Pick a Date
Spring in Sydney is a blossoming time, heralding vibrant flower festivals and lively events in and around the city. As the days grow warmer and the city bursts into colour, families can immerse themselves in the beauty of the season, from the fragrant blooms of daffodils and tulips to the joyous celebrations of community events.
We've rounded up the best spring events, flowers, and festivals for families in Sydney and beyond.
Top Spring Events, Festivals & Family Fun on the Calendar
October Events & Festivals
Fringe Kids at Sydney Fringe Festival
Paper Daisy Spring Festival
Night at The Barracks
The Hills Orange Blossom Festival
Springtime at Hunter Valley Gardens
Tulip Time
Floriade in Canberra
Hills Food & Wine Festival
Sculpture By the Sea
Granny Smith Festival
Spring Twilight Concert in the Park
Crows Nest Fest
Kings Langley Festival
Parramatta Lanes
Festival of Mosman
Norton Street Italian Festa
Wahroonga Food + Wine Festival
Festival of Fisher's Ghost
Grafton Jacaranda Festival
Blacktown Pasifika Unity Festival
NSW's Famous Canola Fields
November Events & Festivals
Festival of Fisher's Ghost
Grafton Jacaranda Festival
1. Fringe Kids at Sydney Fringe Festival
Fringe Kids is bringing a brilliant burst of circus, magic, science and wonderfully silly theatre to the Sydney Fringe Festival from 5 September to 11 October 2026.
Most performances take over two pop-up theatres at Fool's Paradise in the Entertainment Quarter, with a packed program featuring daring acrobatics, giant bubbles, balloon chaos, dinosaur adventures, interactive experiments and plenty of chances for young audience members to join the action. Highlights include All Star Circus, The Greatest Magic Show, BLAST LAB Science, Jurassic Down Under, Trash Test Dummies Circus and jungle disco Party Animals, with shows running throughout the spring school holidays and tickets starting from $24.
Where: The Entertainment Quarter + Pottery Lane Performance Space, Lane Cove
When: Until 11 October 2026
Cost: Various, depending on the event
2. Paper Daisy Spring Festival
Spring is putting on one seriously pretty show at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, with the Paper Daisy Spring Festival blooming from 4 September to 11 October 2026.
Plenty is happening beyond the flowers, especially if you visit over a weekend.
Families can stretch out on Lakeside Lawn while local musicians perform, challenge each other to giant Jenga and Connect Four, and stop by the florist pop-up to make a posy jar or pick up a fresh bouquet.
Saturdays also bring free kids' craft activities, while floral face painting will be available on Saturdays and Sundays for $5 per child.
Where: Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, 362 Narellan Road, Mount Annan
When: 4 September to 11 October 2026
Cost: Entry to the Australian Botanic Garden is free; some festival activities and workshops cost extra.
3. Night at The Barracks
North Head Sanctuary sets the scene for its fifth year of Night at the Barracks, an open-air concert series running from 11 September to 4 October at the Barracks Precinct in Manly.
As the sun drops behind the harbour, families can spread a picnic rug among the historic sandstone buildings and take in a lineup of Aussie artists against that unmistakable salty sea breeze of spring. The Temper Trap have already been confirmed for Friday, 18 September as part of their Sungazer National Tour, with more names set to join the bill soon. Add in food trucks and a relaxed, kid-friendly atmosphere, and you've got one of Sydney's most atmospheric ways to spend a spring evening, equal parts picnic and big-stage energy.
Where: The Barracks Precinct, North Head Sanctuary, 33 N Head Scenic Dr, Manly
When: Friday 11 September to Sunday 4 October 2026
Cost: Various, depending on the concert
4. The Hills Orange Blossom Festival
The Hills Orange Blossom Festival is bursting back into bloom from 12 September to 11 October, filling the region with lights, local flavour and family fun.
Headline events include Echoes: Moon Garden, an enchanting after-dark trail of glowing installations and interactive displays at Bella Vista Farm, the colourful Orange Blossom Festival Parade at Rouse Hill Town Centre, and A Taste of Wisemans, where food trucks, wineries and live entertainment take over Wisemans Ferry Park.
Families can also look forward to PAW Patrol appearances, pony rides, a petting zoo, creative workshops and community events popping up across The Hills throughout the festival. Don't miss out!
