The best things to do in Sydney in October

What if we told you that in a little corner of Sydney there lies a time portal back to how Australian working-class families used to live in the 19th century? Susannah Place is a humble brick terrace that’s housed more than 100 families since it was built in 1844 and today you can step inside the freshly restored building for a blast from the past.  Museums of History NSW have been hard at work on a five-year conservation project so that visitors can get the most out of their visit to Susannah Place. Now, you can explore the four homes inside and take part in hands-on activities for a one-day only street party.  On Saturday, October 11, there’ll be artist-led workshops, live vintage jazz performances, talks by experts, and old-fashioned street games so your little ones can see how kids spent time before screens were a thing.  There’ll be chalk stencilling inspired by the house’s pretty patterned linoleums with Alice McAuliffe, a hands-on embroidery activity with Leah Giblin, DIY protest banner-making with Nicole Barakat inspired by redevelopment activism in the 1970s and more. Our favourite part is the recreated 1915 corner shop where you can pick up retro treats.  Bring the whole family along to the one-day Susannah Place Street Party on October 11 from 10am to celebrate the restoration of the heritage-listed building. The event is free, but make sure you register here.

At the northern tip of Australia, in north-east Arnhem Land, lies Yirrkala  – it’s an internationally renowned arts community whose work has shaped history and challenged convention. The good news? You don’t need a plane ticket or a 4WD to experience its power. From now until October, Yolŋu power: the art of Yirrkala brings the beauty and brilliance of Yirrkala’s art to Sydney.  Featuring nearly 300 works by 98 artists, the exhibition spans bark paintings and wooden sculptures to video art and digital installations. Each piece speaks to the deep cultural, political and social histories from which it emerged – revealing tradition not as static, but as a living force of innovation and resistance. Our hack? Explore the exhibition on a Wednesday night at Art After Hours – not only will it feel like you’re making the most of your week, but you can score two-for-one tickets* from 5pm to 10pm.  Catch Yolŋu power: the art of Yirrkala at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until October 6. Tickets start from $13 for youth (free for children under 12) and $20 for members. Book yours here.  Yolŋu power: the art of Yirrkala is supported proudly by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The exhibition is presented in partnership with the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre. *Terms and Conditions apply, head to artgallery.nsw.gov.au for details.

Most people know a Suntory beverage. Maybe it’s the mega popular Minus 196 cans, the ultimate to-go Boss Coffee, the refined Roku Gin or premium Japanese whiskies. What we guarantee you *don’t* know is just how many popular labels it owns: think everything from Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark to Canadian Club. And now, you can experience more than 125 years of Suntory’s history and innovation all in one place – for the next three months. Say hello to Sydney’s new Suntory Bar. The Japanese spirit company has chosen the city’s only Japanese culture and dining precinct, Prefecture 48 on Sussex Street, as host for the residency. The moody Whisky Thief bar with gorgeous historic artwork and marbletop counters is the place to be when you clock off. Choose between timeless highballs, signature serves, special cocktails, RTDs, The Premium Malt beer and whisky flights crafted by the team at Prefecture 48 in collaboration with Suntory.  The must-try tipple of the affair is the Highball. While it’ll be dished up with a range of Suntory whiskies (it’s what Suntory’s known for in Japan), we say try the spotlight cocktail, the Hakushu Highball, first. Not only is it a refreshing mix of Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve, soda and mint, but it’s been paired with an exclusive snack from the genius Michelin Star chef Tetsuya Wakuda (you know, from *the* Tetsuya’s). Now’s the chance to sample Wakuda’s cuisine since his eminent Sydney restaurant closed last year – that’s a golden opportunity if we ever...

