The best things to do in Sydney in July

Winter is well and truly here. The shortest day of the year has come and gone, and temperatures are oscillating between beach-worthy and sub-Antarctic. If you want to embrace festive energy this winter, we’ve got just the thing.  Sydney’s beloved Christmas in July Festival will be coming back to The Rocks this July, this time with a magical alfresco cinema, more than 80 twinkling Christmas trees, a European-style winter market and a laneway with real falling snow. The Rocks Christmas in July Festival has transformed the harbour-side precinct in the past, but this year, the program is stepping up its game – with the beloved winter markets back and better than ever, and some super special new additions. The key addition to the festival for this year is the Fire Pit Cinema, a first-of-its-kind winter open-air cinema experience. Here, guests will get to watch classic Christmas movies next to cosy private fire pits while roasting marshmallows and getting giddy on mulled wine and festive vibes. Book a fire pit for yourself and your friends and snuggle up under the blankets with a steaming hot chocolate for a cinematic night under the stars.  On the food front, the market will be home to more than 20 pop-up restaurants serving up your favourite European winter fare: everything from melted raclette to golden schnitzels and sugar-dusted crêpes.  Alongside the cinema and markets, Sydneysiders can expect to find a laneway laced with falling snow, and The Rocks will be illuminated by...

There’s nothing like the endorphin rush when you know you’ve bagged a bargain at the op shop. When the proceeds of purchase also go towards a good cause and you’re feeling like an eco warrior, you’re cheering. That’s the name of the game at the annual Peter Pan Op Shop supporting Barnardos, which brings Sydneysiders four days of supreme deals in late July. From Thursday to Sunday, 410 Oxford Street in Paddington will become home to a wealth of designer finds like Hermes, Burberry, Chanel, Camilla, Sass & Bide and Zimmermann. The event is free entry, and sales help Barnardos provide urgent care and essential services for children, young people and their families. The event is run by the Peter Pan Committee – a group of women who have been supporting Barnardos since World War II.  Eftpos will be available at the event, alongside a changing room at the back. Want to get exclusive access to what’s on offer? To celebrate 84 years of the stylish affair, the Peter Pan Committee is running its first Fashion Parade and Wardrobe Styling evening. For $85, watch the show, enjoy some bubbles and canapes, and take your pick of what’s on sale.  The Peter Pan Op Shop is on Thursday, July 24 to Sunday, July 27. Doors open at 10am on all days, except 9.30am on Saturday. Find out more here.

In musical theatre circles, Cats is the show that everyone loves to hate, dismissing it as “weird” and “uncool”. So let me begin this review by stating that I love Cats. I listened to the cast recording over and over as a child, I met my best friend on a Cats mailing list (remember those?) when I was sixteen, and there's probably still some old Cats fanfiction floating around out there that I wrote in my teens. This much maligned show doesn't deserve the hate it gets.  When Cats was first performed in the early 1980s, it was hailed as groundbreaking, bridging the gap between concept musicals and mega musicals in a way no show had done before. It won both Olivier and Tony awards for best musical, and ran for decades on the West End and Broadway. These days, it’s viewed more as a “guilty pleasure” – the show you secretly enjoy but are supposed to pretend you don’t, lest you be seen as uncultured. But why? Concept musicals based around a theme rather than a traditional narrative have existed since the 1950s, with notable examples including Cabaret, Hair and Company. Dance-heavy musicals are also not a unique concept. Cats isn't even the only show to combine these two elements. But while shows like A Chorus Line and Pippin are hailed as iconic, Cats – which is essentially A Chorus Line with tails – is not shown the same love.  Cats may not be too heavy on the plot, but it’s a show for people who love the little details Much of the criticism surrounding Cats comes from wanting...

The only thing better than learning about the oldest living culture in the world is immersing yourself in it. Get amongst the First Nations action in July at Parramatta Park with the Burramatta NAIDOC festival. The kickin’ outdoor event brings live First Nations R’n’B and soul artists, interactive workshops and market stalls all to one place.  The highlight of the one-day-only affair is the Next Generation Music Stage supported by Optus and Aboriginal charity organisation Kari Foundation. Triple J regular Becca Hatch brings her smooth R’n’B inspired by her Samoan and Kamilaroi heritage; ARIA-charting Velvet Trip mix up a groovy blend of psych rock and blues; and Naarm-based Kee’ahn’s soul tunes are inspired by queens like Lauryn Hill and Janelle Monae.  Either dance up a storm by the stage, or enjoy the music while you peruse the rest of Burramatta’s offerings. The markets feature a mix of special products by First Nations artists like handcrafted jewellery, artworks, textiles and clothing, alongside plenty of delish food vendors.  There are also plenty of chances to make your own art, whether through painting, drawing, dancing and weaving. These free Interactive workshops will be run by cultural leaders and super talented artists. Get in quick before the sessions fill up! Burramatta NAIDOC is happening at Parramatta Park on Saturday, July 12 from 11am to 3pm. Find out more about the free community Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander festival here.

Mother-daughter relationships can be complicated even under the best of circumstances. When you add adoption, a language barrier, and years of estrangement into the mix – well, you get more baggage than a flight from Sydney to Seoul.  You may be familiar with Michelle Lim Davidson from both the stage (The Feather in the Web) and screen (The Newsreader, Utopia, Play School). In Koreaboo, her moving playwriting debut presented by Griffin Theatre Company in association with Belvoir St Theatre, Davidson draws on her own life to investigate the complexities of intercountry adoption, and the precarious experience shared by many adopted children – living caught between two very different cultures, but feeling like they belong to neither.  Davidson plays Hannah, a 30-something-year-old woman who was adopted from Korea as a baby and grew up in Newcastle. After a break-up, she travels to Korea to spend time with her biological mother, Umma (Heather Jeong). Hannah’s plan is to spend time getting to know the woman whose love she’s longed for since before she can remember. She offers to help Umma at the family’s convenience mart, and Umma reluctantly agrees. It’s not until they discover a shared love of K-pop and performing that Umma’s walls start falling down, and Hannah really gets to know her Sex-and-the-City-quoting, Turtle-Chip-eating Umma.  Jeong portrays the cheeky, sassy, larger-than-life Umma with apparent ease, and her command of movement, language and voice is a strong...

