The Best Things to Do in Sydney This Weekend

Looking for the best things to do in Sydney this weekend? The city is buzzing with festive fun, family outings and big-ticket events.

Spring festivals are bringing FREE fun to the weekend, including Cabramatta Moon Festival, Thailand Grand Festival, and Lugarno Lions Club Spring Festival. The Nurragingy Miniature Railway is toot-tooting through the bushland, Echoes at Bella Vista is lighting up the night, and Winnie the Pooh is inviting families to explore the Hundred Acre Wood.

Have a good one, folks! 

All events featured in this guide are run by independent organisers, with details sourced from their official websites at the time of publishing. We do our best to keep everything up to date, but cancellations can occur. It's always a good idea to double-check the latest information on the official event pages before heading out.

What's On in Sydney This Weekend

Things to do All Weekend

Things to do on Saturday

Things to do on Sunday

FREE & Cheap This Weekend in Sydney
 

Things to do All Weekend in Sydney

Bear Giving Day: Give a Bear, Double the Impact This September

The Kids' Cancer Project is asking families to donate a teddy bear to a child in hospital this September, with logistics partner Smartways Logistics matching every bear donated.

Funds also go toward childhood cancer research.

Where: Donate online via The Kids' Cancer Project
When:  Throughout September 2026
Cost:    $29.95 to $119.90 per donation

Shop at The Big Design Market

Carriageworks will fill with over 220 independent Australian designers this weekend in Sydney, showcasing homewares, ceramics, fashion, jewellery and art.

We love a weekend at The Big Design Market for browsing and buying, market strolls, people watching and general festive vibes!

Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh
When:  Friday 18 September (11 am–7 pm), Saturday 19 (9 am–6 pm) and Sunday 20 (9 am–5 pm)
Cost:   $8 per adult; kids under 12 go FREE

Enter the Hundred Acre Wood at The Grounds

A honey-coloured makeover lands in the laneways of The Grounds this weekend, with Winnie the Pooh taking over from Saturday 12 September as part of a Disney-themed celebration marking 100 years of the character.

Expect the venue's signature over-the-top installations and plenty of photo bait among the Hundred Acre Wood styling.

Where: The Grounds of Alexandria, 7A/2 Huntley Street, Alexandria
When:  Until 1 November 2026 | 7.30 am till late
Cost:    Free for diners at The Cafe, The Garden or The Potting Shed

Live Music Under the Stars at Night at The Barracks.

Night at the Barracks is back this weekend in Sydney!

The open-air concert series settles into North Head Sanctuary for its fifth year, pairing a harbourside backdrop with food trucks and a stellar artist lineup, including The Temper Trap on 18 September.

Where: The Barracks Precinct, North Head Sanctuary, 33 N Head Scenic Drive, Manly
When:  Friday 11 September to Sunday 4 October 2026
Cost:    Varies by event

Unlock Big Value at Timezone and Zone Bowling

Timezone and Zone Bowling are stretching the school holiday budget further this year, with deals running from 16 September to 11 October.

At Timezone, loading $25 onto your card nets $10 bonus credit, scaling up to $60 bonus credit and 1,000 Powertickets on a $100 load. Zone Bowling's new bundles start at $25 per person for a game, drink and game credit, with the $35 Max Zone option worth up to $70 in value. Deals apply at various Sydney locations; T&Cs apply.

Where: Various Timezone and Zone Bowling locations across Sydney
When:  16 September to 11 October 2026
Cost:    Bonus game credit deals from $25, Zone Bundles from $25 per person

Walk Through a Field of Paper Daisies

Spring is about to put on one seriously pretty show at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, with the Paper Daisy Spring Festival returning from 4 September to 11 October 2026.

At the heart of the festival is Sydney's biggest paper daisy display, transforming the Connections Garden into a colourful carpet of native blooms. The daisies are expected to be at their best from late August through to mid-to-late September, so flower fans may want to visit earlier in the festival to catch them in full bloom.

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.

Experience Kids' Theatre at Its Finest

Sydney's youngest culture seekers are getting their own slice of the Sydney Fringe Festival when Fringe Kids returns from 5 September to 11 October 2026.

Most of the action unfolds at Fool's Paradise inside the Entertainment Quarter, where circus performers, magicians, scientists and some extremely talented balloon wranglers will take over two pop-up theatres.

The program begins in September before rolling straight into the spring school holidays, with performances designed for young audiences and ticket prices that make it possible to catch more than one show.

Check out the full program.

Where: The Entertainment Quarter + Pottery Lane Performance Space, Lane Cove
When:   5 September to 11 October 2026
Cost:     Various, depending on the event

The Hills Orange Blossom Festival

The Hills' citrus-growing history gets a spring celebration across Bella Vista, Rouse Hill and Wisemans Ferry as the Hills Orange Blossom Festival begins! 

This weekend's lineup is all about that glow with the Echoes installation taking over Bella Vista. Don't miss it!

Where: Multiple venues across The Hills (Castle Hill BMX Club; Kenthurst)
When:  Echoes runs nightly from Friday 18 September to Sunday 11 October 2026
Cost:   Adults $19.50; children (3 to 17) $14.50; family tickets $55; under 2s go FREE

Enjoy Coffee With Amazing Views

Pair the weekend with a waterfront coffee run! 

