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Shen Lieyi (China), ‘Tracing’, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2024
Photograph: Charlotte Curd | Shen Lieyi, ‘Tracing’, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2024
Photograph: Charlotte Curd

The best things to do in Sydney this weekend

All the best ways to make the most of your weekend

Avril Treasure
Edited by Avril Treasure
Editor, Time Out Sydney
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Wanna have fun this weekend? Of course you do. Here's a good place to start.

Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi – the world’s largest annual, free-to-the-public, outdoor sculpture exhibition – is back this Friday, baby! The beautiful coastal walk is made even more striking thanks to 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and around the world along a 2km stretch. The exhibition runs until Monday, November 3 – making it a great weekend activity. BYO joggers. Find out more here.

SXSW Sydney – the week-long, city-wide celebration of culture, tech, innovation, music, games and more – finishes this Sunday. If you're keen to see a gig, listen to a mind-blowing talk, or get inspired, you can do that here. Find out more here.

Calling all creatives: Sydney Ceramics Market is on this weekend (Oct 18–19) at Carriageworks. Australia’s largest ceramics event will feature incredible treasures from more than 130 local artists and potters, as well as live wheel-throwing demonstrations and food and drink stalls. Tickets are on sale now. Find out more here.

Surry Hills stalwart Chin Chin is hosting a disco brunch each weekend this October. Expect delicious yum cha delights, free-flowing cocktails and retro tunes – all for $89 per person. How good? It’s on Saturday and Sunday from 12-3pm.

It’s a big month for musical theatre in Sydney, with two high-octane shows, Rent and Back to the Future: The Musical, now playing. Keen for more razzle dazzle? You can check out our full guide to all the shows on in Sydney here.

Plate it Forward has kicked off the Third I Festival this spring, a month-long celebration of food, culture and community across its gamechanging (and delicious) Sydney venues Colombo Social, Kolkata Social and Kyiv Social. From bottomless brunches with South Asian flair to hopper dinners and one big laneway party, there’s lots of fun in store. Check out the full program here.

And if you want more boozy fun, you can check out Sydney's best bars here as well as the best clubs here. Oh, and you can suss Sydney’s best restaurants and best affordable eats too.

Have a great weekend.

Weather not looking so hot? Check out our list of the best things to do indoors in Sydney.

Looking for weekday fun? These are the best things to do in Sydney this week.

Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

The best things to do this weekend

Hong Kong Disco Yum Cha Brunch at Chin Chin

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Surry Hills
Hong Kong Disco Yum Cha Brunch at Chin Chin
Hong Kong Disco Yum Cha Brunch at Chin Chin
Photograph: Anna Kucera
A Hong Kong-inspired disco yum cha brunch is going down this October at Sydney’s neon-pink and high-energy Chin Chin – and you’re invited. The funky and delicious riff on Chin Chin’s brunch will see you and your friends experience a taste of Hong Kong without even leaving Sydney – all soundtracked to retro beats (and with free-flowing cocktails, of course). Chuck on your best ’70s-style look and feast on delicious yum cha delights like golden and crunchy prawn and scallop bao toast amped up with Sichuan mayo; barbecue pork and pineapple milk buns featuring a perfectly buttery and flaky pastry; and plump pork and prawn siu mai topped with pops of salmon roe. Other menu highlights include bouncy soy-coated egg noodles tangled with gai lan, cabbage with pickled green chilli; succulent char siu pork rib-eye flavoured with five spice, ginger and spring onion; and for dessert there’s baked egg tarts hitting sweet, nostalgic notes. Pair your yum cha brunch with specialty curated party-ready cocktails inspired by Hong Kong’s vibrant bar scene, home to many of Asia's and the World's 50 Best Bars 2025. There’s the Skyline Spritz, a fun and fruity tipple swirling with peach, jasmine, passionfruit and bitters; and a Mango Mimosa – a tropical take on the OG with fresh mango juice and prosecco. As well as cocktails, guests can sip on glasses of Tar & Roses Prosecco, Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, Marquis de Pennautier Rosé, and Young Henry’s Newtowner Pale Ale. The 90-minute experience...

