Things to do in Sydney today

Sydney is one of the most photographed cities in the world - so it’s only fitting that it’s playing host to a groundbreaking new festival dedicated to visual storytelling. Whether you're behind the lens or in front of it, Frmefest is the creative summit photographers, filmmakers and content creators have been waiting for. Teaming up with presenting partner Canon Australia, the inaugural Frmefest will take over Carriageworks on July 19-20, bringing two jam-packed days of more than 40 leading speakers, 60 hands-on workshops, and 22 brand activations dedicated to the creative industry. Across the two days you can hear from leading voices on the main stage, including global communication coach Vinh Giang and renowned Australian portrait photographer and YouTuber Julia Trotti as they dive into discussions on the future of visual storytelling. Join expert panels diving into the future of the creator economy, building a sustainable creative career and levelling up your social media game.  But this isn’t just about watching from the sidelines, Frmefest is built for doing. Step into immersive, cinematic sets to shoot real-world scenarios, get hands-on with gear from Canon, Camera House, Fujifilm, Sony, Nikon, Lumix, OM System, Blackmagic Design and more, and compete in live competitions with over $50,000+ in prizes up for grabs. Prices start at $179 but if you book with our exclusive code TIMEOUT30 you can score a hefty discount. Be quick because tickets are closing soon. Explore...

The weather is looking mighty fine this weekend – dare we say, it’s even beach-trip worthy. If you’re heading Bondi way, make sure to hit up Glory Days for the cutest matcha and flower pop-up. This beachside café has teamed up with Petal & Pup – the tastemakers of all things pretty – for a one-weekend-only collab, happening on Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20. Swing by from 8am to 1pm for a limited-edition pink matcha (or just a good old cup of coffee) and enjoy it while overlooking the glorious, famed stretch of sand. The best part is that every matcha or coffee purchase comes with a free bunch of blooms – absolutely adorable! Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READS: In the area? Check out Bondi’s best restaurants. Feel like a drink? Check out our guide to Bondi's best bars. Up for more adventures? Here are the coolest things to do in Bondi.

Considering that when Luna Park opened in 1935, the only other major attraction in Sydney was the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Art Deco amusement park has long been a significant site for the city – an important destination for escapism, especially considering it opened during the Depression. Although new rides have cropped up over the years, the heritage-listed park has retained a lot of its original features – which is why there was a lot of hype when Luna Park announced that it would be opening a brand-new, first-of-its kind, high-tech attraction back in late 2023. After a bumper first season, Dream Circus – the immersive experience created right here by a bunch of talented Sydney creatives and technicians – is back.  This week, Luna Park swung open the doors to a high-tech ‘Magic Box’ inside the existing 3,000 square metre Big Top building – a venue for the immersive adventure that is ‘Dream Circus’. Time Out got a sneak peek at Dream Circus before opening day, and we have to say, it’s hard to sum up in a few sentences what you’re in for. It’s part-3D movie, where actors take you on an adventure through the circus, to the seaside, underwater and into magical dream-like states. It’s part-musical, except that the action envelops you on three sides of the room, as well as the floor and ceiling. It’s a little like a Van Gogh Alive or Frida Kahlo multi-sensory exhibition, except that rather than images being projected onto flat wall and floor surfaces, the set is built with...

Sydney’s Darling Harbour is turning to ice. No, the great big body of water that surrounds our city hasn't hit sub-zero temperatures (although you’d be forgiven for thinking it has based on recent weather) but rather an ice skating rink has arrived in town. Have you always wanted to try a triple axel? Or maybe Home Alone 2 is your favourite cosy movie thanks to the Rockefeller Centre ice skating rink. Well, now is your chance to live out those dreams under our very own city skyline.  If you’re looking for a date night idea or something to occupy (read: tire out)  the kids then this is just the ticket for you. From Saturday, June 28 until Sunday, July 20, you can head on down to the harbourside precinct to strap on the skates and glide like a majestic penguin – or clamber around like Bambi on ice. Knee pads aren’t included, so it might be wise to wear a thick pair of pants to cushion any falls.  Once you’ve had your dash on the rink you may be ready to grab a bite to eat or rest your weary legs. Thankfully, Darling Harbour is within walking distance of plenty of Sydney’s very best restaurants and most delightful cheap eats.  If you love to romanticise winter, skating beneath the lights of Sydney’s CBD towers sounds like the perfect way to lean into the cooler months. The rink is open daily from 10am until 9pm at the Palm Grove Forecourt, and skating costs $28 per adult, $20 for children and $15 for toddlers. Skating penguins can be booked for an extra $10 to keep the little...

There are some stories that feel eternally relevant. Set in ancient Rome, and written more than 400 years ago, the brutal, volatile, ego-driven politics on display in Coriolanus seem to cut like a blade close to the throat of our own century and civilization. This is the second time in Bell Shakespeare’s history the company has mounted Shakespeare’s final tragedy, and director Peter Evans marshals an impressive, vigorous and robust undertaking of the play’s weighted themes. He’s helped by an excellent ensemble and a monumental lead in Hazem Shammas. We, the theatre-going people, are also involved in the play’s politics from the start. Down the subtly lit hall of the Neilson Nutshell, in a small yet meaningful simulation of the class divide, the audience is split down an arbitrary and unbreachable line. Those seated on one side of the theatre are dubbed ‘patricians’ (the contemptuous ruling classes, whom costume designer Ella Butler has in charcoal suits and creamy loose-fitting garments); the other side are the ‘plebeians’ (who are hungry, angry, and fomenting rebellion). It is between these two groups and the Senate that the arrogant warrior Coriolanus becomes embroiled when he returns bloodied and victorious from war with the Volsces, the state’s enemy neighbours, and is offered the honourable role of consul.  Volumnia – a fiercely exceptional Brigid Zengeni, in her Bell Shakespeare debut, who gloats of her son’s many stab wounds with a sick adoring pride – would love...