Things to do in Sydney today

There are a few pretty excellent ways to round out a day at Sydney’s most famous beach, and one of them is with a free movie under the stars. Thankfully, we’re in luck –  with Waverley Council’s free open-air cinema landing by the beach this summer with eight nights of alfresco films just steps from the sand. Running at Dolphin Court (just next to Bondi Pavillion) across two weekends from November 12 to 22, the program spans everything from family favourites and cult classics to new releases and festive flicks. Expect The Castle, Barbie, Jurassic Park and Love Actually, alongside 2026 releases Michael, Minions & Monsters and Supergirl. The best news? Entry is completely free, and popcorn is on the house. Pack a picnic rug and enjoy. When: November 12-15 and November 19-22, from 7.30pm Where: Dolphin Court, Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach Cost: Free, including popcornCheck the full schedule and plan your beachside weekend over here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Want fun now? Here’s what’s on in Sydney this weekend. In the mood for a show? Here’s our list of the best theatre to see in Sydney this month.

What does it take to turn a dream into a sporting reality? A whole lot of fancy footwork and female empowerment, that’s what. Sydney Theatre Company’s Strong is the New Pretty tells the remarkable story of the birth of the AFLW, now running at the Sydney Opera House’s Drama Theatre until December 12. Acclaimed Australian playwright Suzie Miller (Prima Facie, RBG: Of Many, Inter Alia), takes this story of sporting history and turns it into something much bigger: a celebration of women challenging the status quo, demanding equal opportunities and refusing to take no for an answer. First, a bit of background. Yes, women and girls have been playing Aussie rules football for aeons, but opportunities to compete in professional leagues weren’t non-existent until an official report in 2010 recommended a national women's competition. Seven years later, after decades of advocacy, eight teams took to the field for the inaugural AFLW season. Directed by Sarah Giles (The Importance of Being Earnest, No Pay? No Way!) and featuring an outstanding ensemble of eight women – Lucy Bell, Amy Hack, Amy Ingram, Edyll, Amber McMahon, Tara Morice, Nyasha Ogden and Contessa Treffone – who seamlessly shift between scenes and settings with infectious energy and wry wit. We move through the everyday lives of the women who helped make the league happen, from teachers and midwives to grocery workers. These weren't just footballers; they were mothers, colleagues and working women fitting their sporting...

It’s been a long time coming, but Powerhouse Parramatta finally opens this weekend! With free entry, the new Western Sydney museum will throw open its doors to the curious, creative and everyone in between on 7 November, marking the start of a 23-day Opening Festival featuring more than 170 free and ticketed events spanning music, food, performance, design, science and more. Visitors can also explore five epic exhibitions, four of which are free.  This massive program includes talks from astronauts, designers, sci-fi writers, artists and more, a live music program that spans a world of genres and cultures, film screenings from across Australia, Asia and the Pacific, food programming including a family-style dinner, cooking demonstrations and tastings, cultural performances and workshops.  The biggest on the starting exhibition lineup is Task Eternal, the most ambitious aerospace exhibition ever staged in Australia, featuring over 850 objects including a historic Qantas avro 584 aircraft, space suits and an immersive light work exploring flight, space and human perception by American artist James Turrell. There’s also Overflow, a First Nations-led exhibition on the living principles of Water Country; The Dark, an immersive world for kids filled with over 800 objects; the Australian debut of British artist Es Devlin in Es Devlin: The Turning; and The Mall, a retrospective on the history and significance of the humble shopping mall. As for must-see events from the Time Out...

In an Instagram-flooded world, it’s easy to forget the way good photography can truly make us see the world a little differently. Here to remind us, Australia's biggest photo fest is coming back to Sydney – bringing 93 free exhibitions and more than 700 photographers from over 30 countries to venues across the city. Running from November 6-29, Head On Photo Festival's three key locations are Bondi Beach promenade, Bondi Pavilion and Paddington Reservoir Gardens, where the major Featured Program exhibitions will be presented. The wider program extends into galleries, cafes, bookstores and community spaces across Sydney, with additional independent exhibitions taking place interstate. And what can we expect to see this year? From what we can tell, there are some seriously powerful international stories in the mix. American photojournalist Carol Guzy, the first journalist to win four Pulitzer Prizes, presents ICE: Broken Families, documenting the impact of US immigration enforcement on children and families. Other heart-wrenching depictions come from British photographer Giles Clarke, who brings rare images from inside war-torn Sudan, and Palestinian photojournalist Abdelrahman Alkahlout who captures everyday life and displacement in Gaza. Closer to home, Australian photographer Trent Mitchell explores the landscapes, rituals and contradictions of regional Australia in Australian Lustre, and Sydney photojournalist Glenn Lockitch revisits the city's after-dark characters...

This November, the Inner West is serving up a delicious mix of exclusive craft beers, live music and seriously good food, all wrapped into one big neighbourhood party. Made in the Inner West runs from November 6-15, bringing together 13 breweries and 13 local businesses for ten days of deliciously creative collaborations and limited-edition beers.  In terms of entertainment, Inner Westie singer-songwriter Ben Lee is performing across four breweries along with his favourite local artists on November 7, so get ready to 'catch his disease', if you know what we mean. The festival’s food and drinks menu is full of unexpected pairings between local breweries and eateries. For instance, Grifter is teaming up with A.P Bakery, Heaps Normal with Mapo Gelato, Bracket with Miss Sina, and Pickled Monkey with Donut Garage and many, many more.  Grab a festival passport and collect stamps as you visit breweries and purchase beers. Score ten stamps and you’ll earn a limited-edition tote bag featuring artwork by Aidan Howes. Entry is free and everybody's welcome, so bring your family, bring your friends, and even bring your fur babies.  Made in the Inner West runs from November 6-15 across 13 Inner West Ale Trail breweries. Entry is free. Find out more here. 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: Hungry for more? Here's where else you can grab a bite to eat in Sydney's Inner West.