You’re never too old to have a ball checking out one of Australia’s largest inflatable obstacle courses, which is fantastic news for Sydneysiders this school holidays. Why? Because Monster Jump is back and bigger than ever. The all-ages playground is returning to the Entertainment Quarter from September 27 to October 12, and for the first time a second location is popping up at The Crescent in Parramatta Park.  Jump into some action-packed school holiday fun with this monstrous 280-metre-long jumping castle boasting more than 30 different custom-built obstacles. You can race your mates to see who can complete the course the fastest, or take it slow and steady to enjoy your favourite parts. Either way, you’ll have some serious fun climbing, sliding, bouncing, slipping and tumbling all over the place. Don’t let the kids have all the fun! Monster Jump is suitable for everyone from children aged three and up to adults. That makes for an epic experience for the whole family. Kids under five will need adult supervision, but there’s one adult included at no extra charge with each toddler pass. A two-hour pass costs $30 for anyone aged five and up, toddler passes are also available for $45 (includes one adult). Don't forget to upgrade to an all-day pass if you plan on a full day of fun. Best of all, spectators are welcome to come and watch for free! Really want to burn some energy? Monster Jump returns for another year with Monster Sports Jam Inflatable, exclusive to the Sydney...

If outdoor movie trivia, mouth-watering eats, and a dash of Irish folk music sound like your kind of night, mark your calendar – Spot On is back for 2025, and it’s shaping up to be a goodie. The beloved street festival will transform St Pauls Street in Randwick into a vibrant hub of food, music, and community spirit every second Thursday evening from September 4 to November 27, running from 5:30pm to 9pm. And the best part? It’s completely free. Whether you’re planning a family outing, a date night, or rallying the entire group chat for a long overdue catch-up, Spot On has something for everyone. During the festivities, St Pauls Street will be closed to traffic, with the usual traffic replaced with a bustle of activity. Local cafés and restaurants will take over the street with extended alfresco dining serving up Thai, French, Italian, Spanish, Indian and more. Expect live performances from talented local acts. Some to look forward to are Jordan Chung Duo, Steyer Brothers, Crawfish Po’Boys, Blue Rhythm Band and more with their sweet jazz sounds ranging from bossa nova to New Orleans-style. Funded by the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program in partnership with Randwick City Council, Spot On 2025 is all about celebrating local businesses, artists and musicians, while bringing the community together. The best transport options are to bus it, catch the light rail to Randwick terminal and take a short stroll through High Cross Park to The Spot or see if you can nab a local...

Activist and multi-award-winning songwriter Kutcha Edwards is widely regarded as one of Australia’s finest contemporary voices. A natural performer (despite never being officially trained), he found his footing in the ‘80s and ‘90s as a member of bands The Black Arm Band and Blackfire. Decades on, the highly respected Elder and Songman has carved out a successful solo career, blending ‘Bidgee’ blues with traditional songs of people and Country. On October 14, the Mutti Mutti artist will curate and headline a special evening of music in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Titled Ngarli-Wangu (meaning “our song” in Mutti Mutti), the one-night-only event will see Edwards joined on stage by conductor-in-residence Benjamin Northey and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, along with a selection of special guests. Together, they will perform anthems that have shaped the Blak artistic landscape over the past four decades. More than a concert, Ngarli-Wangu is a celebration of heritage. As a survivor of the Stolen Generations, Edwards draws deeply from his lived experience to create his powerful sound and personal music that simply must be experienced live. Tickets are on sale now for this one-off performance, with prices from $49 plus booking fee, concessions available. Secure your seats here. 

As I’m on my way to Sydney's Capitol Theatre for the new Australian production of The Book of Mormon, my friend tells me it’s the very first musical a lot of people see. Created by South Park duo Trey Parker and Matt Stone (with Robert Lopez), the show’s reputation for extremely irreverent jabs at religion draws a non-traditional theatre crowd. What I now realise my friend didn’t mean was, “it’s often the first musical kids see”. When I say the musical is extremely irreverent, I mean it. The humour is crass, verging on grotesque (some things I wouldn’t dare repeat). So it’s probably questionable that I’ve brought along my 13-year-old son with me. That said, he loves it.  Some of the humour is classic teen boy (i.e. a regular exclamation from one of the Ugandan characters that he has “maggots in my scrotum”). Very South Park. My son laughs loudly with the rest of the audience – and when the jokes go too far, he cringes, glancing around with a “should I be laughing at this?” look. Although the shock value is high, it’s nice seeing a Gen Alpha-ite who’s been raised on Youtube and other screen-based entertainment bopping along in his seat to the song and dance of a stage show.    What’s the premise of The Book of Mormon? The Book of Mormon tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries sent to a small village in Uganda. Although the story centres on Mormonism, Parker and Stone have been known to refer to the show as an “atheist’s love letter to religion” – a wink and a jab...

