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Runners on Harbour Bridge
Photograph: Daniel Tran | Sydney Marathon, 2025
Photograph: Daniel Tran

The best things to do in Sydney this weekend

Hello weekend, we're ready for you

Avril Treasure
Edited by Avril Treasure
Editor, Time Out Sydney
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Looking for weekend fun? You've come to the right place.

The Sydney Marathon is on this Sunday, with thousands of people from all over the world taking over the city for one of the world’s most picturesque marathon routes. Are you running? Spectating? Want to know where to celebrate? We’ve rounded up all the shake-out runs and events here.

Plate It Forward, the team behind Colombo Social, Kyiv Social and Kabul Social, is celebrating one million meals donated with a huge free laneway party in Chippendale this Sunday. Expect a barbecue takeover from some of Sydney’s best chefs, ice-cold beers from Young Henrys, music and plenty of good times. It's kicking off from 12pm. Find out more here.

The Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival is on right now at the Auburn Botanic Gardens. This is the place to see the largest crop of cherry blossom trees in the whole Southern Hemisphere – so grab your tickets and come wander among the bubble-gum-pink blooms.

It’s the last weekend of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. With thought-provoking talks, performances and immersive experiences, it’s sure to get the creative juices flowing.

A whimsical garden has sprung up in Marrickville, with more than 50 Australian artists showcasing and selling garden-inspired ceramics, sculptures, paintings and textiles. The Garden is open from 10am-4pm both days – come on down and score yourself a treasure.

Harbour Heat has landed at Q Station Manly, bringing a wood-fired sauna to the private wharf, where you can sweat it out before plunging straight into Sydney Harbour. The experience runs from Wednesday to Sunday, surrounded by the bush, harbour and history. 

I saw Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) at the Opera House recently and LOVED it. Five knock-out performances, a fresh retelling of a classic and plenty of laughs. Check out the best shows to see this month in Sydney here.

Eating-wise, we’ve got you covered, with Time Out’s guide to Sydney’s best cafés, restaurants, bars, affordable eats and wine bars. Plus, check out Sydney's hottest bars and pubs.

Want to get outside? These are Sydney’s prettiest picnic spots, and we’ve rounded up a bunch of excellent walks too.

If the weather is average but you’re keen to get out of the house (and stay dry), check out our guide to fun things to do indoors. Plus, warm up with Sydney’s most delicious Sunday roasts (crispy pork belly for me).

Hope you have a fun 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

Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival

  • Things to do
  • Auburn
  • Recommended
Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival
Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival
Photograph: Destination NSW
Looking to add a dose of hyper-Instagrammable delight to your outdoor activity schedule this winter? We’ve got you. The beloved Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival will return to Auburn Botanic Gardens this August, transforming the leafy oasis (home to the largest crop of cherry blossom trees in the whole Southern Hem) into a sea of pink blossom and Japanese-inspired entertainment for nine flower-fuelled days. Running from August 22-30, the annual festival celebrates the fleeting beauty of sakura season with more than 200 cherry blossom trees in full bloom, alongside Japanese food and family-friendly entertainment. Wander beneath the blossom canopy on the Cherry Blossom Trail (choose the full 30-minute stroll or a shorter express route), snap a few pics beneath the iconic Cherry Arbour and torii gate, then settle in for a day of workshops, performances and seriously good snacks.RELATED READ: These are the best public gardens you can visit in Sydney. Alongside the main drawcard (those pastel pink trees), this year's program includes a peaceful Zen Zone, guided shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) walks, daily origami workshops, Japanese tea ceremonies, cooking demonstrations, a high-energy ninja stunt show and appearances from gardening guru Costa Georgiadis and comedian Takashi Wakasugi. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, make a beeline for the Japanese Food Village – where you'll find everything from ramen, dumplings and curry to mochi, matcha treats, fluffy Japanese soufflĂ© pancakes...