From Redleaf Cafe's Double Bay views to Bathers' Pavilion at Balmoral, our list of Sydney's best waterfront cafes rounds up 27 family-friendly spots for brunch with a view.

Journey to the Moon at LUNA

Houston, we have a new immersive experience! Sydney families will soon be able to swap Earth for the Moon without travelling quite as far as NASA.

LUNA: A Journey to the Moon is bringing its immersive virtual reality adventure to Sydney Olympic Park from September 2026, sending visitors straight into the story of Apollo 11. From astronaut training and the thunderous launch of Saturn V to floating through space and setting foot on the lunar surface, this is a history lesson with considerably more wow factor.

Where: Fever Pavilion, Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park
When:  From September 2026
Cost:    $49.50 for adults; $40.50 for kids (10-17); Group Bundles (min. 4 tickets): $40.50 per ticket
Age Requirement: For ages 10+

See Bloodsuckers: Nature's Vampires

The Australian Museum's exhibition on leeches, mosquitoes and vampire bats is a hit with the 8-plus crowd, with interactive exhibits including a mozzie swarm simulator and touchable models.

Open daily until 11 October, with tickets from $18 for kids and $78 for a family of four. Low-sensory sessions run the first Tuesday of each month.

Where:  Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney
When:   Open daily until 11 October 2026
Cost:     $28 for adults; $18 for kids (4-15 years); $78 for a family of 4; under 3s go FREE 

Things to do on Saturday in Sydney

Have a Family Dance Party at Club Flamingo

Saturday afternoons are about to get a groovy glow-up! Designed especially for kids aged 5-12 and their grown-ups, Club Flamingo at The Grand Electric is a family-friendly experience that is part show and part dance party, combining music, circus, giant dance-offs, party challenges and live acts for a fun-filled afternoon of toe-tapping entertainment.

Hit the dance floor, learn the signature Club Flamingo moves and enjoy the breathtaking show at this high-energy family nightclub!

Where: The Grand Electric, 199 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills
When:  Saturday afternoons from 5 September 2026 for a limited season
Cost:    Tickets from $41.60 pp

Shop Up a Storm at EQ Markets

If you can't get enough of market shopping in Sydney, EQ's Market Canopy comes alive with a colourful mix of stalls, scents and sounds that make it very hard to just pop in for one thing! Locals know the drill: arrive hungry, leave with a tote bag full of goodies you didn't plan on buying (but absolutely needed).

EQ Markets is where you'll find everything from farm-fresh fruit and veg to crusty artisan breads, small-batch cheeses and street food worth lining up for. Whether you're grabbing ingredients for dinner or treating yourself to something delicious on the spot, there's plenty to tempt even the pickiest eaters.

Beyond the food, EQ Markets are packed with stalls selling boutique fashion, handmade jewellery, homewares and gifts you won't spot in your usual shopping centres. There's always something happening, from live music to street performers bringing extra energy to the space. 

Where:  Entertainment Quarter, 122 Lang Road, Moore Park (under The Market Canopy)
When:   Every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm
Cost:     FREE

Things to do on Sunday in Sydney

Cabramatta Moon Festival

It's harvest festival time!

Cabramatta's town centre closes to traffic this Sunday for one of Sydney's largest cultural festivals, drawing more than 90,000 people for lion dancing, live entertainment across two stages, fireworks and over 100 street food stalls.

Where: Cabramatta Town Centre
When:  20 September 2026 | 11 am to 8 pm
Cost:    FREE entry

Lugarno Lions Spring Festival

Another festival to tick off this weekend in Sydney!

Gannons Park in Peakhurst hosts the Lugarno Lions Spring Festival this Sunday, with over 150 stalls, camel and pony rides, a wrestling exhibition, an animal petting farm and a classic vehicle show. Running since 1979, it's grown into a full-day carnival rivalling the Royal Easter Show! 

Where: Gannons Park, Peakhurst
When:  20 September 2026 | 9.30 am to 3.30 pm
Cost:    FREE entry

Ride the Nurragingy Miniature Railway

Nestled in the scenic Nurragingy Reserve, this charming miniature railway offers a unique, affordable day out for families, rail enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a fun outdoor adventure in Sydney's west.

With beautifully maintained tracks, volunteer drivers, and regular public running days, the Nurragingy Miniature Railway is the perfect spot to enjoy a ride, soak up the park's natural beauty, and enjoy a nostalgic, joy-filled outing.

Where: Nurragingy Reserve
When:  Sunday, 20 September 2026 | 10 am to 3 pm
Cost:    Tickets are $4 per person

Stroll Through The Rocks Markets

How about a little market shopping to brighten your Saturday or Sunday in Sydney? The Rocks Markets are on every Saturday and Sunday and have some of the best stalls in Sydney with killer views to boot.

At The Rocks Markets, you'll discover the finest in food, art, design, music, and wellness, all brought together for great weekend fun. Enjoy free yoga classes, mingle with traders, check out demonstrations, and shop for unique artwork and jewellery. And of course, don't miss out on the delicious market bites!