Need a new profile pic? We’ve got you. One of the world’s biggest immersive experiences has landed in the Harbour City – serving up a fun, surreal backdrop for your Instagram grid glow-up . Bubble Planet: An Immersive Experience is open now at Paddington Pavilion, Sydney Olympic Park, offering Sydneysiders a transporting, ultra-Instagrammable experience. Already experienced by more than two million visitors around the world, with sell-out runs in Milan, Los Angeles, London and Brussels, Bubble Planet is a fantastical world of optical illusions, cutting-edge virtual reality experiences, giant bubbles, and next-level immersive projections. Visitors to the Sydney site can expect to embark on a dreamlike journey through more than 10 otherworldly rooms, home to giant bubble domes, LED underwater-style wonderlands, selfie hubs and VR dreamscapes.  Almost 10,000 tickets were sold ahead of the official opening, so we expect this one will be another sell-out run for the people who brought the incredible immersive Van Gogh experience to Sydney back in 2020. Session at this bizarre immersive world run for between 60-90 minutes, and the experience is suitable for people of all ages – with kids under four welcomed in for free. Keen? You can learn more and snap up tickets over here.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, things to do and travel inspo, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Want more activity inspo? Here’s what’s on in Sydney this...

From October 22, Parramatta’s CBD will once again transform into the city’s most beloved street party. Hosted across four incredible nights, more than 200,000 festival goers are expected to turn out for an epic celebration of Western Sydney; there will be live music, loads of street food stalls, live performances, immersive art and much more.  At Parramatta Lanes you can discover art installations such as Summer Kim, a four-metre tall inflatable girl who's ready for her close-up. There’s also the world premiere of a gravity-defying aerial performance on the side of a building, a bold Afro-futuristic digital installation and an interactive AI tarot reader. Get your groove on after dark at one of ten pop-up stages, featuring a stacked line-up of musical acts. Find international and local bands including Sydney’s king of alt-country Andy Golledge, the legendary punk rock band The Hard Ons, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Immy Owusu, jazz, hip-hop and R'n'B fusion band Who Gon Be There (WAGBT), UK jazz band LVDF, and Maori/Chinese duo Flowerstream. There’ll also be a live rap battle with the national Pass The Mic competition, presented by Bodega Collective and Triple J.  Hit the dance floor at Queer Line Dancing, head over to the K-Pop dancing, or pick a winner at the pop-up pro-wrestling ring. Make sure you also check out Horwood Place for four nights of music and artwork at Powerhouse Lane.  Most importantly, though, what’s on the menu? The festival will showcase more...

The time-honoured tradition of celebrating the September/October full moon – also known as the Harvest Moon or Hunter’s Moon – has played an important role in many Asian cultures for centuries, offering a moment to honour the magnificent moon at its brightest. Harvest Moon-related festivals have been celebrated across Sydney for years, but in 2025, the celebrations will take over one of the city’s most iconic celestial landmarks. From Tuesday, September 30, to Thursday, October 2, Sydney Observatory will host its first-ever Moon Festival, featuring lion dances, lantern parades, live musical performances, and Vietnamese street food. Traditionally, Moon Festivals focus on the theme of gratitude, with mooncakes shared among guests, lion dances performed, and feasts enjoyed under the glowing moon. The Sydney Observatory event will follow this tradition, with interactive lantern-making workshops led by renowned visual artist Truc Truong, alongside other traditional activities – and the added bonus of the city’s best view of the moon through the observatory's powerful telescope. The Moon Festival will take over the observatory grounds for three consecutive days at various times, with the main event – including a lantern parade, lion and dragon dances, and a live set by Asian-Australian DJ Small FRY – taking place on Thursday, October 2. Workshops will be free to attend, but a (free) ticket will be required for the Thursday evening main event. Keen? You can check out the full...