Festival of Dangerous Ideas

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Sydney
  • Recommended
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
Photograph: Supplied | Ken Leanfore
“An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all,” said that witty warrior of a wordsmith, Oscar Wilde. And given the tragedy of the inimitable Irish writer’s downfall, brought on by an unwise libel case that backfired spectacularly, few could have felt that withering wisdom more keenly. It’s fitting, then, that Sydney's Festival of Dangerous Ideas borrows the phrase for its sassy title. The celebration of system shaking bright minds returns to Sydney this August for its 13th iteration, with a newly-extended ten days of talks, films, art and excursions. Expect 115 sessions across 14 venues, including many of the city's most major cultural institutions, with the main festival weekend running all day on August 22-23 at Carriageworks. Presented by The Ethics Centre from August 20-30, expect a lineup that is *a lot*. The festival is all about celebrating those willing to bring down the house with the sort of stuff others fear to say, and what better guest than bestselling author Salman Rushdie, who returns to the festival for the first time in 12 years.  The rest of the program includes everything from a masterclass in punk from renowned actor and director John Cameron Mitchell to a visceral theatrical performance piece titled Exposure, that interrogates the body's relationship to systems of power. Alongside these, a total of 20 international speakers will explore the ideas influencing our current politics, culture, communities and identities.  If...
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Unlock The Rocks

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • The Rocks
Unlock The Rocks
Unlock The Rocks
Photograph: Supplied | Como Italian
It may be tempting to hibernate inside this winter, but The Rocks is giving you every reason to rug up, head outside and savour the season. For the month of August, you can take part in a $25 cocktail and canapĂ© trail available at not one, but 20 of The Rocks' finest bars and restaurants, catch some tempting happy hours, settle in for weekday lunch deals and check out the newest openings that have Sydney talking.  Here are just some of the deals and meals you have to add to your hitlist: $25 Cocktail and Canape Trail  Fortune of War: Salted Caramel Espresso Martini and caramelised popcorn Glenmore Hotel: Mini Martini and an oyster El Camino Cantina: Pocket Rocket Rita and taco MCA rooftop: Native Garibaldi and smoked trout Endeavour Tap Rooms: Spicy Mule and chicken wings  Happy hours  Mercantile Hotel: $11 pints Como Italian: three spritzes and light bites midweek from 4pm to 6pm The Garden: everything $7 everyday from 5pm to 6pm  Midweek lunch specials Luna Lu: $55 two-course express menu from Monday to Thursday, 12pm to 3pm The Orient and Mrs Jones: winter warmers specials – $19 chowder or $29 chicken pie  Hooked and Harvest: $10 seafood snack pack with a drink Izakaya Mitto: $15 express teriyaki chicken donburi  What’s new Grappa: focaccia and salumi with an Amante Spritz, $25 Cocktail and Canape Trail The Cut (from the crew behind Rockpool Bar & Grill): Pie and Pint experience The Tailor Room: Martini with olives or chips, $25 Cocktail and Canape Trail ...
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The Reset by Oura

  • Sport and fitness
  • The Rocks
The Reset by Oura
The Reset by Oura
Photograph: Supplied | Oura
It’s the secret every good runner knows: knowing how to rest properly takes your game to the next level. It’s a fact Oura Ring has down pat with its cutting-edge wellness tracking, and at this year’s Sydney Marathon, everyone is invited to get a moment of R&R amidst the electric race-day energy, whether you’re running, or cheering on.  The Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay is getting transformed into a tranquil recovery house: The Reset by Oura. Runners and supporters alike can pop in for a nervous system reset. All day, there will be sessions running every 20 minutes where you can settle in for an immersive live music and light journey in the recovery room that will have you walking out feeling like you’re floating on a cloud.  While you’re feeling all zen, you’ll also score a specially made AP Bakery croissant on the way out. If you’re loving the experience and the moment of peace, make sure you don’t miss the chance to try out the latest Oura Ring 5 on entry.  You can check out how the world’s smallest smart ring tracks more than 50 different health metrics, from sleep scores to the impact of recovery sessions, to create more space for wellbeing in your day-to-day in a super sleek and compact way.  Pop into The Reset by Oura on August 30 from 10am to 3.45pm at the OPT Arrivals Hall. Try your luck on the day in the drop-in queue or secure your spot by registering here.
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Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)

