual half-made waistcoat made for Captain Cook by his wife (and then abandoned forever following his unfortunately fatal trip to Hawaii in 1779) lie in wait for all visitors to Vivienne Binns: On and through the Surface – the MCA’s radical retrospective of one of Australia’s most preeminent living painters. 

We challenge you to find a bigger tearjerker than this in the opera canon – it's not just the story (based on Alexandre Dumas' popular 1848 novel La Dame aux Camélias) about a courtesan who falls for a young admirer and sacrifices her chance at happiness for the greater good; it's also Verdi's romantic score. These are the reasons why we keep going back to Verdi's opera.This 'old faithful' production by director Elijah Moshinsky, with opulent 19th-century design, is also something that audiences keep returning to; it's never long out of circulation for Opera Australia.

Sir Sidney Nolan is most commonly known for his infamous depictions of bushranger Ned Kelly and mythology of bush life in Australia. However, Sydneysiders now have the opportunity to see a rarely exposed side of one of the country’s most well known artists. From July 21, the Sydney Jewish Museum will exhibit a collection of 50 of Nolan’s Auschwitz works that have never been seen in Australia.

This winter, Surry Hills' favourite vino oasis, the Winery, has transformed into a groovy Bohemian glamping wonderland, so you can warm up in style. Mulled wine in hand, you and your besties can cosy up in these pretty canvas tents complete with glittering fairy lights, grazing menus and comfy cushions all winter long. The beautiful bit though, is that this is the best part of camping: tasty snacks, delicious drinks and no uncomfortable overnight stay.

While it is, on paper, a jukebox musical in the same vein as Mamma Mia! or We Will Rock You, the red-raw, heart-on-her-sleeve lyrics from Alanis Morisette’s generation-defining album allow for a far richer narrative to emerge in Jagged Little Pill. It tells the story of an American family coming apart at the seams, and weaves in a tapestry of urgent social issues. But it's also a show about the hope that springs from facing such challenges, and that’s surely something to cling onto.

Now is your chance to check out the late modernist art collection that formed the basis of Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art. Light and Darkness at the Chau Chak Wing Museum. The free exhibition draws on the University’s Power Collection, established in 1967 after J W Power bequeathed his fortune to the University to bring Australians “in more direct contact with the latest art developments in other countries”.

Sydney: the city of blue skies, alfresco living and fabulous times in the great outdoors, right? Well, hold on a second. The Harbour City is not always a great place for fun in the sun, as this year's persistent rains have proven. But when the weather takes a turn for the worse, you don't need to hunker down at home. Why not take shelter in style with our guide to the most fun things to do indoors in Sydney? Whether you're in search of a crafternoon, a cultural adventure, or a cocktail with a view, there's something for everyone on our list of fun venues and activities where you can stay warm and dry, all year round.

Is bigger really better? The good folks at Fun Lab certainly think so. Two new epic additions to their entertainment hub in Alexandria are bringing the good times on a whole new scale. Right next door to the HiJinx Hotel, the world’s first challenge room venue, and the ever-popular Archie Bros Cirque Electriq, is the nation’s largest indoor mini-golf arena, featuring 27 pun-tastic novelty putt-putt holes spread across three madcap courses. 

Internationally acclaimed Australian artist Mel O’Callaghan is expanding on her continued exploration of the relationship between life and "nonlife" in a new major exhibition at Carriageworks. All is Life is spread across two spaces in the former railway workshops of Carriageworks. In a large, cavernous room, O’Callaghan presents a new performance installation and sound work, titled ‘First Sound, Last Sound’. The installation features two large-scale fully functioning tuning forks that stand at three metres high and are positioned atop a raised stage.

On Friday, May 27 a secret bar will quietly open its doors for the first time at The Streets of Barangaroo in Sydney. The D.L.M – that's the Department of Legend & Myth FYI – is set to be Sydneysiders' new house of wondery and mystery, where punters can expect cocktails, magic, live music and quirky decor. Expect Japanese fried chicken, a concealed entry way, and an actual magician. 

Sydney’s newest cultural institution is a designated space for the stories and contributions of Chinese Australians. The creators of MOCA, the Museum of Chinese in Australia, are encouraging visitors to throw out everything you thought you knew about museums, and step into a space that brings past, present and future together in one place. 

You’ve no doubt heard of smash rooms, splash rooms and escape rooms. Well, now Sydneysiders are the first people in the world to get up close and personal with ‘challenge rooms’. Plucked from the madcap minds of the team at Funlab, the creators of popular mini-golf chain Holey Moley and Sydney’s new augmented reality darts bar La Di Darts, Hijinx Hotel is a brand new concept that pairs silly good times with a competitive edge. 

A rooftop might not be the cosiest venue when the mercury plummets, but the East Village Sydney is having a crack at keeping their lofty drinking spot popular in the colder months with this pretty-in-pink makeover. From Thursday, June 2 the rooftop terrace will be adorned in fairy lights, rosy lighting and a forest of baby’s breath to give it that musk stick meets Elle Woods appeal, but… winter themed.

A new exhibition featuring the most comprehensive display of Brett Whiteley’s painted ceramics has opened at the artist's former home, Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills. Over 40 ceramic pieces – dating from the 1970s and 1980s – feature in the exhibition, which examines the connections between the artist’s work across various mediums and the use of the colour blue in his practice.

