Things to do in Sydney this weekend

Cherry blossom season is landing in Sydney, and with it, Auburn's beloved Cherry Blossom Festival. Running from August 20 to August 28 in the Auburn Botanical Gardens, this fragrant festival is all about celebrating Japanese traditions, music, pop-culture and food, with visitors able to wander through fields of fluffy pink blossoms, eat Japanese street food, attend amazing workshops and hang out with Hello Kitty. Pretty good. 

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.

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. The action kicks off on August 17, and will see more than 60 established and up-and-coming acts hit up the pubs, bars and clubs of Manly. Whether you're a child, a music-lover, or a comedy fan, there will be something wonderful on offer for absolutely everyone. 

Forget cosying up on the couch to beat the chill this winter. There’s a carnival of culture beckoning in Bankstown each weekend until the end of August. Bring your kids, your parents and all your aunties, uncles, cousins and friends to Sydney’s south-western heartland for soul-warming live music, a feast of flavours and all-ages activities as part of Bankstown Winter Weekends. 

After a successful five-year-long world tour, Fleurs de Villes, the whimsically splendid  bespoke flower show that has taken the world by storm is coming to Sydney’s very own 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 floral 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 that have to be seen, to be believed.

The name says it all, really. The Sydney Family Expo is a two-day extravaganza dedicated to all things family – we’re talking parenting workshops, children’s entertainment, expert-led seminars, not-for-profit organisations for kids and much more. It’s happening on August 20-21, and everyone in the fam (including mum, dad, the kids, aunts, uncles and cousins) are invited to be part of the fun. 

Music, creativity and learning converge in Parramatta this August with the full program for Sound West now out in the open. The festival brings together brilliant minds, industry leaders and music enthusiasts to network and enjoy the creativity of artists from Greater Western Sydney. More than 15 live music events and programs (a mix of industry and general public events) are happening across various venues from August 20 to 28, headlined by the likes of rising rapper Masked Wolf; hip-hop artist and producer L-Fresh the Lion and musician, singer, songwriter and rapper A.Girl. 

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.

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.

Broaden your knowledge at this year’s Sydney Science Festival at the Powerhouse Museum, which kicks off on August 12. Produced by the museum since 2015, the week-long festival is Australia’s leading program celebrating the world of science.This year’s theme is Revival, which aims to cast a spotlight on the climate and environment, and explore the notion of rebounding and renewal post-pandemic.

If you thought the Sydney Opera House was a rarefied hall that only staged classical ballet and opera, it’s time to re 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.

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.

Sydney Vegan Market brings together more than 70 stalls selling 100 per cent plant-based savoury bites, sweet treats, beverages, home and beauty products, educational and charity stalls and more. Start the morning mindfully and set your intention with a free yoga session, and catch sets from local music talents on the solar-powered mainstage as you peruse the stalls with a coffee or chai in hand and engage with education and activism. 

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, featuring a new series of never-before-seen works by Done alongside a major new installation by Deacon. 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. 

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 c utting-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. 

Thar she blows! From August 11 to September 24, a pod of whale tails are migrating through Sydney's Western Harbour – and if you manage to find them all you could just win an epic prize. Waterfront Whale Tales is a collection of thirty two-metre-tall whale tail sculptures that have been painted by local Australian artists. This talented line-up includes Archibald prize winner and First Nations artist Blak Douglas, illustrator and animator Chris Yee and artist, author and illustrator Sha’an d’Anthes aka Furry Little Peach. Each tail boasts a unique design that is inspired by its location, marine life, Indigenous stories and the land. 

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. A much-loved element of many European winter markets are the stalls serving up all manner of tasty treats  – and the culinary offerings at Winter Blast won't disappoint. You will be able to gorge on roasted chestnuts, Dutch stroopwafels, strawberries drowned in melted Belgian chocolate and cevapi served with sour cream, onion and capsicum relish on a damper roll.

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 including a four-star run at Belvoir in 2019 and a national tour in 2021.

From the industry legends that brought us Sydney institutions Tio’s, Cantina OK and the Cliff Dive comes the next great nocturnal adventure: Bar Planet, a psychedelic Inner West dive-bar re-imagining the world's most divisive cocktail, the Martini. Located smack-bang on gritty, emerging drink and dine strip Enmore Road, Bar Planet illuminates the well trod sidewalk with its signage’s neon blue hue. Inside, bent-up wrought iron light fittings reminiscent of space junk, loom over patrons while they snack on paper bags full of popcorn at the intergalactic themed bar.

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.  

If you’ve ever wanted to get seriously close to a Sumatran tiger (without there being a terrible ethical or safety problem in the way) then now is your chance. Taronga Zoo is celebrating the fifth birthday of its incredible Tiger Trek experience. All big cat fans are advised to come by and meet these magnificent feline residents while also helping in their conservation.

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. Head over to the Rocks to check out a radical look at anime, death, clubbing, robots and ancient mythology all in one, wild space. 

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. 

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.

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. 

