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Sydney Festivals 2012

What festivals are on in Sydney? Where are the best festivals in Sydney?

Pyrmont Festival of Wine, Food and Art - Friday, 18th May - Sunday, 27th May

There are is an art to producing fine wine and a good feed. You can appreciate all three at the Pyrmont Festival of Wine, Food and Art. Pyrmont’s top chefs team up with Mudgee’s finest wine producers with a series of "Meet the Winemaker" wine and food matched lunches & dinners, Cooking Classes, Wine Appreciation, Cheese Master Class...and much more.

Pyrmont Festival of Wine, Food and Art

Head On Photo Festival - Across Sydney - Friday, 4th May - Sunday, 3rd June

The 3 year old Head On Photo Festival features a wide range of photography across all genres with over 200 events at 100 venues. Most events are free including both indoors and outdoors exhibitions, workshops, artists’ talks and much more. The festival's focus is the Head On Portrait Prize, Australia's major innovative showcase for portrait photography.

Head On Photo Festival

Forthcoming Major Sydney Festivals

Very soon we can enjoy the wonderful visual effects brought to us by the Vivid Festival. Whilst Vivid is still going, you can also experience cinema at its best with the Sydney Film Festival.

Sydney Comedy Festival - Tuesday, 24th April - Saturday, 12th May

Launched in 2005 as the Cracker Comedy Festival, the Sydney Comedy Festival now show-cases Australia's brightest comic talent. The Festival can be enjoyed on Australia's most famous stages including the landmark Sydney Opera House and the iconic Enmore Theatre.

Pajama Men

Acts include the award winning Pajama Men with "In the Middle of No One" for one night only at the Enmore Theatre. Eddie Murphy's brother - Charlie Murphy (again, Enmore), Henry Rollins's The Long March (Seymore) and Jim Breuer from Saturday Night Live at the Metro.

Utopia Music Festival - Sydney Showground - Saturday, 5th May to Sunday, 6th May

The Utopia Music Festival's 7 international and 16 local DJs are all set for one seriously hard dance rave. The team includes Brennan Heart, Coone, Gammer, Frequencers, Ivan Carsten, Art of Fighters, D-Passion, S Dee, Weaver, Suae, Nik Fish, XDream, Matrix, HSB, JTS, Nomad, Pulsar, Kid Finley, Convict, Mantello, MC Losty, MC D, Erase MC.

The Festival of Kurnell - Friday 27th April (Art Show only), Saturday 28th April, Sunday 29th April, 2012

If you think it's worth celebrating the birthplace of modern Australia come along to the Festival of Kurnell. Kurnell is the spot where Captain James Cook first landed and there could well have been an understated, low key, no big deal, shake of the hands and planting of a flag type festival. So in a sense, the Festival of Kurnell also commemorates the very first festival in Australia..

Entertainment, arts & craft, food & wine

The Festival of Kurnell will feature some of the best entertainment, arts & craft, food & wine, that Kurnell and surrounding areas has to offer. The festival will have over 60 stalls selling or displaying a diverse range of products and services.

Animal Farm, face painting, fairies, fairy floss, kids rides

Children will be entertained all day with the Animal Farm, face painting, fairies, fairy floss, kids rides and much more, while the adults enjoy an array of delicious international delicacies, wine tasting whilst listening to a wide variety of music, dancing, performances & entertainment.

Chinese or Reiki massage

If you need a break from the expected 20,000 strong throng, take a breather and indulge in some Chinese or Reiki massage. Soak up the scents of handmade massage oils and soaps, or kick back and give your feet a treat with reflexology.

Kurnell Art Show

A major highlight of the Festival of Kurnell is the Kurnell Art Show being held in Marton Hall over the weekend. The Kurnell Art show has been an increasingly popular attraction over the years.

