The Best Things to Do in Sydney This Weekend

Thinking of things to do in Sydney this weekend? You're not the only one! Work to live not live to work, am I right? If you start thinking about the weekend first thing Monday morning, then you've come to the right place. 

Sydney is packed to the brim with fun things to do this weekend for families keen to get in on the action. If you're looking for FREE fun for the whole family then you've come to the right place. Explore an enchanting wonderland at Market City's FREE Christmas Candyland, plus, enjoy FREE entry to City of Sydney Pools' Summer Open Day. Things are getting extra glowy with Christmas magic at Darling Harbour's Rockin' Christmas, Illuminate The Hills, and Sydney's best streets with Christmas lights. And if that isn't enough, history buffs can explore Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, run through fields of lavender, and ride a real-life fire engine! We told you this weekend is packed!

Things to Do in Sydney This Weekend (6-8 Dec)

1. FREE Fun For Families at Market City's Christmas Candyland

Treat the whole family to an unforgettable Christmas adventure this weekend in Sydney at Market City's Christmas Candyland!

Explore an enchanting wonderland, where every corner is bursting with holiday magic. Wander through the Peppermint Pine Forest where you'll find dazzling trees draped in shimmering lights, oversized candy canes, and giant lollipops hiding around every corner. Snap a selfie at one of the hidden spots that make the perfect backdrop for your family's Christmas photos! Don't miss the Interactive Light Experience where you can step on pedals to light up the trees and make the forest come alive with a dazzling display of colour. 

Where:   Level 1, Centre Court, Market City, 9-13 Hay St, Haymarket
When:    1 November 2024 - 2 January 2025 | 9 am - 9 pm daily
Santa photo times:
Thursday 5 - Sunday 8 December | 3-7 pm 
Thursday 12 - Sunday 15 December | 3-7 pm 
Thursday 19 - Sunday 22 December | 4-8 pm
Cost:      FREE

2. See Piece By Piece in Cinemas

If you love LEGO^® and you love Pharrell Williams, combine the two and check out Piece By Piece. 

Coming to the big screen from 5 December 2024, Piece By Piece is a unique cinematic experience that invites audiences on a vibrant journey through the life of cultural icon Pharrell Williams. Told through the lens of LEGO^® animation, turn up the volume on your imagination and witness the evolution of one of music's most innovative minds. 

Where:   Cinemas across Australia
When:    From 5 December 2024
Cost:      Price dependent on location

3. Hop Aboard The Zig Zag Railway With Santa

Looking for Christmas-sy things to do in Sydney this weekend? What could be more Christmas-sy than going for a train ride with Santa?!

He may be a very busy man at this time of the year, but that's not stopping Santa from making a very special stop for Train Rides With Santa at the Zig Zag Railway! For 2 days only, Santa will be making a special appearance at the historic Zig Zag Railway, and you can meet him! From 7-8 December 2024, Santa will be inspecting the Zig Zag Railway's iconic locomotive on an early Christmas visit to meet with children ahead of his busiest day of the year.

Where:    Zig Zag Railway, 840 Chifley Rd, Clarence
When:     7-8 December 2024 from 9 am to 4 pm
Cost:       From $25

4. FREE Entry to City of Sydney Pools' Summer Open Day

Spend the day splishing and splashing at City of Sydney's world-class pools–for FREE!

Five City of Sydney aquatic and leisure centres are holding an exciting summer open day to celebrate the start of the sunny season, with FREE entry for the whole family to come along and enjoy a splash, work out at the gym or try a class for free.

Along with FREE entry all day, each centre will host an exciting range of fun-filled activities for kids and families, plus the opportunity to meet the dedicated team that runs each centre including the centre manager, swim instructors and fitness experts.

Where:     Five City of Sydney Aquatic and Leisure Centres:
                  Cook + Phillip Park Pool - 4 College St, Sydney 
                  Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre - 458 Harris St, Ultimo
                  Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre - 17 Zetland Avenue, Zetland
                  Prince Alfred Park Pool - 105 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills
                  Victoria Park Pool - City Road (cnr Parramatta Road), Camperdown
When:       Saturday 7 December 2024 | All Day
Cost:         FREE

5. Head to Darling Harbour For a Rockin' Christmas

Christmas has arrived at Darling Harbour and if we had just one word to describe it, it would be rockin'!

Put the cherry on top of a very Merry Christmas this year with Darling Harbour's famous Christmas Festival where the big Man in Red is waiting to meet you along with loads of talented performers. Discover the enchanting 10-metre-high floating Christmas tree lighting up the Cockle Bay skyline. The highly-anticipated Harbour Village is back with FREE fun for families, plus, there are Christmas concerts, fireworks displays, festive feasting, pedal boat rides, and the Sydney Santa Fun Run to look forward to!

Where:    Darling Harbour
When:     On now until 28 December 2024
Cost:       FREE entry

6. Illuminate The Hills

Another fun and fabulous Christmas event, Illuminate The Hills is back this weekend in Sydney with even more merriment than ever!

Every year, this family-friendly event transforms the Baulkham Hills Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Rose Garden into a glistening wonderland with thousands of fairy lights, joyful Christmas installations, gigantic Christmas presents, and the ever-popular dazzling nativity scene.

The festival will light up the Rose Garden every night from from 7.30-10.30 pm until 2 January 2025. 

Where:   Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Rose Garden, 43 Roxborough Park Rd
When:    On now until 2 January December 2025
Cost:      FREE

7. Run Through Fields of Purple at NSW's Lavender Farms

If you've ever dreamt of running through a field of lovely purple lavender, lavender farms in NSW are definitely a thing and are open to the public! 