Australia’s favourite portrait prize is back for 2022, and as always it's a delight to see which famous faces have made it into the mix of painterly interpretations. This year over 800 paintings were submitted, and you can peruse the top 52 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until August 28, when they ship off around the country.

Do you want nothing more than to get down n’ dancing on a Wednesday night? Look no further, we've got you covered. For more than 12 years, Birdcage has been a homing beacon for Sydney's queer women and a safe space for LGBTQIA+ folks to cut a rug. This good time Newotwn pub is open for dancing from 8pm to 2am every Wednesday night, bringing free entry, glitzy fun and an assortment of DJs and drag hosts to spice up your mid-week.

Sometimes, a Thursday night in winter can be a bit, as they say, ‘bleak’. Deciding what to eat for dinner can feel like Everest (not to be too dramatic, but seriously) and the thought of having to physically cook something warm and nourishing can feel a wee bit much for those of us who would rather lie horizontally whilst listening to dolphin noises in their dark living rooms. For all ye weary folk, we hear you. That’s why the weekly Thursday curry night at the Woollahra Hotel is such a catch.

Are you ready to chase arty escapades around the city? The Biennale of Sydney has unleashed a packed program for 2022, with over 330 artworks by 89 participants and 400 events, which are showing over three months. The largest contemporary art event of its kind in Australia, as always, the Biennale is free to visit and open to the public. Check out our highlight picks.

Booze & Blooms is the baby genius of Stanmore-based floral designer and owner of Stardust Flowers, Kate Hayes, who has begun running weekly flower design workshops from her Inner West studio on Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons. These floristry classes are all about teaching you how to design the most beauteous bouquet possible, through coaching you on colour, floral care, what flowers to look for, and how to put all of the finicky little creatures together in a way that's sure to impress. Plus, you get unlimited wine. 

While the weather has been unpredictable at best, with winds and rain set to disrupt plans for the foreseeable future, there is one failsafe place you can go to commune with nature in comfort. Sydney is taking temporary custody of the 57th Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. On loan from London’s Natural History Museum, this world-class collection of mesmerising images is being housed at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Located in the notoriously colourful and historic nightlife district of Kings Cross, the Bamboozle Room will transport you to another time and place. Currently on show every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night is Talk and Tease: Comedy Burlesque, a light-hearted variety show that's a bit risqué with plenty of laughs thrown in. The night features a mixture of cheeky and unique burlesque solo acts and stand-up comedy, all presented by a quirky MC.

Everyone's favourite party circus, basement dwelling Ramblin' Rascals are all grown up and shifting gears. Yes, the debauchery remains, but after nearly a decade of liver-smashing, whiskey shooting and rollicking party intensity, the team is letting some of Sydney's finest musos take charge by putting on gigs every dang week with a revolving line up of local acts, so there's a little something to please everyone. 

After three months under stay-at-home orders, you're probably ready for a post-lockdown pampering, and it just so happens we know just the places that can sort you out. Whether you want to go all-in for transformative results or you're just in the market for a brief spot of me-time, Sydney's palaces of self-rejuvenation have you covered.

You’ve got to hand it to Sydney’s bars for digging deep and weathering one hell of a proverbial storm. The resilience that the hospitality industry has shown deserves a standing ovation and with reopenings (and grand openings) on the horizon, there's never been a better time to get out and support the bars, pubs and clubs that are the heartbeat of our town. Make your way down our list.

Sydney is home to some pretty fascinating museums, places where you can learn about ships, time, military history, society, the police force and more. Rain or shine, head out on a journey of discovery at these all-weather-friendly houses of knowledge. You'll learn about fascinating natural histories, scientific endeavours, design innovations and the many surprising stories that have made this city everything it is today.

The food vendors at Broadway Shopping Centre are pulling together to offer students 100 free meals every Tuesday between August and November.

From easy breezy coastal walks to half-day bush hikes and multi-day expeditions, Sydney’s blessed with many different walking paths that’ll suit amblers of all abilities. Take a look at our list of 13 walks in Sydney that’ll take you over dramatic sandstone cliffs, cobbled stone paths, sandy inlets and well-trodden boardwalks.

Love art? Enjoy a bracing stroll? Well, we've got good news for any Sydneysiders looking to combine their cardio with a little culture. Our streets are positively littered, in the very best way, with incredible public artworks and street art hotspots you can enjoy during your outdoor exercise.

When it comes to culinary oneupmanship, there is perhaps no medium more perfect for showboating chefs than the hamburger. Taking the simple formula of a patty in a bun to bizarre new heights, the most audacious examples are towering stacks that seem to flip the bird to gravity, moderation, and the line between the main course and dessert.

Whether you're looking to go for a run, walk your dog, have a sedate picnic or just take a break from your four walls, these are the parks to visit. They have sprawling open spaces, free barbecues and shaded spots to while away an afternoon or simply catch a break at lunchtime.

You might think that the difference between a park and garden is just a matter of semantics, but in truth, they’re different spaces. Parks are all about activity and versatility – they can become whatever we need them to be. Gardens on the other hand offer carefully curated experiences.

We're spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful running routes in this city. Any one of these 13 options will guarantee the pounding of trainers on solid ground won’t be the only thing getting your blood pumping. Lace up and conquer these lakeside, seaside and parkside runs in Sydney.