SmARTarts Arts & Cultural Festival - Friday, 13th April - Friday, 27th April

SmARTarts Arts & Cultural Festival is all about visual art, design, performance arts and music. Art installations and experimental electronic music will engage the mind and senses and, as part of the festival launch party, a unique clay animation project will be created and filmed before your very eyes

"The smart ARTS Festival is a great opportunity for young people to learn from one another and others in the industry. We encourage young people to participate and learn new skills." Sydney Lord Mayor

Short and Sweet - Newtown - Every Wednesday to Saturday 8pm and Sunday 5.15pm till 31st March

There are short film festivals - so why not short play festivals? Short and Sweet claims to be "the biggest little play festival in the world" so big is good after all? Every night of the festival,10 plays will compete for under 10 minutes each. Both judges and the audience can vote on each performance. More than 180 acts will be challenging each other to reach the gala final.

Sydney Horror, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Film Festival - Dendy Newtown - Thursday, 22nd March - Sunday, 1st April

If you like a little horror in your life, would love to blast off to some distant planet or maybe just fantasise about it, then you should find something of interest at the Sydney Horror, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Film Festival. The festival includes short films, feature films and screenplays.

Sydney Festival 2012

If you are looking for the Sydney Festival it's so big. bad and beautiful it's got a page all of it's own plus some shameless self promotion but lets not go there ..I think . But then again, don't bother as it has finished.

Sydney Festival 2012

Australian Film Festival - Randwick (HQ), Eastern Suburbs, City and City Fringe - Wednesday, 7th March - Saturday, 17th March

The Australian Film Festival includes Swerve, Hail, More 4 Me, Burning Man and Murder Mouth (as part of the Australian Short Film festival). You can expect a few unreleased features, outdoor screenings and the Australian Film Walk of Fame, famous for it's low profile.

Taste of Sydney Festival - Centennial Park - 8th - 11th March

The Taste of Sydney allows you to tuck into 40 odd mouth-watering dishes accompanied by some award-winning wines. There will be a whole lot of eating and drinking going on. There will also be "Do It Yourself" sessions aka cooking schools and tasting masterclasses. Alternatively, just relax and watch the cooking elite do their thing.

Future Music Festival - Randwick Racecourse - Saturday, 10th March

It's back to the Future Music Festival - also in Randwick. Headline acts include Superstar DJs Swedish House Mafia, Fatboy Slim and Paul van Dyk. Future Music Festivals past have sold out.

Targets Kids Day Out Festival 2012 - Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney Olympic Park - Saturday, 3rd March

What do children's entertainers do when they aren't on TV or stage - they get ready and perform for the Kids Day Out Festival. The biggest names in Kids Showbiz will be here including none other than Postman Pat, Bananas in Pyjamas and Shaun the Sheep. If that's not enough, there will be Indoor Rides Arena, XBox 360 Gaming Arena and an ABC 4 Kids Stage.

Australian Open of Surfing - Manly Beach to 19th February

Australian Open of Surfing is not just about the best surfers in world, you'll also get to see some awesome skaters and some interesting beach art. The Australian Open of Surfing is an international event affiliated to the world’s largest action sports festival, the US Open of Surfing.

Tropfest - Sydney's Domain - 19th February, 11am – 2pm: Trop Jr 3pm -11pm: Movie Extra Tropfest Australia

Tropfest is Australia’s most well known short film festival and the largest festival of its kind in the world and its free to get in. Tropfest boasts live music and entertainment, public catering and bars, red carpet arrivals and keenly awaited film screenings and an awards ceremony.

Ocean Pacifika Festival - Bondi Pavilion - Sunday, 27th November 2011, 11.00am - 4.00pm

The annual Ocean Pacifika Festival is a free festival full of Pacific Island dance and music, children’s craft workshops, arts and crafts stalls and a host of information and environment stalls to help us learn about our beautiful oceans and how to make sure they stay that way! Come and meet Venus the inflatable whale, get up close and personal with sea creatures at the Marine Discovery Centre’s touch tanks, go for a rock pool ramble, get involved in a beach clean up, watch documentary films in the Seagull screening room or browse the many information and craft stalls on the day.