  • Musicals
  • Sydney
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)
Photograph: Prudence Upton
Isobel McArthur’s Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) strips away the intellectual exclusivity of Jane Austen’s classic, not only making it accessible to a wide variety of audiences, but also making clear the sort of tools that Austen herself was using in her original novel: gender, satire, romance, and – most of all – comedy. There’s no Colin Firth here – but there are plenty of karaoke songs to hum along to. What is the premise of Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of)? Told by the servants who work tirelessly behind the main characters within Austen’s work, we’re given a slapstick comedy version of Pride and Prejudice. Dressed in white gowns with Doc Martens poking out underneath, the five-strong cast clean their way through the audience with yellow rubber gloves and individualised accents from across Great Britain. The fourth wall is destroyed immediately – they want you to be a part of the story. After a rather disturbing entrance involving a plunger and a rather messy toilet, Elvis Costello’s ‘Everyday I Write the Book’ launches us into literary territory and the premise is set up. Though you may only know the main characters of Pride and Prejudice, there were unsung heroes helping to push the Bennet sisters along their journey towards love and stability. Now, it’s their turn to tell a version of the events, with a song or two along the way – it’s best not to reason about the artistic merits or reasoning behind this addition, just go with it. Perhaps the jumbled selection of songs...
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The Garden

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Marrickville
The Garden
The Garden
Photograph: El Glanic
Beautiful things are blooming in Marrickville. Following the delightfully offbeat success of The Grocery Store – an exhibition of wonderfully inedible everyday goods – Voluptuary Ceramics is transforming its warehouse yet again, this time into an enchanting, otherworldly garden. Running until August 30, The Garden is an immersive exhibition featuring garden-inspired ceramics, sculptures, paintings, textiles and tactile objects by more than 50 Australian artists, designers and makers. Each artist has been busy as a proverbial bee in their own studio, cultivating creations of garden-themed artwork and now they'll come together to display and sell their wares. Think hand-felted wool creations of mushrooms and moss; detailed paintings of ferns, fungi and flowers; metal sculptures of butterflies and bees; and whimsical ceramic blooms. From bold and bright to intricate and delicate, The Garden invites you to wander and wonder at nature’s bounty – and perhaps take home a little piece of this wonderfully imagined world. The Garden is on at Voluptuary World, Marrickville from July 25 to August 30. Find out more via their Instagram page.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: The best markets in Sydney for farm-fresh produce or arts and crafts 25 fun (and delicious) things to do in Sydney for under $25  Have you had a bite at Eat Ozzo Marrickville yet?
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Parramatta Open

  • Things to do
  • Educational venues
  • Parramatta
Parramatta Open
Parramatta Open
Photograph: Supplied | Parramatta Open
This year, Sydney Open is heading west, offering access to 16 buildings and spaces across Parramatta. Go behind the scenes and explore new places usually off-limits to the public, until now. On Saturday, August 29, you can see if reality lives up to the hype as Parramatta opens the doors to some of its most interesting and hidden spots. For one day only, step inside Australia’s oldest surviving public building and UNESCO World Heritage site, Old Government House, or see adaptive reuse in action at the newly upgraded Parramatta Town Hall. You’ll also get to go behind the scenes of the Sydney West Trial Courts and explore the award-winning civic hub, PHIVE. If you love a good backstory, experts will be giving the inside scoop on everything from architectural insights to the colonial-era secrets of Sydney’s second European settlement after Sydney Cove. Presented by Museums of History NSW, MHNSW members get a 20 per cent discount and exclusive entry to a special members-only building, Harrisford House. Whether you’re a design lover or a history buff, this is your opportunity to discover the architecture, heritage and newest additions to Western Sydney’s beating heart, giving you the chance to see Parramatta in a whole new light. Plus, purchase your tickets before midday, August 14 for a chance to win a spot on an exclusive preview tour of the new Powerhouse Parramatta – one of the world’s most significant new museum projects, set to open in late 2026. Stay tuned: the winners...
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Fiddler on the Roof