Back to the Future: The Musical

  • Darling Harbour
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Back to the Future: The Musical
Back to the Future: The Musical
Photograph: Daniel Boud
Great Scott! All the way from 1985 to 1955 and now 2025, Sydney has landed the opening of mega-movie musical Back to the Future: The Musical, complete with a superb ensemble, captivating visual effects and enough nostalgia to power a time-travelling DeLorean.  For full transparency, Back to the Future is one of my favourite films of all time. Growing up watching Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd’s Dr. Emmett Brown travel through time across three films was a large part of my movie-watching childhood. So when it was announced that it would be getting a high-octane staging, I was both ecstatic and sceptical. However, like the show’s original writer (and now the musical’s) Bob Gale said, “we’re not going to do this unless we can do it right”.   Thankfully, of the musical version I can safely say – to borrow from the Doc – “IT WORKS!” What’s the premise of Back to the Future: The Musical? After uncovering an old folder of photos in his parents’ basement, Gale wondered, after seeing a high school version of his father, whether he would have been friends with him back then. “The answer is no,” he joked at the opening night bows. The result of this is classic ’80s nostalgia – in both setting and plot.  BTTF follows teenager Marty McFly in Hill Valley, 1985, whose life is less than spectacular. He dreams of being a rock 'n’ roll star but he’s told he’s too loud and a “slacker” like his father. His family are just as hopeless. None more so than his father George...
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Daytime Deewane

  • Drama
  • Parramatta
Daytime Deewane
Daytime Deewane
Photograph: Supplied | Nat Cartney/Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta
This October, step into a 1990s daytime rave in full, euphoric swing, where pulsing beats and dancing bodies collide with heartfelt moments, betrayal, friendship, and self-discovery. This is the world of Daytime Deewane by Azan Ahmed – a genre-blending production that captures the tenderness and emotional turbulence of being a young adult just trying to figure it all out.  The Australian premiere is running from October 16-25 at the all-new Riverside Live at PHIVE theatre in Parramatta Square. Told over the course of a single afternoon, the story follows cousins Farhan and Sadiq – two young ravers navigating the tension between their Muslim heritage and the pressure to become “proper” British men. The catch? They need to figure it out before the sun sets. Rooted in British South Asian history, Ahmed’s story explores the familiar complexities of diaspora identity, blending cultural nuance with a banging soundtrack that makes it hard to sit still. You’ll laugh, reflect, and definitely dance. Directed by Sepy Baghaei (Gate Theatre’s Wish You Were Here) and starring Ariyan Sharma (STC’s Dear Evan Hansen) and Ashan Kumar in his mainstage debut, get ready for a high-energy fusion of theatre, music, and spoken word rolled into one poignant, euphoric experience.  Presented as part of Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta 2025 Season Programme and playing during Parramatta Lanes Festival, Daytime Deewane runs from October 16-25 at Live at PHIVE. For tickets, performance times,...
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Rent

  • Musicals
  • Sydney
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Rent
Rent
Photograph: Opera Australia/Michelle Grace Hunder
Nearly 30 years after it burst onto Broadway, Rent remains a landmark. It won four Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize, but its true legacy lies in how it blew open Broadway’s doors to the misfits, bringing ’90s rock, raw emotion and the gritty diversity of real New York life to the stage. It didn’t just reflect a generation, it shaped one. For theatre kids like me, Jonathan Larson’s words were the ones we belted backstage and found ourselves in. And it wasn’t just us, Rent inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to write In the Heights and paved the way for the Glee generation: a wave of fans and artists who saw musical theatre as urgent, inclusive and unapologetically cool. Now, Opera Australia is reigniting that spark for a new generation with a bold, heart-filled production. What’s the premise of Rent? Jonathan Larson’s rock musical Rent follows a group of seven struggling young artists and friends trying to survive and create in New York City’s Lower East Side during the late 1980s. As the AIDS epidemic spreads and claims lives around them, they grapple with love, illness, addiction and the looming threat of eviction. At the same time, they face a growing disillusionment with capitalism and the gentrification rapidly reshaping their neighbourhood. Who makes up the cast of Rent? As in Puccini’s La Bohème, the inspiration behind Rent, the story begins with two friends: Mark (Henry Rollo, Rocky Horror Show), a struggling documentary filmmaker, and Roger (Harry Targett, Dear Evan...
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Orange Wine Festival