Bondi Short Film Festival, Saturday, 26th November

The Bondi Short Film Festival is an ‘amateur’ competition but don't let that put you off. The quality of the films in last year’s festival was highly impressive and this is a great opportunity to see some very interesting and thought provoking work. The growth in popularity of this 11 year old event is reflected in the fact that most tickets have already been sold. If you are lucky, you might still be able to get tickets for the evening session.

Glebe Music Festival - St Scholastica’s Chapel - Saturday, 26th November, 3pm

Join Josie and the Emeralds for the Glebe Festival “I Call and Cry” featuring sacred and secular love songs and consorts from the 16th century by William Byrd, John Dowland, Thomas Tallis, Jacques Arcadelt and Antonio de Cabeçon. There will also be an arrangement by Brooke Green of Andrea Pandolfo’s Albanese depicting the plight of Albanian asylum seekers and dedicated to boat people everywhere.

Harvest Festival - Parramatta - Sunday, 13th November

There is a first time for everything, and this Sunday marks Harvest Festival's first outing. With The National, Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev and Bright Eyes it sounds like it won't be the last. Portishead, unheard of in Australia for 13 years, will also be there to ensure everybody reaps the benefit of a great Harvest.

Newtown Festival - Sunday, 13th November

The Newtown Festival has a great alternative vibe to fill it full of interesting things, sounds and people. This year promises:

• 3 music stages
• Huge kids and family zone
• Vocal Local Village
• Writers Stage
• Eco area
• MC Cyclery Games Arena
• Interactive workshops
• Street Theatre and Art Spaces
• Newtown Festival Dog Show
• 280 market stalls
• Food stalls offering a taste of the globe
• Licensed bars

Novemberfest - Saturday, 5th November - 10am until 4pm

Quiz for you. What is Novemberfest? Is it like Octoberfest in November? Here are some clues:

"This will be a great family day out with:

- Many fun rides,
- Sporting challenges & games,
- Traditional food & drinks,
- Homemade cakes,
- Ice cream,
- Reptile zoo with shows on our big stage,
- Face painting,
- Art and craft,
- Second hand boutique: clothes & books,
- Stage entertainment,
- Silent auction,
- Christmas stalls and workshop,
- NSW Audi Club"

So it's one of those..

The Australian Beer Festival - Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th October

Let me tell you story. There is a pub in Cumberland Street in the Rocks called The Australian Hotel. They make good pizza (for a pub) and they host a beer festival every year. You could forgiven for thinking, pub, beer, festival - yeah right, they are going to sell some boutique beers and call it the Australian Beer Festival meaning just them, its their name after all. You might have been right the first year, seven years on and it has grown a little bit:

"This year, Gloucester Street will be completely shut down, lined up with drinking stalls and inundated with beer connoisseurs, the beer curious and beer lovers from across the country. ..over 120 different beers...live entertainment....BBQ stalls ..Gourmet Pizzas.

The public will also be able to taste and judge beers from over 20 brewers nation wide helping the festival crown the People’s Choice Awards. More than 12,000 people are expected to attend the festival and 20,000 litres of beer to be consumed over the two-day event."

The Greenway Festival, Cooks River - ends Saturday 29th October

The Greenway festival walks and talks and rides and eats and goes arty and bush on its way along the Cooks River until the 29th October.

The Battle of the Festivals - Marrickville vs Strathfield - Sunday, 23rd October

There are two festivals on today battling to be best in the west. Marrickville Festival is three times as big as Strathfield having curried favour last year with the international Crave Festival organisers. Not to be out done, Strathfield has bitten back with 'Asian Fusion',

"the Strathfield Food Festival will bring the best tastes from the best restaurants, with live cooking demonstrations, competitions and the launch of the Strathfield Good Food Guide."

