Things to do in Sydney today

Greater Sydney Parklands knows a thing or two about inspiring mini biologists, palaeontologists, physicists and geologists. Back by popular demand, Science in the Swamp returns to Centennial Park, and Science in the Scrub is popping back up in Western Sydney Parklands this August for National Science Week 2026.  Festivities kick off on Sunday, August 16 at Centennial Park for Science in the Swamp. UNSW is back this year (at both events), hosting the mega SciFest Village featuring slime-making, psychology experiments, astronomy and more. Little ones can chat to real-life scientists, take on challenges and engage in STEM activities. Everyone’s favourite dinosaur, Ginger (the life-sized Australovenator) and baby dinos, plus live creatures will be back at both events for some wild meet and greets. Carry the excitement over to Western Sydney Parklands on Sunday, August 23 for Science in the Scrub where you can explore marine science with the Australian National Maritime Museum Ocean Lab, witness the magic of liquid nitrogen in a live science show and investigate insects on the Bug Hunt Citizen Science Project. You can even set foot into the Indigenous Science Village where medicinal plants, bush tucker and seaweed harvesting offer a hands-on journey through culture and science. We haven’t even covered the tip of the iceberg with what’s on. Check out the full programs for Science in the Swamp and Science in the Scrub this National Science Week here. Both events run from from...

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 canapé 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 ...

If your idea of heaven is discovering a chilli oil you can’t live without, tasting a seriously funky blue cheese or finding a new favourite small-batch gin, The Little Food Market is calling your name. Making its Sydney debut at Carriageworks from August 21–23, this foodie fiesta brings together more than 180 of Australia’s best artisan food and drink producers. Expect everything from black garlic, and premium olive oils to pantry staples, handcrafted pastries, award-winning smallgoods and good-for-your-gut fermented foods. There’s plenty for gluten-free, plant-based and non-alcoholic options, too. The Feasting area is serving up dishes from some of Sydney’s most exciting kitchens. Tuck into crispy pumpkin fritti with hot honey and manchego (Attenzione Food & Wine); Constantinople-style pita souvlaki (Olympic Meats); Japanese ochazuke, bento boxes and yuzu cheesecake (Tento); woodfired pizza (Lucio Pizzeria); and Japanese onigiri (Mogu Mogu). Then there’s The Stage, hosted by Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon of Straight To The Source, where chefs, producers and food experts take over with free cooking demonstrations and tastings. Look out for pastry chef Christopher Thé (Hearthe) unveiling the latest iteration of his famous Strawberry Watermelon Cake – which you will get to sample later (yay!); chef George Calombaris championing Greek heritage and seasonal produce; writer Mike Bennie focusing on small batch wines; and Pepe Saya’s Melissa Altman and Pierre Issa who first...

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?

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...