Every year in December, NSW's stunning lavender farms open their doors so families can run through picture-perfect fields of purple and maybe even grab a bunch of lavender to take home! There are several amazing lavender farms within a couple of hours of Sydney, including the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley, and they're definitely worth venturing to if you're up for an outdoorsy adventure this weekend in Sydney.

Check out NSW's lavender farms for opening times. 

8. Watch Home Alone in Concert

Sydney Symphony presents a holiday classic this weekend in Sydney, the perfect way to usher in the festive season.

Join the Sydney Symphony at Sydney Opera House for Home Alone, where Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, the clever 8-year-old who's accidentally left behind when his family heads off for Christmas vacation. Watch as Kevin hilariously defends his home from two bumbling thieves, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.

Where:   The Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
When:    Friday 6 - Sunday 8 December 2024
Cost:      Tickets from $59 to $130

9. Ride a Real Fire Engine

If you've got one or two firefigther fans in the family, head to the Museum of Fire in Penrith and hop aboard a real-life fire engine!

Museum of Fire is Australia's largest Fire Museum and offers so much to see and do for Sydney families. This is a non-profit, community museum staffed by volunteers, many of them firefighters themselves. It isn't flashy but it is chock full of fire engines, firefighting equipment, and big thrills for the kids. The highlight for young visitors is the committed Junior Firefighters area, which contains fire safety activities, computer games, puzzles, and a fire engine simulator! 

Throughout December 2024 and January 2025, the museum will run extra fire engine rides on select dates - don't miss out!

Where:   1 Museum Dr, Penrith
When:    Select dates - visit the website
Cost:      Adults $17; kids (2-13) $8.50; under 2s go FREE. Fire engine rides are $3.50 per ride.

10. Have a Merry City of Sydney Christmas

Kick off Christmas in the city like never before and see Sydney sparkle in spectacular style as the City of Sydney delivers a series of magical events.

Kicking off on 28 November until Christmas Eve, City of Sydney are hosting a mega lineup of family entertainment and festivities. Experience the delight of the southern hemisphere's tallest Christmas tree in Martin Place, sing-a-long with Christmas choirs, see roving entertainment and dazzling light shows, Christmas projections, sleigh ride, and so much more.

Where:   Martin Place, Pitt St Mall and throughout the City of Sydney local area
When:    28 November to 24 December 2024
Cost:      General admission is FREE

11. Get Cosy at Mov'in Bed Cinema

Mov'in Bed returns to Sydney this summer to transform Barangaroo's Harbour Park into a cosy outdoor cinema for the whole family to enjoy movies under the night sky.

280 tons of white sand have been laid out with 120 queen-size and 50 king-size cloud-like beds, complete with pillows and blankets, for couples and families to cosy up in front of the largest outdoor screen in Australia. And as for the movies, this year's lineup has something for everyone with family-friendly movies, festive options, and plenty for the grownups. Our pick would have to be a festive screening of Elf!

Where:    Harbour Park, Barangaroo
When:     Friday 29 November 2024 - March 2025
Cost:       Sand ticket from $12 | Bed ticket from $89

12. Explore Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru

Calling all history fans, you can explore Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru at Australian Musuem's newest blockbuster exhibition.

Discover the fascinating heritage of some of the world's most captivating civilisations at the Australian Museum's Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibition. This exhibition brings to life the opulent history of the Andean people like never before through cutting-edge projections, immersive videos, and priceless artefacts.

Step into a world of over 130 ancient treasures, including stunning jewellery, royal tomb artefacts, and one of the most impressive gold collections to ever tour the globe.

Where:   Australian Museum, 1 William St, Darlinghurst
When:    23 November 2024 - 23 February 2025
Cost:      Tickets range from $20 per child to $42 per adult

13. Play at Sydney's Top Sensory Playgrounds

There are normal playrounds and then there are sensory playgrounds—playgrounds that are filled with features like textured surfaces, musical instruments, water elements, and vibrant colours to stimulate a child's imagination and sensory responses. 

Sydney is full of terrific sensory playgrounds for children with sensory processing challenges or developmental differences. From the colourful Livvi's Place Elara to Deerbush Park's seriously cool swirly slide, there's a playground to suit all tastes in Sydney. Check out our favourite sensory playgrounds in Sydney and get ready for fun!

14. Sing at Sydney's Top Family Christmas Carols

It's Christmas carol season in Sydney! If Christmas simply isn't Christmas without belting out your favourite carols, we highly recommend checking out Sydney't top family Christmas carols this season.

From Martin Place to the Balmoral Carols, Georges River Council Magic of Christmas, and the famous Carols in the Domain, this year's lineup of Christmas sing-a-longs is as festive as it gets and we can't wait to test out our vocal cords!

Check out the top spots for family Christmas carols this festive season. 

15. Skate and Dance at an Ice Disco

Stay cool this weekend in Sydney and groove the night away at Liverpool Catholic Club's Ice Disco!

Held every Friday and Saturday night, Weekend Ice Disco Nights are open to all ages and all skating levels. Get ready to hit the ice and show off your moves while the DJ spins some awesome tunes to groovy lights shows.

Where:  Liverpool Catholic Club
When:   Friday and Saturday nights from 8-10.30 pm
Cost:     From $28 per adult for non-members; $25 per child for non-members

16. See Sparkly Streets Lit Up With Christmas Lights

Another festive tradition at this time of the year, Sydney's best houses with Christmas lights are at it again, decking their windows, trees, fences, flowerbeds, and more with the twinkliest Christmas lights for all to see.

Visiting all the best streets with Christmas lights in Sydney is an enchanting (and affordable!) way of getting the whole family in the festive spirit. Whether you're after the bright lights of the north, the twinkling wonders of the east, or hidden gems across the west, Sydney's best Christmas lights are ready to bring serious holiday cheer. Merry Christmas!

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