Where: Multiple locations in the Hills Shire
When: Until 11 October 2026
Cost: FREE and ticketed events
5. Springtime at Hunter Valley Gardens
Spring is bursting into colour at Hunter Valley Gardens - Australia's largest display garden - with gorgeous landscapes, exotic wildlife and plenty of springtime inspiration.
Wander through 10 themed gardens while enjoying a range of interactive and educational attractions, get up close with butterflies and baby lambs, discover the fascinating world of bees and enjoy fun family activities surrounded by the beauty of nature.
There's plenty to discover as you explore the breathtaking seasonal Gardens, and kids can get creative with hands-on activities that turn a day among the flowers into a fun adventure. Carnival rides will be operating throughout the school holidays from 10 am to 2 pm.
Where: Hunter Valley Gardens, 2090 Broke Rd, Pokolbin
When: Until 11 October 2026
Cost: Adult (16+) $42; Child (4 - 15 yrs) $31; 3 and under FREE.
Family passes from $97
6. Tulip Time
Now in its 66th year, the Tulip Time Festival is set to paint Bowral in a sea of colour. More than 80,000 tulips and spring blooms will transform Corbett Gardens into a floral wonderland, complete with live entertainment, artisan market stalls, and the always-popular CWA scones.
Alongside the spectacular garden displays, visitors can enjoy market stalls, food vendors, live entertainment and creative Bloomin' Weekends, while special events include Dogs Day Out, the family-friendly Bloom & Play program and sunset tours at Retford Park. The wider Tulip Time Trail will spread the colour across Bowral, Mittagong and Moss Vale, making it easy to turn a visit into a full spring day trip or weekend away.
Where: Corbett Gardens, Bendooley Street, Bowral
When: Until 5 October 2026 | 9.30 am to 4.30 pm; extended until 5.30 pm from 2 to 4 October
Online Cost: Adults $18.50; concession $12.50; youth aged 13-17 $13; under 12s go FREE
Gate cost: Adults $20; concession and youth $13.50; under 12s go FREE
7. Floriade in Canberra
Fancy a three-hour trip down the highway? A fiesta of beautiful blooms and springtime magic awaits you in Canberra! Australia's biggest celebration of spring is back with a bang at Floriade.
Floriade returns to Canberra's Commonwealth Park from 12 September to 11 October 2026, filling the gardens with more than one million blooms inspired by this year's Feast of Flowers theme. Alongside the spectacular tulip displays, families can enjoy children's gardening and craft activities at Floriade Sprouts, carnival rides, live entertainment, workshops and guided garden tours. NightFest will light up the flowers after dark from 1 to 4 October, while the wider program includes special events at Lanyon Homestead, Dogs' Day Out and the Great Big Bulb Dig, where visitors can take home bulbs from the festival beds.
Where: Commonwealth Park, Regatta Place, Parkes, Canberra
When: Until 11 October 2026 | 9.30 am to 5.30 pm
Cost: FREE entry; charges apply for NightFest, selected workshops, rides and special events
8. Hills Food & Wine Festival
Save the date for the Hills Food & Wine Festival at the beautiful Bella Vista Farm for a spring day packed with good food, local producers and plenty to keep younger festival-goers entertained.
Families can settle in for live music and cooking demonstrations while exploring food stalls, wineries, distilleries and boutique makers, with a dedicated FitKidz Kids Zone, face painting, amusement rides and the farm's playground giving the kids plenty of reasons to come along. Entry is free for under-18s, and there's even a free shuttle from Bella Vista Metro, making this much more than a festival for the grown-ups.
Where: Bella Vista Farm
When: Sunday, 11 October | 10 am to 6 pm
Cost: FREE entry for under 18s
9. Sculpture By The Sea
The ultimate outdoor spring festival in Sydney, Sculpture By The Sea is a must-visit for all local and visiting families.
Dust off your walking shoes and mark your calendars for Sculpture By The Sea 2026. The iconic coastal walk between Bondi and Tamarama will once again transform into a mesmerising outdoor art gallery for the 27th year as artists from all over the world showcase their skills.
Where: Bondi Beach to Tamarama Beach coastal walk
When: 16 October to 2 November 2026
Cost: FREE
10. Granny Smith Festival
You're all invited to one enormous free street party celebrating the suburb's famous green apple at the Granny Smith Festival.
Families can catch the colourful street parade, watch hundreds of performers across the festival stages and explore more than 200 stalls, food trucks and community displays. There'll also be amusement rides, a dedicated youth zone and plenty of children's activities throughout the day, before the festival wraps up with a high-energy finale performance and dazzling fireworks display.
