A Year of Festivals in Sydney
January
Sydney Festival
It’s the festival, the Sydney Festival! Each year starts with a bang in Sydney; the sun is out for another two months, many have a post-holiday glow from a week up or down the coast and a bunch of arty/music/foodie events kick off around the city. The Sydney Festival aims to show of the best of this beautiful city in the best season — summer. Every January, Sydneysiders and visitors from all over are treated to a month of ‘art and big ideas’ — 370 performances, 100 events, 700 artists. The festival opens and closes in true Sydney style, with a party!
February
Just as you begin to settle into the new year, the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival is here to celebrate all over again. The festival launch lights up the centre of Sydney, complete with dragon dancers and a parade down George Street. A particular highlight for the 2015 festival was the Lanterns of the Terracotta Warriors, a brightly lit installation at Dawes Point on Sydney’s Harbour.
March
In March, Sydney is fabulous! Think glitter and hot pants, it’s the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. The parade itself is busy, colourful and diverse — it fills Oxford Street with sequins, feathers and leather (say that fast three times). Famous worldwide, more than 200,000 people join together to celebrate equal love and, of course, glitter.
Other events in March: Alliance Francaise French Film Festival
April
April is the month of laughs in Sydney. The Sydney Comedy Festival showcases the best of the best homegrown and international comedians. It kicks off with a Gala at the Sydney Opera House, and promises a stellar month of events guaranteed to make your belly hurt.
Other events in April: Sydney Antiques and Vintage Fair
May
Oh, GABS! A newcomer to Sydney, but here to stay — the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular. As far as craft beer goes, this is the place to be in May. The range of craft beer on offer, the atmosphere, the weird and wacky entertainment, the soul nourishing food. It doesn’t get much better than GABS for the beer lover. To top it off, a three piece brass band steals the show at the end of the session and has the whole crowd singing their hearts out in the Australian Technology Park. If you go to any event next year in Sydney, it has to be GABS.
I first ventured out of my hometown alone as a shy sixteen year old, only to make my way to the Sydney Writers’ Festival and fall in love with Sydney (it is located at Walsh Bay, after all). A girl and her city, a love affair that grows stronger and stronger with age. Every year since, I’ve made sure I attended at least one event at SWF.
Give me a sunny day, a view and a glass of vino and I am one very happy lady. Pyrmont Food and Wine Festival ticks all those boxes. The festival is in collaboration with Mudgee Tourism (of inland NSW), and has a variety of stalls with wine, food and art from the region.
Other events in May: Manly Food, Wine and Sustainability Festival
June
If you’ve never been to Sydney, plan a trip for June and experience the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and in fact, most of Sydney, light up for the Vivid Light Festival. For the past three years, I’ve combined the light show with music at the Opera House, seeing the likes of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (playing Joy Division songs), James Vincent McMorrow and Sufjan Stevens. For 18 days, Sydney’s urban spaces are transformed into art.
Other events in June: Sydney Film Festival
July
Smell the coffee, taste the coffee and take in Sydney’s beautiful harbour. The Aroma Coffee Festival is one of those events all your Facebook friends have clicked attending on, and actually show up to, because it’s in such an easily accessible part of the city and COFFEE. After a failed coffee tasting, at 10.30am, we found Rocks Brewing Co serving beers with a shot of coffee — now that’s how I like my morning brew!
August
The moment I was of legal drinking age, I was already preparing myself for the Good Food and Wine Show. If you’re a foodie like I am (and a big drinker), this is a day out to remember, or forget, depending on your alcohol intake. Explore produce from regions all across Australia including the Hunter Valley, NSW and Barossa Valley, SA. This year’s highlight was a cooking demo from none other than Gary Mehigan and the wonderful winner of Masterchef 2015, Billie Mackay.
For an above average tea drinker, the Sydney Tea Festival is a dream come true. Not only is there a selection of local tea (shout out to Tippity Tea for their awesome chai), but everything that accompanies tea: knitted tea cosies, scones with jam and cream, teapots, teacups — the lot. Carriageworks events get busy quickly, so get down early and purchase a cute tasting cup to sample all the delicious flavoursome teas on offer.
Other events in August: Oyster Festival, Korean Film Festival, Sydney Italian Wine and Food Festival
September
The guys and gals at local Sydney Brewery Young Henrys bring you the Small World Festival. What’s better than a collaboration between local brewers, foodies, musicians and artists? Promising the best of the Inner West, Young Henrys have teamed up with the scrumptious Mary’s Burgers, pickled gurus at Cornersmith, and for the meat lovers, Surry Hills’ Porteno.
I’m lucky enough to live in arguably Sydney’s best suburb, Chippendale, the foodie/creative suburb that holds the BEAMS Festival — an annual event for the community to come together and appreciate good music, food and art.
Other events in September: Sydney Running Festival, Sydney Fringe Festival, Surry Hills Festival, Taste of Orange Food and Wine Festival
October
It’s Good Food Month! Say hello to the world’s largest food festival. Catch the Night Noodle Markets for dumplings galore, be apart of Sydney’s first Ramen Rave or if you’re lacking the cash, check out the cheap eats around town.
As a long time bike owner and a rare rider, I’m excited to get into it at this year’s Sydney Rides Festival. It’s seems as though the City of Sydney are really keen for us to be a healthier, more active and generally less congested city. The Light the City event stands out, promoted as a ‘night time ride like no other’ complete with light installations and a silent disco. Sign me up!
A whole week dedicated to beer — it’s Sydney Craft Beer Week! Now in its fourth year, Sydney has forged a community of beer lovers and creatives. Over 70 venues in Sydney spend a week in October celebrating all that is good about craft beer. The aim of the week is ‘Better Beer for Sydney’ and four years on, they are certainly delivering.
Other events in October: Cruelty Free Festival, Listen Out Festival
November
Things get creepy at The Rocks in November for the Village Bizarre. For the summery end months of the year, head towards the Bridge for mystery, magic, music and markets. Cabaret shows, funky installations, live performances, gin, jazz — an event asking to be explored.
November is more creative than most. The Newtown Festival, held in Camperdown Memorial Park, is an ode to Sydney’s most vibrant and inclusive community, and the music, art and entertainment that goes with it. It’s a celebration of all things local, though yields a strong crowd of 90,000 annually in search of the creativity and passion Newtown is so famous for.
Other events in November: Sculpture by the Sea
December
We like to be the world’s biggest in Sydney. December is the proud owner of Tropfest — the world’s largest short film festival. Prepare to laugh, cry and be awed. Plenty of sun, cider, bands and short films into the night. Bring your picnic blanket and find a spot early because Sydneysiders love a short film festival. AND sometimes famous people attend, which is an added bonus even if it’s just Russell Crowe.
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Originally published at simplyweekend.com on September 22, 2015.