So which is best? both of course - do both! Just have a light breakfast before you go out!

The Sydney Rides Festival Launch, Taylor Square, Darlinghurst - Saturday, 8th October. Festival ends on 16th October

The Sydney Rides Festival hits the streets with music, song, food, bike stalls and Clover Moore - the Lord Mayor of Sydney. The festival will also include a "Bike Games Arena Spectacular", "Ride to Work Day Breakfast", an art exhibition, a film festival, various bike rides and a "City of Sydney chill-out zone".

Newtown Theatre Sydney Fringe Festival - Friday 9th September - Sunday 2nd October

Here we go again, fasten your seat belts, buckles and shoe laces - The Fringe is back. Does The Fringe prove that people don't just remember the worst? This festival can be a hit and miss affair. Or maybe the opposite is true. Either way, if you are prepared to get it, then you probably will. The most you should have to pay is $32.50 and you can leave if it's really bad. The hoped for highlights include:

• The Moving Picture Show: Silent Movies with a not so silent 12-piece orchestra.
• Complicated Creatures: A multimedia cabaret.
• Bite Size: A series of 10-minute plays covering the theme "Things are not what they seem" (possibly to be followed by "I think I've been here before")
• The Day The Sky turned Black: The stories of everyday people who fought Australia's Black Saturday Bushfires.
• The Dysfunctional Project: The trials and limp humour of male sexual dysfunction.

Whilst the subject matter may not be be totally unique or even inviting, the story is often in the telling. Now I've lowered your expectations, go on, be brave and give it go.

Burwood Spring Festival 18th September 2011, 10:00am

"This year Burwood Festival will be bigger and better than ever". Just quietly, we don't really need anymore "bigger", good is better.

Anyway, this Burwood bash looks pretty good to me "with an array of food and merchandise stalls, staged and roaming entertainers, amusement rides for big kids and little kids, classic car show and shine" and much more no doubt. Should be a pleasant way to spend an hour or two.

Blackmores Sydney Running Festival - Sunday 18th September

Blackmores get points if only for variety with a Sydney Marathon a Sydney Half Marathon plus a 9k run and even a 4k family run. So whatever your level of fitness, or non fitness you can easily take part. Another plus is the course, taking you over a car less Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishing at the Opera House. There are still places available, but not many.

Last year Blackmores Sydney Running Festival raised a massive $2.3 million for charity. At the time of writing, they are just under a million for this year - so they need your help - but you'd better be quick..

Spring Food & Wine Festival, Entertainment Quarter - 24th September - 25th September, 11am - 5pm

This is a nice way to warm up for the following long weekend. Indulge without going over the top with a little "gourmet fare and fabulous wines whilst being entertained by the smooth sounds of jazz, funk and soul."

Cronulla Spring Festival - Cronulla Plaza - Saturday 10th - Sunday 11th September

The Cronulla Spring Festival is one of Sydney's biggest beachside festivals with over 100 market stalls, carnival rides, kids corner, outdoor adventures expo and well being fair plus free entertainment.

The link below provides a full program of event and happenings in PDF, so you should be able to print it out pretty easily.

Festival of the Winds, Bondi Pavilion Bondi Beach - Sunday 11th September, 11am - 4pm, .

The Festival of the Winds is one of my personal favourites because it's so down to earth.. "Australia’s largest and most exciting kite flying festival" will fill the skies with kites of all shapes and sizes. You don't have to be an expert kite flyer, anyone can get the wind up. You can BYO, buy one or make your own.

Kids Entertainment

There will also be entertainment for the kids including rides, face painting, an animal farm, jugglers, stilt walkers, puppeteers, clowns, craft workshops and rides, food (of course) and a free art exhibition in the Bondi Pavilion Gallery.

