Activities and Entertainment in Sydney
What’s on in Sydney?
Current Activities and Entertainment in Sydney
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We keep these pages up to date, and will still send out a fortnightly Newsletter to remind you of the key events, and keep you looking at our website.
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PAST Activities and Entertainment in Sydney (although many repeat themselves year after year).
Happy New Year!
I’m writing this for those people who always seem to email me about things to do on New Year’s Eve after everything has sold out. Right now there are still places available for front row seats to the greatest fireworks display on earth. So start thinking about what you want to do for New Year’s Eve now to avoid watching it on telly afterwards and thinking ‘I wish we had booked something’.
The Sands Annual Busking By the Beach, Narrabeen – Sundays until 1st December
If you think you have a talent worth spotting, then here’s your chance. The first heat for the Busking by the Beach competition is on this Sunday, 10th November. Local celebrities will be judging the talent and those who make it through will compete in the grand final on December 1st. Come and try out, or just come for the entertainment.
The Sands Annual Busking By the Beach
Tyrannosaurs at the Sydney Museum – Starts Saturday 23rd November
The new exhibition at the Sydney Museum is big, and it’s scary. Find out more than you ever wanted to know about the origins of T-Rex and his extended family.
Tyrannosaurs at the Sydney Museum
Corroboree – 14th to 24th November
A Corroboree is a ceremony of singing, telling stories and dancing. Corroboree Sydney is a new annual festival to be held at various sites around Sydney Harbour. It offers a unique experience of Indigenous culture, with leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, writers, dancers and musicians sharing their creativity and their stories. Come and watch, listen or sing and dance!
Christmas Choirs in the City Centre – From 21st November
Christmas is nearly upon us again, or so the shops would have us believe. To enhance the Christmas spirit, the city will be filled with the music of Christmas carols. On Thursday 21st November, late night shoppers will be entertained by the roving Christmas Choirs from 7pm. And they’ll be back each Thursday evening until Christmas to entertain you while you shop.
Christmas Choirs in the City Centre
The Rocks Village Bizarre – Fridays in November and December
‘A Friday night playground of markets and mystery’ – starts this Friday, November 1st in the Rocks. With night markets and bizarre and mysterious performances happening around you, and plenty of options to stop for food or a drink, the Rocks is the place to be on Friday nights until Christmas.
Sticky Rock Candy, The Rocks – Candy demonstrations every day
Here’s one for the kids. If you’re in town, why not take a detour to Sticky Rock Candy in the Rocks. They have a fantastic range of candies with intricate designs throughout. Want to know how they get those pictures into a stick of ‘rock’? Then come along and watch a demonstration by the talented confectioners. You can even create your own image.
Lego Acropolis – to June 2014
Lego is big on the Christmas list in our house, and dominates the birthday presents. And you know what? I really enjoy helping the kids with it. Sadly they are old enough to pretty much go it alone with their Lego building. Perhaps I could get a job like Ryan McNaught? He is the only Lego certified professional in Australia, and following the success of his Lego Colosseum in 2012, he’s back with his pint sized version of the Ancient Greek Acropolis. It’s on display from July at the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney. Definitely worth a look for all those Lego fans out there, young and old.
Late Night Libraries
Have you been to the library of late? Well you will be able to soon, not night club late but it’s all a bit raunchy for a library. As more and more books have gone digital, libraries are reaching out more to get people in through the front door.
Surry Hills Library
Surry Hills started the late trend and its caught on with a number of other libraries opening their doors for adults only entertainment. We could be laughing all the way from the library with comedy, some weighty, serious topics with some sex, violence and famous people thrown into the mix.
Your local Library
So ask your local librarian what he, or she, has any late nights planned – you might like the answer. 
Not Quite London – But Close – Balmain
Whilst not quite London its always a great to have a night out in Balmain. This is beers and giggles of a different variety. There are a huge number of cafes and restaurants in Balmain to grab a bite to eat from first. You could even catch a ferry to get there.
Justice and Police Museum – Circular Quay
Now ‘Wicked Women’ has finished and in it’s place is the return, of ‘City of Shadows’. This even more wicked exhibition will shine light upon Sydney’s past “wrong doing” and “illicit pleasures”.
Art After Hours – The Art Gallery of New South Wales – Every Wednesday – 5pm – 9pm
The late Wednesday night opening features a free events program with films, talks, performances, food and wine, alongside the exhibitions.
•All exhibitions – permanent and temporary – are open.
•The ArtBar is open late and serves wine and an evening-themed menu from 5pm.
•The Gallery Shop and Research Library are open until 8.45pm.
•The Members’ Lounge is open and also serves evening refreshments.
•Parking: The Domain Carpark is open until 9pm. Parking is also available along Art Gallery Road.
•Complimentary Bus – From the Gallery to Martin Place every 15 minutes, from 7.15pm until after the last film.
Art After Hours – The Art Gallery of New South Wales
Beast or Beauty of Barangaroo?
What Barangaroo will look like in 4 years time(?)
Not an event as such but in the Tele and SMH so worth a mention. Not everybody loves the idea of the development but you can walk and jog where no one could easily walk / jog before so we listed the “Barangaroo Walk”. It is only at the bottom of the pile as it’s not finished yet. Let us know what you think of Barangaroo. Good, bad or just plain ugly. Maybe we shouldn’t list it at all..
Skip, Skip, Skip to Woolloomooloo
But you could just walk, all the way from Barangaroo in fact, or drive and when you get there, swim it. The local water-hole, The Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool, has had a bit of a refit. Beyond that, Woolloomooloo is an interesting place with a mix of new, old and rich. From Finger Wharf, the hang out of celebs and the well-heeled, to the local pubs and public housing estates. Well worth a stroll, a swim, cappuccino or even lunch with a spot of people watching.
Royal Botanic Gardens – Free Twice Daily Guided tours
Explore the world of plants and the history of Sydney’s magnificent Royal Botanic Gardens with a knowledgeable Royal Botanic Gardens volunteer guide. Tours are held daily at 10.30 am (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday) and take approximately one and half hours to complete. Head for the Information Booth outside the Gardens Shop at the Palm Grove Centre.
Royal Botanic Gardens – Free Guided tours
Cockatoo Island Film Festival – Wednesday, 24th October – Sunday, 28th October
One of Sydney’s great strengths is it does the outside fun stuff extremely well. After all, if you live or visit this gorgeous place, why would you want to spend your time inside. So if you want people to come to your new festival that is mostly about being inside, how do you do it? You host it in the middle of Sydney Harbour in some amazing venues – welcome to the very first Cockatoo Island Film Festival. “This exceptional combination of setting (and) content” looks like a being a winner.