Winter is well and truly here, and if you’re keen to embrace festive energy in Sydney, you don’t need to look too far. Just across the bridge in North Sydney (steps away from Victoria Cross Metro Station), a very wintery fiesta is going down for ten magical days – complete with a 20-metre toboggan slide and 50 tonnes of real snow. Yes, you’re reading that right. Kicking off on Friday, June 27, the Greenwood’s Snow Festival will see the sprawling North Sydney venue transformed into a winter wonderland – with a program of seasonal events to transport us into (even) colder climbs. This year’s snow-themed event line-up includes an Aspen-themed launch party (Friday, June 27), poutine-fuelled Canada Day celebrations (Saturday, June 28), Winter Night Markets (June 30 - July 4), a Mario Kart racing event (Wednesday, July 2) and a very special appearance from a Shania Twain tribute band (Tuesday, July 1).Keen to get involved in the cold? You can learn more over here. Want to be the first to know about what's on in Sydney? Sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter, delivered direct to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  Want more winter fun? Check out our guide to the best things to do in Sydney this winter.Or get cosy at one of these cabins close to the city.Or transport yourself to Paris at this epic festival of all things French.

Winter is well and truly here, and if you needed a reason to leave the warmth of your home, we’ve got you. This June and July, South Eveleigh will be transformed into a winter wonderland with its brand new offering, Loco Markets. Inspired by the charm of European street markets, Loco will have a rotating lineup of themed nights, live entertainment, artisan stalls selling handmade goods, delicious food and drink, and family fun from June 19 until July 27. Yes, that’s every Thursday to Sunday for six glorious weeks.  What’s more, each week is a fresh experience with new themes to keep you coming back. The music has been curated by ARIA-nominated Stu Hunter to match each week’s theme, and there will be kid-friendly activities like face painting and creative workshops. Entry is free, though some workshops require bookings. Here’s what’s on each week: Artisan Design (June 19–22)Kick things off with bath bomb workshops, live cartoonists and jazz harp performances. Shop 3D-printed gifts from Mewse, playful cardboard costumes by Paper Pops, and stunning jewellery from Stof Studios. Produce & Wellness (June 26–29)Get your glow on with seasonal produce and health products. Don’t miss natural skincare by Stori of Africa, wholesome foods from Soka Pantry, and tea-based wine alternatives by Junco Drinks. Design & Sustainability (July 3–6)Celebrate slow fashion, botanical beauty and sing-along art workshops. Market picks include earthenware from Ignem Terrae Ceramics, sustainable style...

Australia’s most famous beach is welcoming back its big winter festival, this time with the biggest program to date. Running from Friday, July 4 until Sunday, July 20, Bondi Festival 2025 will bring 17 days of world-class music, theatre, comedy, visual arts and interactive performances to the beachside suburb – as well as a huge ice-skating rink and the beloved ‘Bondi Vista Ferris Wheel’. This year’s fest will also see a welcome focus on foodie offerings, with the festival’s ‘Blue Sky Markets’ making their debut at Bondi Park over three big Saturdays, hosting stallholders from across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Festivities will begin with the 2025 Waverley Art Prize winners’ announcement at Bondi Pavilion Art Gallery – a prize that’s now in its 39th year. After the announcement, festival goers can get their giggle on at the opening night Bondi Festival Comedy Gala, which will take over Bondi Pavilion Theatre for two laughter-filled nights. The first Saturday of the fest also sees the return of two fan favourites: the Pavilion Paw Parade, and Sydney’s beloved inclusive art class, Gladdy Drawing Club.  Other highlights from the first week include an incredible showcase of First Nations talent, an on-stage film-making spectacle by POV by re:group, the Sydney premiere of Alternative Facts’ unexpectedly intimate new theatrical experience Sincere Apologies and the Bondi Festival debut of the award-winning comedian and disability advocate, Madeleine Stewart. The second week of the...

This June, Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta’s inaugural Heartland Festival is coming to Western Sydney performing arts hub, Riverside Theatres. The two-week program, which features a line-up of local and international artists, centres on groundbreaking writing and thrilling performances, with everything from theatre, spoken word and comedy on the agenda.  On week one (June 25-28) you can catch award-winning rapper and poet Omar Musa (Since Ali Died) performing spoken word alongside renowned American cellist and composer Mariel Roberts Musa in The Offering (A Plastic Ocean Oratorio). There’s also Supper Club, a night of thought-provoking performances served up alongside a course of delicious plates. On hosting duties is the captivating Nancy Denis – whose debut solo show Ma’p Boulé earned a four-star review from Time Out. On week two (July 2-5) enjoy a mash-up of theatre and film from re:group performance collective in their smash-hit show POV. With a cast of ten unrehearsed actors, and an 11-year old with a video camera leading the charge, this hilarious and deeply meaningful show is sure to surprise. If you missed tickets to the first Supper Club, you’re in luck – it returns for one more show on July 3. To close out the festival, Bars From The Heart will feature a host of Sydney’s finest wordsmiths performing poetry alongside the UK actor, poet and playwright Azan Ahmed at the mic.  Tickets start from $15 and are on sale now (but selling fast) so grab yours here. 

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...