Manly Arts Festival- Friday 2nd September - Sunday 4th September

The Manly Arts Fest consists of a wide range of stuff including visual art, music, workshops, youth and kids events, theatre, performance and literary events. So you are bound to find something of interest.

A new feature this year isn't even in Manly. "On the Beach" is a new exhibition from Scotland Island and Pittwater’s western foreshores. It focuses on the "gems of the beach culture and swimwear collection"

(p.s. The Manly Arts Program is a PDF file, so it might take a while to load up)

Festival of Wildflowers - St Ives - 28th August

I wasn't even sure you could actually have a festival of wildflowers but there you go, life is an adventure. The good thing about this wildflower extravaganza (you can never say that word too much) is that there will be no aliens or dinosaurs lurking in the bushes (see Muogamarra Nature Reserve). So what can you expect from the festival of wildflowers in St Ives?

• Aboriginal Art
• Aboriginal Dance and Didgeridoo
• Guided bushwalks with experts on plants, insects and Aboriginal culture
• Native plant sales
• Talks on native birds, frogs, backyard ponds and bush foods
• Kids Bush Craft Corner
• Master Mueller's Minibeast Walk
• Dipnetting for tadpoles with the Frog and Tadpole Society
• Native animal presentations by Taronga Zoo

and, hopefully, some flowers going wild. Food will be available along with real (as in plastic cup with maybe froth on top) coffee. The Festival will be there waiting for you come rain or shine. Grab your hat or brolly, friends and enjoy.

Gusto - Italian Food Festival - 21st August

If you like Italian, and who doesn't, you should enjoy this. The whole family can enjoy the tasting room with its numerous creations and traditional dishes from Australia's best Italian restaurants. You can pre-book your hungry little ones into the "kids in the kitchen". They should have fun learning how to make pasta and pizza.

Sydney Fashion Festival Sydney - 23rd - 27th August - Sydney Town Hall

It's getting warmer, well that's what I keep telling myself anyway. Spring is, if not in the air, on the horizon so throw open your closet and throw out last years gear. Now is the time for a new frock or maybe that sexy pair of socks you've been after (socks rule!). If you go to this fashion show you can experience the "Experience". You will be welcomed then ushered into the "spectacular collection showroom". Once seated, you should 'experience' a whole thirty minutes of fashion showing then it's party time. "Hang out", spot a celeb and get photographed. There will be hair and make-up consultations, styling presentations and, of course, the Festival Bar. The Festival experience will leave you "buzzing".

Ultimo Science Festival - 16th - 28th August

You are never too young to be into science. Well almost, anybody older than six months according the Ultimo Science Festival. Nursery rhymes, story telling, science shows and craft. There's more to a good science festival than I certainly realised, and here is the more..

Coogee Bay Comedy Festival - Thursday 4th August and Friday 5th August. Laughs start at 8pm

Get down to the Coogee Bay Comedy Festival for a laugh and a beer whilst supporting a worthwhile cause. All of your $30 ticket will be donated to the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

The festival will feature many of Australia’s best live stand-up comedians including Tommy Dean featured on the show ‘Spicks and Specks’, Claire Hooper from ‘Good News Week’, Tom Ballard from ‘JJJ Breakfast Show’, Gary Eck co-writer of hilarious cartoon ‘Happy Feet’, Chris "The Bloke" Franklin who received an ARIA for ‘No.1 Single’, Heath Franklin from ‘Chopper’, Peter Helliar from the show ‘Rove Live’, Mickey Robbins star of ‘Good News Week’, legendary comedian Steady Eddy and Steve Philip host of ‘Tropfest’.

It promises to be a funny couple of nights all for a very serious cause.

Sydney Winter Festival - 22nd July - 11th August

Winter doesn't have to be a time to start counting the weeks down to spring. The Australian Winter Festival is back and it's bigger than a big thing. The three year old festival's main attraction is Australia's largest open air ice skating rink. If you aren't into skating yourself, you can just go along to enjoy atmosphere of the Alpine Ski Hut. From here you can watch the ice action and indulge in alpine food and drinks beside cosy woodfires.