Go to Italy for cheap this weekend with a bottomless brunch trip to Fortuna Drink & Eat, a bright Italian eatery and all-day diner that has just emerged on the streets of Darlinghurst. This brand-new brunch event will be all about bringing you that delectable Italian chill as you snaffle seven morish dishes, including freshly baked focaccia, marinated olives, porchetta, golden roasted potatoes and herby, creamy burrata – all on top of a never-ending flow of Aperol Spritz, Negronis, Mimosas, beer and vino on ice, for the duration of your 90-minute sitting. Bellissimo! 

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.

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.

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 dynamic museum of art, science, history and ancient cultures at the University of Sydney – surveys art from the 1960s to the 1980s. It features internationally renowned artists from the era such as Bridget Riley, Roy Lichtenstein and Colin McCahon, Michelangelo Pistoletto and Robert Rauschenberg.

Sydney, we stand before you empty-lunged and sweaty-browed. We've hit up Sydney's karaoke dens to discern for you the best spots around the city to bust a lung and break hearts on the private dancefloor. The criteria? The room, the sound system, the song list and that special something – we'll call it k-factor.

Read on, and you may discover that you'll find it for yourself too.

When 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.

Practice lacing your skates, because a cold breeze is brewing and requests to dress up as characters from Frozen on Sydney’s ice rinks are on the rise. Some of our favourite icy pop-ups are back in town after taking a hiatus last winter, and permanent rinks have also frosted back up for eager skaters.

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.

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 Hijinx Hotel is a brand new concept that pairs silly good times with a competitive edge, with added cocktails FTW.

Crustless cucumber sandwiches, scones with jam and cream and tiered plates of petit fours.  Sydney loves a pinky-lifting high tea, and with good reason. Once you've got baked goodies, tea selections for every palette and beautiful surrounds – maybe harbour views, like at the Mosman Barracks, or cultivated gardens at historic Vaucluse House – you've got all the elements of an aspirational afternoon of ever-so fancy leisure.

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.

Hark! What's that? If it's winter in Sydney and you're standing by the sea, it could very well be the gentle giants of the Big Blue popping up to say hello – and, y'know, breathe. In Sydney, May to November is your best bet to catch a glimpse of some humpback whales, as 20,000 of them make moves along the New South Wales coastline during the colder months. If you want to try your luck this weekend, head to one of our top vantage point picks and get ready to wave a long distance hello. 

 Sydney is back. Weekends are back. Life is back. And with this great resurgence of good times, we are also welcoming back one of our most beloved cultural institutions - the humble weekend market. Snaffling fried brunchy fare on the grass, hanging with dogs, uncovering a mint condition leather jacket beneath some dusty leggings, jiving to a live saxaphone player before 10am - all these myriad of delights are available at pretty much any Sydney market, and the good news is that now, you get to experience it too.

Suspend your reality for a moment. Imagine it's 1980s Australia and you're a True Blue Bruce. This is truly your time. On the cusp of its five year birthday, Hawke's Brewing Company, the brewery co-founded by former prime minister Bob Hawke, has thrown open the doors of a flagship venue, housed inside its newly built 2,100 square-meter brewery in Marrickville.

Sydneysiders are a lucky bunch. Jump in the car and within just a few hours you can find yourself in some of the most beautiful spots in the state. But with so many options to choose from, it begs the question: where should you visit first? You're certainly spoilt for choice, so we've cherry-picked a selection of the best day trips from the city – featuring quaint villages, seaside hangouts and mountain escapes.

Aboriginal Australia has a rich culture that’s survived more than 60,000 years. Aboriginal people have survived catastrophic changes to their cultures and ways of life brought about by Europeans since 1788, and there’s a lot that visitors can learn from the oldest living culture in the world. Really get to know the city of Sydney through the connection to land that its First Nations peoples have and continue to uphold through these four Sydney tours.

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.

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.

What's in a name? Well, if that name is Odd Culture Newtown, there's not much left to the imagination. King Street's newest natty joint is going hard on the ferments, wild yeasts and all things bubbly. Taking over the coveted Happy Chef space (vale), Odd Culture is a two-level craft beer, natural wine and ferment-happy diner from the group that brought us the Oxford Tav, the Old Fitz and the Duke of Enmore. With friends like that, you know it's going to be all killer, no filler. 

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.

Elm Rooftop Bar is redefining one of Sydneysiders’ favourite pastimes – the bottomless brunch – with the launch of the country’s first-and-only drag king brunch. With free-flowing prestige cuvée and rosé, good vibes, and delectable bites, there’s no better excuse to round up your mates. Not familiar with drag kings? Think the opposite of a drag queen. Drag kings are mostly female performance artists who dress in masculine drag and personify male gender stereotypes.

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. 

If you're partial to a spellbinding spectacle, you don’t need to head to Vegas. You can see top-quality magic right here in Sydney, courtesy of Bruce Glen, the Gentleman Magician, who has been enchanting and amazing audiences every weekend for over five years with his Magical Soirées.

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.

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.