Where: The Rocks, Sydney
When:  Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm
Cost:    FREE

Celebrate 200 Years of the State Library With FREE Activities

The State Library of NSW is celebrating its 200th anniversary in serious style! 

Free entry gets you into two centuries of collecting and preserving Sydney's stories, plus a run of immersive exhibitions built just for the occasion. Kids can grab a 200 Kids Trail Card and go treasure-hunting through the building, get hands-on at the Drop-in Centre: 200 Years of Wonder, or swipe through 250-odd stories on the Digital Timeline, including a few brazen historical crimes thrown in for good measure. Little bookworms will love The Curious World of Pamela Allen, a free interactive exhibition that lets them step inside classics like Who Sank the Boat? with dress-ups and life-sized storybook scenes. Add in the cosy under-5s Family Room and the Children's Library with its free monthly Storytime sessions, and it's a full day out that costs precisely nothing.

Where: State Library of NSW, 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney
When:  Until October 2026
Cost:    FREE entry and activities 

FREE & Cheap This Weekend in Sydney

Darling Harbour's Thai Grand Festival

Tumbalong Park at Darling Harbour goes full immersion this weekend, with two days of Thai street food from four regions, live music, traditional dance and even Muay Thai demonstrations! 

There'll be plenty of Pad Thai, Khao Soi and sticky mango rice alongside cooking demos and a Thai fashion show. It's lots of free fun for families.

Where: Tumbalong Park at Darling Harbour
When:  Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September | 10 am onwards
Cost:    FREE entry

Splash at Sydney's FREE Water Parks

With the warm weather rolling in, Sydney's free water parks are the easiest weekend win for families chasing a splash without the price tag.

From Darling Quarter's aquatic maze to the state's largest outdoor water play area at Blaxland Riverside Park, our full guide to Sydney's best free water parks covers 26 spots across the city.

Go Deep Under Water at Ultimate Depth

Ultimate Depth at the Australian National Maritime Museum is taking families on a deep-sea adventure without the need for wetsuits, submarines or anyone saying "are we there yet?" 

This immersive temporary exhibition dives from the ocean's bright, sunlit surface to the deepest, darkest parts of the sea, exploring five incredible ocean zones and the weird, wonderful creatures that call them home.

Kids can make their own deep-sea creature and release it into the Midnight Zone, learn how ocean life survives under crushing pressure, and come face-to-face with James Cameron's famous DEEPSEA CHALLENGER submersible, which travelled to the Mariana Trench in 2012.

Where: Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour
When:  Now on
Cost:    FREE entry

Enter a Dream Circus

Dream Circus at Luna Park is a brilliant indoor pick for a weekend adventure, whisking families through a 45-minute immersive world of 360-degree projections, holographic characters, glowing landscapes and larger-than-life digital effects inside the Big Top.

Tickets are just $10 per person, making it an easy add-on to a day of rides at Luna Park.

Where: Luna Park, 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point
When:  Until 11 October 2026
Cost:    $10 per person

Check Out Sydney's Heritage Coal Loader

Step beneath one of Sydney Harbour's most fascinating historic sites during a free guided tour of The Coal Loader in Waverton.

Led by a volunteer guide, the tour traces the remarkable transformation of this former industrial coal-loading facility into a harbourside centre for sustainability. The site operated from the early 1920s until the 1990s, transferring coal from bulk carriers to smaller coal-powered vessels before being reclaimed as public space.

Visitors will explore the stories, machinery and hidden corners left behind from the site's working days. One of the biggest highlights is entry into heritage-preserved Tunnel 1, which is normally closed to the public. The old sandstone tunnel once formed part of the system used to move coal beneath the loading platform and offers an atmospheric glimpse into Sydney’s industrial past.

This outing is best suited to older children and teenagers with an interest in history, engineering or sustainability. All physical abilities are welcome, although sturdy walking shoes are recommended. Bring a water bottle and hat, and meet the guide outside the Genia McCaffery Centre, also known as The Cottage.

Where:  The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability, 2 Balls Head Drive, Waverton
When:   Saturday, 1 August 2026, 10.30 am to 12 pm
Cost:     FREE
Age recommendation: Ages 12 and over
Bookings: Preferred, although walk-ins are welcome

Explore The Curious World of Pamela Allen at the State Library of NSW

Step straight into storytime at The Curious World of Pamela Allen, a delightful exhibition bringing her much-loved books to life for the very first time in Australia.

Now open at the State Library of New South Wales, this immersive experience invites families to wander through the playful worlds behind classics like Mr Archimedes' Bath, Alexander's Outing and Who Sank the Boat?

Little readers can slide beneath Mr McGee's tree, interact with oversized storybook pages, splash alongside familiar animal characters and dress up as their favourites, all while discovering cosy corners made for quiet reading. Equal parts exhibition and hands-on play space, it's a joyful outing designed for families to explore, imagine and share a love of storytelling together.

Where: State Library of NSW, 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney
When:  Until July 2027
Cost:    FREE

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About ellaslist

ellaslist is a trusted local guide for families across Sydney and NSW, written by parents, carers 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.

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