  • Sydney
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof
Photograph: Daniel Boud
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in London has become a home for staggering visuals and reimaginings of classic musicals. The most recent touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar arrived with rave reviews and award-winning performances from its electrifying revival of the rock musical. Now, Fiddler on the Roof gets its turn for a facelift at Theatre Royal Sydney, with a backing from a stellar team whose work covers Olivier and Tony Award-winning productions.  What is the premise of Fiddler on the Roof? It’s 1905 in the fictional shtetl of Anatevka set in Tsarist Russia, twelve years before the Russian Revolution of 1917. A ghostly rise of the curtain sees Ben Adler’s Fiddler on a flat-roofed stage, the name of the village faces backwards towards the band sitting behind a high row of wheat fields. Tevye, a Jewish milkman, leads his family by their proud traditions. This means a loyal wife, visits to the matchmaker, five obedient daughters, and daily conversations with God. But this is a time of change, his daughters wish to break away from the closed community’s traditions amidst the backdrop of a changing world.  Throughout, we see more than just Tevye’s family dynamics needing to grapple with forces far greater than Anatevka can withstand.  Who are the cast and crew of Fiddler on the Roof? Jordan Fein’s direction gives ample scope for spectacle, particularly when Julian Cheng’s choreography is placed front and centre – the high-energy traditional dances are the show’s...
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The Lion King

  • Musicals
  • Haymarket
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
The Lion King
The Lion King
Photograph: Daniel Boud
The opening note of ‘The Circle of Life’ may just be one of the most recognisable in a Disney musical. If you don’t agree, then you may have to convince the entire theatre-going audience who were at Disney’s The Lion King on opening night. The full house’s roars could be heard all the way out of the Capitol Theatre’s front doors as the king of musicals triumphantly returns to Sydney – the first time in more than a decade. What type of show is The Lion King? It’s called The King of Musicals for a reason. If it’s not Elton John’s iconically recognisable music, or Tim Rice’s lyrics you’ve sung over a late-night karaoke session, then its Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi’s book featuring the characters you love, the characters you hate, and the ones you undoubtedly cry over – tears were definitely still shed during that scene. What’s so beautiful about The Lion King is the blurring of worlds and culture that merges in between all of these. Julie Taymor’s directorial conception blends African culture, language, movement and costume underneath masks and puppetry of the animal characters. Mufasa’s “crown” is a stoic, strong and towering headdress. The elegant lionesses soar and leap through the sky through Garth Fagan’s choreography as wing-like gowns flow behind them. The animals of Pride Rock are adorned with larger-than-life puppets of intricate designs and architecture: a re-engineered bicycle becomes leaping antelope, birds fly above the crowd on poles manipulated by performers,...

Black Myth

  • Art
  • Galleries
  • Chippendale
Black Myth
Black Myth
Photograph: Hamish McIntosh
Greek mythology is definitely having a moment thanks to Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Odyssey, but Sydney’s very own White Rabbit Gallery is the place to be if you want to learn about Chinese mythology.  Established in 2009 to showcase philanthropist Judith Neilson's remarkable collection of 21st-century Chinese contemporary art, The White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale has become one of Sydney's most fascinating cultural spaces. And now, David Williams brings us Black Myth, the gallery's 33rd exhibition that explores how ancient Chinese myths continue to shape our modern, technology-centric lives. Inspired by the hit 2024 video game Black Myth: Wukong – a modern reimagining of the 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West – the exhibition examines the darker side of mythology and the enduring power of storytelling. Journey to the West follows the monk Tang Sanzang and his travelling companions: the mischievous Monkey King Sun Wukong, the pig-faced Zhu Bajie and the loyal river ogre Sha Wujing as they embark on an epic quest to retrieve sacred Buddhist scriptures. Mirroring that legendary adventure, the video game Black Myth explores journeys of every kind – physical and metaphysical, inner and outer – while delving into the Chinese ideas of transformation and transcendence. Artists include Sun Xun, whose intricate woodcuts and ink paintings create entire imagined worlds; Zong Ning, who reinvents ancient legends through contemporary photography and everyday...
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