Where: Eastwood Town Centre
When: Saturday, 17 October 2026 | 9 am to 8.30 pm
Cost: FREE entry
11. Spring Twilight Concert in the Park
Keep the party going and head to not one but two spring festivals on the 17th! Wahroonga Park lights up for a free night of live music with Ku-ring-gai's Spring Twilight Concert kicking off at 5 pm with a support act before headliner Don't Change – Ultimate INXS takes the stage to run through the band's greatest hits.
Pack a picnic or grab dinner from the small lineup of food stalls, spread a rug or low-back chair towards the front, and settle in for a proper singalong under the stars until 8 pm. Parking is limited, so it's worth taking the train, with Wahroonga Station just a two-minute walk from the park.
Where: Wahroonga Park, corner of Illoura Avenue and Millewa Avenue
When: Saturday, 17 October 2026 | 5-8 pm
Cost: FREE entry
12. Crows Nest Fest
The whole of Willoughby Road shuts down to traffic on 18 October as Crows Nest Fest takes over the Lower North Shore for its 35th year, packing in an estimated 50,000 visitors across a single free day!
Gourmet Food Alley leans into the suburb's foodie reputation with street eats from local operators alongside food trucks and pop-up vendors, while the licensed area gives adults a spot to slow down with tastings from approved producers. Kids get their own turf too, with the Kids Entertainment Alley serving up pony rides, a petting zoo and circus workshops, plus two or three stages running live music and dance throughout the day. Get there early to beat the crowds, then save some energy for the kids' corner before the festival wraps up at 5 pm.
Where: Willoughby Road, Crows Nest
When: Sunday, 18 October 2026 from 10 am to 5 pm
Cost: FREE entry
13. Kings Langley Festival
Also on the 18th, Pearce Reserve plays host to the annual Kings Langley Festival, a Blacktown Council event run in collaboration with the Kings Langley Lions Club.
The free family day out spreads across market and craft stalls, live stage performances from local talent, carnival rides and kids' games, plus displays from local emergency services that always draw a crowd. With food stalls keeping everyone fuelled and easy access via bus routes into the reserve, it's a solid, low-key way to spend a spring Sunday with the family in Sydney's north-west.
Where: Pearce Reserve, Whitby Road, Kings Langley
When: Sunday, 18 October 2026 | 9 am to 3 pm
Cost: FREE entry
14. Parramatta Lanes
Parramatta Lanes returns from 21-24 October 2026, celebrating its 15th year with four colourful nights of food, music, art and unexpected adventures tucked throughout the CBD.
More than 20 festival sites will transform laneways, rooftops and public spaces into a sprawling playground of things to see, taste and discover. Families can wander from one precinct to the next, checking out large-scale art installations, illuminated displays, immersive artworks and live performances, with something different waiting around practically every corner.
Where: 20+ sites across Parramatta CBD
When: Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 October 2026
Times: Wednesday & Thursday, 5-10 pm; Friday & Saturday, 5-10.30 pm
Cost: FREE entry
15. Festival of Mosman
Mosman is turning up the volume with free family fun, live entertainment, food, arts and community spirit at the Festival of Mosman: Encore, running over 6 jam-packed days from Thursday 22 to Tuesday 27 October 2026.
Bringing together some of the festival's most popular events, plus exciting new additions, Encore boasts a vibrant program of cultural and creative experiences to get families out and about, enjoying the neighbourhood.
Where: Various locations in Mosman
When: Thursday 22 to Tuesday 27 October 2026
Cost: FREE
16. Norton Street Italian Festa
One of Australia's largest annual street festivals takes place in the heart of Sydney's 'Little Italy', offering a vibrant mix of entertainment, cooking demonstrations, delicious food, drinks, and community activities.
The festival sets aside a dedicated zone for younger visitors, with carnival rides, jumping castles, an animal farm, pony rides, face painting and street performers working the crowd throughout the day. Combined with the food and noise of Norton Street in full swing, it makes for a genuinely full sensory day out, so plan for a stroller- or pram-friendly stretch of the morning before the street gets busy.
Where: Norton Street, Leichhardt
When: Sunday 25 October 2026 | 10 am to 5 pm
Cost: FREE entry
17. Wahroonga Food + Wine Festival
Here's one for the teens and adults! Wahroonga Park turns into a proper feast for the senses when the Wahroonga Food + Wine Festival brings together more than 30 local NSW wineries and producers for a day of tasting under the trees.