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
Orange Wine Festival
Orange Wine Festival
Photograph: Supplied | Orange Wine Festival
As the weather warms up, the spontaneous afternoon tipples, Sunday wine sessions, and boozy alfresco lunches start to make a welcome comeback. And if your wine rack is ready for a refresh, we’ve got just the thing. This spring, the beloved Orange Wine Festival returns to Australia’s cool-climate gem, the Orange Wine Region. It’s your chance to discover new favourites, meet the makers, and soak up the sunny weather – one glass at a time. With nearly 40 unique events hosted by the region’s passionate vignerons and winemakers, the festival promises a flavour-packed journey through one of Australia’s most exciting wine destinations. Whether you're strolling through sun-dappled gardens, tasting straight from the barrel, or indulging in curated menus paired with local wines, there’s something for every palate.  The festivities begin with the Orange Wine Festival Night Market, a twilight event where guests can sip and stroll beneath the stars, sampling local drops and gourmet bites. Then, on October 24, the second weekend brings the highly anticipated Sip & Savour, hailed as the ultimate wine tasting experience. Think speed dating, but with wine, and minus the awkward small talk. Instead, ticket holders are “matched” with over 300 award-winning wines from the 2025 Orange Wine Show. By the end of the night, you’re bound to have found the perfect wine to add to your rack.  If you’re craving something even more intimate, take a private guided winery garden walk or dine with the...
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The Book of Mormon

  • Musicals
  • Haymarket
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
The Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon
Photograph: Supplied | Daniel Boud
As I’m on my way to Sydney's Capitol Theatre for the new Australian production of The Book of Mormon, my friend tells me it’s the very first musical a lot of people see. Created by South Park duo Trey Parker and Matt Stone (with Robert Lopez), the show’s reputation for extremely irreverent jabs at religion draws a non-traditional theatre crowd. What I now realise my friend didn’t mean was, “it’s often the first musical kids see”. When I say the musical is extremely irreverent, I mean it. The humour is crass, verging on grotesque (some things I wouldn’t dare repeat). So it’s probably questionable that I’ve brought along my 13-year-old son with me. That said, he loves it.  Some of the humour is classic teen boy (i.e. a regular exclamation from one of the Ugandan characters that he has “maggots in my scrotum”). Very South Park. My son laughs loudly with the rest of the audience – and when the jokes go too far, he cringes, glancing around with a “should I be laughing at this?” look. Although the shock value is high, it’s nice seeing a Gen Alpha-ite who’s been raised on Youtube and other screen-based entertainment bopping along in his seat to the song and dance of a stage show.    What’s the premise of The Book of Mormon? The Book of Mormon tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries sent to a small village in Uganda. Although the story centres on Mormonism, Parker and Stone have been known to refer to the show as an “atheist’s love letter to religion” – a wink and a jab...
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Suntory Bar at Prefecture 48

  • Cocktail bars
  • Sydney
Suntory Bar at Prefecture 48
Suntory Bar at Prefecture 48
Photograph: Supplied | Jiwon Kim
Most people know a Suntory beverage. Maybe it’s the mega popular Minus 196 cans, the ultimate to-go Boss Coffee, the refined Roku Gin or premium Japanese whiskies. What we guarantee you *don’t* know is just how many popular labels it owns: think everything from Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark to Canadian Club. And now, you can experience more than 125 years of Suntory’s history and innovation all in one place – for the next three months. Say hello to Sydney’s new Suntory Bar. The Japanese spirit company has chosen the city’s only Japanese culture and dining precinct, Prefecture 48 on Sussex Street, as host for the residency. The moody Whisky Thief bar with gorgeous historic artwork and marbletop counters is the place to be when you clock off. Choose between timeless highballs, signature serves, special cocktails, RTDs, The Premium Malt beer and whisky flights crafted by the team at Prefecture 48 in collaboration with Suntory.  The must-try tipple of the affair is the Highball. While it’ll be dished up with a range of Suntory whiskies (it’s what Suntory’s known for in Japan), we say try the spotlight cocktail, the Hakushu Highball, first. Not only is it a refreshing mix of Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve, soda and mint, but it’s been paired with an exclusive snack from the genius Michelin Star chef Tetsuya Wakuda (you know, from *the* Tetsuya’s). Now’s the chance to sample Wakuda’s cuisine since his eminent Sydney restaurant closed last year – that’s a golden opportunity if we ever...
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Parramatta Lanes