The Rocks Aroma Festival, Sunday 31st July - 10am - 5pm

The Aroma Festival is all about freshly ground coffee, delicious baklava, rich hot chocolate and spiced chai. This year, Aroma has four global regions where you can experience the different tastes and, of course, aromas from the Orient, Europe, "The Latin Quarter" and "The Oasis". So grab yourself a cup of coffee and take your nose on a trip around the globe.

The free entertainment includes lion and dragon dancers, belly dancing, sword dancing, the Sydney French Choir and the Sydney Youth Orchestra.

Prizes up for grabs include the chance to win $50,000 to spend on a Ford car of your choice, and a two-night luxury escape valued at up to $4,000.

ARC - Magic Winter Festival - Marrickville - Saturday July 30th - 12pm to 7pm

Costume parades, music, drummers, fire-twirlers, face paining, a jumping castle, puppets, exhibitions and yummy food.

Darling Harbour 21st Jazz & Blues Festival 10th - 13th June

Darling Harbour Jazz & Blues Festival is celebrating it's 21st Birthday by inviting you to a very special Jazz party. Australian jazz virtuoso James Morrison, the 17-piece all girl Sirens Big Band and US legends Topsy Chapman and the Ron Carter Trio, Katie Noonan, Tina Harrod, Misinterprotato, Jeff Duff & the Prophets, the Catholics, Ten Part Invention, the Buddy Knox Blues Band and many more.

You don't want to miss this FREE event.

Sydney Film Festival - 8th to 19th June

'Happy Happy' at the Sydney Film Festival

The Sydney Film Festival (SFF) is one of the longest running film festivals in the world. The SFF focuses on the best new films from around the world including short films, Australian films, documentaries and archive titles, many of which have been recently restored.

Vivid Sydney - 27th May - 13th June

The 3 year old Vivid Sydney is a light, music and "ideas" festival which aims to have something for everyone. Most everyone's just like to see the Opera House looking even more awesome than usual. However, there is more to Vivid Sydney than the colouring in of the sails of the Sydney Opera House. If you are in town during the festival you are in for a big treat.

Sydney Writers Festival - 16th to 22nd May 2011

The 2011 Sydney Writers' Festival presents some of the world's finest poets, novelists and authors.

Sydney Writers Festival Highlights

Politics

Festival highlights include "why a good leader is so hard to find", a critical look at Australian politics and the challenge to government and media power from WikiLeaks.

The shift in global power from West to East is the focus of a number of events including“G’day, China!” at Sydney Town Hall.

September 11

James Gleick joins other writers from New York to reflect on September 11 terrorist attacks and, no doubt, the recent demise of Osama bin Laden. Scottish journalist James Fergusson, author of a controversial book on the Taliban, points us to a possible new direction in Afghanistan.

Climate Change

Since the 2010 emergency Town Hall meeting seeking leadership on climate change, things have only got worse. Naomi Oreskes, who unmasks the dark forces that manufacture climate-change scepticism, is joined by paleoclimatologist Curt Stager and environmental strategist Paul Gilding in “You’ve Been Warned” at Sydney Town Hall.

The Good Book

Britain's most widely read philosopher AC Grayling takes on the power of religion with his opus, The Good Book, an alternative to the Bible that sets out a secular path towards the good life.

A A Gill

There is perhaps no more delightfully vicious power than that wielded by the critic. We present legendary restaurant critic and travel writer AA Gill and the man who single-handedly created the celebrity chef, Anthony Bourdain.

The Chaser

And in recognition of the last great refuge of the powerless – satire – the Festival Club returns nightly with a new variety format, spearheaded by The Chaser.

Walsh Bay

Whilst most of the Sydney Writers’ Festival action takes place at Walsh Bay, events are also held at venues throughout Sydney and regional NSW.