Beyond the wine, expect a dedicated oyster bar, a spread of gourmet stalls and desserts worth saving room for, all set against the leafy backdrop that's made this one of the North Shore's favourite spring outings. Running from 11 am to 5 pm, it's a laid-back way to spend a Sunday, with pre-sale tasting ticket packages available for those keen to work their way through the wine list.
Where: Wahroonga Park, corner of Illoura Avenue and Millewa Avenue
When: Sunday, 25 October 2026 | 11 am to 5 pm
Cost: Presale tickets from $39.50
18. Festival of Fisher's Ghost
Campbelltown gets spooky with substance this spring, as the Festival of Fisher's Ghost kicks off on Halloween night, 31 October, with a carnival at Campbelltown Showground packed with amusement rides, sideshow alley and enough carnival treats to fuel a very late bedtime.
The legend of Fred Fisher's ghost has anchored this event since 1956, and the 2026 program keeps the tradition alive with fireworks lighting up the sky on 2 and 9 November, the Fisher's Twilight Fair bringing market stalls and roaming entertainers to the CBD, and Sunset Sounds closing things out with a stacked live music lineup at Campbelltown Athletics Stadium. With up to 250,000 people turning out across past years, it's one of the biggest spring festivals in Sydney, so plan your parking and pack the kids' energy for a big one.
Where: Various venues including Campbelltown Showground, Campbelltown City Centre and Campbelltown RSL Rooftop Carpark
When: 31 October and 7-8 November 2026
Cost: General admission is FREE for all events; rides, sideshows and dining are at a cost; Fisher's Ghost Fun Run registration fees apply
19. Grafton Jacaranda Festival
Grafton Jacaranda Festival turns the city purple from 30 October to 8 November 2026, with a packed family program celebrating the famous blooms.
Family-friendly highlights include the free Jaca Children's Party, youth parade, River Dreaming cultural celebrations, Jacaranda Thursday with more than 220 stalls, the colourful Float Procession, Venetian Carnival and fireworks, Party in the Park and the Jacaranda Running Festival. Kids can also join the Spot-It scavenger hunt around the CBD, while Illuminate lights up See Park's jacarandas after dark in the lead-up to the festival.
Where: Throughout Grafton
When: 30 October to 8 November 2026
Cost: FREE and ticketed events
20. Blacktown Pasifika Unity Festival
A vibrant weekend of culture, sport and family entertainment is coming to Sydney's west with Blacktown’s first-ever Pasifika Unity Festival. Bringing together the rich traditions of Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia, this new celebration is all about community and connection, with plenty of activities to immerse families in the atmosphere.
Settle in for live music, explore market stalls and sample delicious food while kids enjoy activities designed especially for younger festival-goers. Rugby league fans can also catch live Rugby League World Cup action during the celebrations. It’s a wonderful chance to discover the diverse cultures of Blacktown’s Pasifika community while enjoying a lively day out in the sunshine at Blacktown Football Park.
Where: Blacktown Football Park, Gate B, Eastern Road, Rooty Hill
When: Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2026 | 3 pm to 10 pm
Cost: FREE
21. Visit NSW's Famous Canola Fields
NSW's famous canola fields are the perfect weekend adventure for adventurous families who don't shy away from a spur-of-the-moment road trip!
Every year from around mid-August to October, NSW's famous canola fields burst into golden, yellowy flowers that look almost too good to be true. While driving out to the canola fields is around a 4-hour drive, the contrast of the blue sky against the yellow fields is a sight to behold, plus there are loads to see and do in the towns dotted along the trail.
Please note that most canola fields are private farms, so please don't enter without permission.
Where: NSW towns of Coolamon, Junee, and Temora
When: Usually from around mid-August to October
—
About ellaslist
ellaslist is a trusted local guide for families across Sydney and NSW, written by parents and family lifestyle editors who understand what makes an outing with kids genuinely work. Our team researches and curates the best family-friendly events, attractions, playgrounds, restaurants and school holiday activities, with practical details on age suitability, accessibility, parking, public transport, facilities and family-friendly tips.
Other Things to Do in Spring
Things to do in Sydney This October Long Weekend
Spring Fruit Picking in Sydney
Sydney's Best Cafes by the Water
Have you signed up for our newsletter? Join ellaslist to get the best family and kid-friendly events, venues, classes and things to do NEAR YOU!
Reviews