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Parramatta
Parramatta Lanes
Parramatta Lanes
Photograph: Supplied/James Horan
From October 22, Parramatta’s CBD will once again transform into the city’s most beloved street party. Hosted across four incredible nights, more than 200,000 festival goers are expected to turn out for an epic celebration of Western Sydney; there will be live music, loads of street food stalls, live performances, immersive art and much more.  At Parramatta Lanes you can discover art installations such as Summer Kim, a four-metre tall inflatable girl who's ready for her close-up. There’s also the world premiere of a gravity-defying aerial performance on the side of a building, a bold Afro-futuristic digital installation and an interactive AI tarot reader. Get your groove on after dark at one of ten pop-up stages, featuring a stacked line-up of musical acts. Find international and local bands including Sydney’s king of alt-country Andy Golledge, the legendary punk rock band The Hard Ons, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Immy Owusu, jazz, hip-hop and R'n'B fusion band Who Gon Be There (WAGBT), UK jazz band LVDF, and Maori/Chinese duo Flowerstream. There’ll also be a live rap battle with the national Pass The Mic competition, presented by Bodega Collective and Triple J.  Hit the dance floor at Queer Line Dancing, head over to the K-Pop dancing, or pick a winner at the pop-up pro-wrestling ring. Make sure you also check out Horwood Place for four nights of music and artwork at Powerhouse Lane.  Most importantly, though, what’s on the menu? The festival will showcase more...
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Seasonal highlights at Sydney Opera House

  • Things to do
  • Sydney
Seasonal highlights at Sydney Opera House
Seasonal highlights at Sydney Opera House
Photograph: Supplied | Anna Kucera
There’s always a lot going on at Sydney’s favourite house. So much so that it can be hard to keep track – with new headliners dropping every other week, and huge events taking over the various venues seemingly out of nowhere.  Keen to go to a show under the sails over the next few months? We’ve rounded up a few top picks in the Sydney Opera House winter to spring season:  Badu Gili: Healing Spirit, a stunning illumination of the sails This dynamic projection will light up the Eastern Bennelong sails with First Nations artwork five times a night, every night until Friday, December 12.Dates: DailyTickets: Free Backstage tours, a peek behind the curtain Explore the inner workings of Australia's most famous buildings on one of these expert-led tours. Dates: DailyTickets: From $48 On The Steps, open-air summer shows The magical On The Steps open-air performance program is set to bring 50,000 music lovers to the Opera House forecourt for two magical weeks this summer. Highlights from this year’s line-up include Franz Ferdinand, Loyle Carner, Parcels and Boy & Bear. Dates: From December 2 - December 15Tickets: From $81.50 Gatsby at the Green Light, Martini-fuelled cabaret Back by popular demand, Gatsby at The Green Light is as close as you’ll come to West Egg without leaving the country. The raucous interactive show will transform the Studio into a 1920s inspired nightclub once again, complete with fully functional bar. Think of this production as a sort of live concept album –...

Carriageworks Farmers Market

  • Shopping
  • Markets
  • Eveleigh
Carriageworks Farmers Market
Carriageworks Farmers Market
It’s imperative that you do not eat before you visit the Carriageworks Farmers Markets. You’ll want to save maximum belly space for your personal version of The Bachelorette where you decide who gets your dollars and what delicious produce gets to come home with you. Maybe you like something soupy and savoury first thing? In that case head to Bar Pho for a traditional Vietnamese start to the day. On the veggie train? Hit up Keppos St Kitchen for a falafel breakfast, or head to Food Farm for a classic bacon and egg roll.Once the hounds of your hunger have been quieted it’s time to prepare for your next meal, or seven. Stock up on artisan cheese from Leaning Oak, smoked salmon from Brilliant Foods and Sydney’s favourite sourdough from AP Bakery and brunch is sorted. You can spend a whole lot of money if you want to here, but equally you could just grab a kombucha on tap from Herbs of Life and find a chair for some of the best dog-watching in the city.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel tips and city insights, straight to your inbox. Hungry for more? Look at our list of the best markets in Sydney – produce or otherwise. 
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