There's never a shortage of fun things to do in Sydney/Eora, and this weekend is no exception with heaps of exciting events to stack your calendar with.
Pack your weekend with jaw-dropping light shows and fiery eats at Vivid Sydney, a huge Sydney Swans watch party, a customisable designer bag pop-up, a massive two-day country festival, free beer tastings at a beloved Inner West brewery, a live jazz and gin event, and so much more.
Here are Urban List's picks of the best things to do in Sydney this weekend.
Vivid Sydney 2025
Various locations in Sydney | Friday 23 May–Saturday 14 June
Image credit: Vivid Sydney | Supplied
Vivid Sydney returns for its 15th magical year of light shows, immersive art, live music, food and ideas, with the theme of dream, all kicking off this weekend. As per usual, vibrant light installations will cover iconic locations around the city, including Circular Quay, Sydney Opera House, Barangaroo, and beyond, with the return of Martin Place (whose last Vivid stint was 2018)—all completely free to attend.
Major highlights include First Nations storytelling at First Light, fiery feasts at the Vivid Fire Kitchen, concerts by Japanese Breakfast and Sigur Rós with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, thought-provoking panels featuring cooking queen Martha Stewart, curated dining experiences by Nigella Lawson, a Stranger Things experience at Luna Park and a four-metre-long Starscape Tunnel taking over The Goods Line with over 700 stars. Find out more here.
Winter Firepit Garden
World Square, 644 George Street, Sydney CBD | Friday 23 May–Saturday 14 June
Image Credit: Winter Firepit Garden | Supplied
World Square is transforming into a free, snow-dusted winter escape featuring firepit tables, a hot chocolate and mulled wine chalet bar, and more than 35,000 free marshmallows for roasting under twinkling fairy lights, right in the heart of the city.
You can cosy up by the fire with QR code ordering from World Square restaurants and retailers like Double Chin Eats, Grill'd and Gami Chicken and Beer, and enjoy the wintery vibes complete with a snow cannon and alpine-inspired decor. Keep the night going with live entertainment 4.30pm–7.30pm on Thursdays and Friday, and 1.30pm–7pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Entry is free, but there are only 10 firepit tables up for grabs, so get in early to experience the ultimate free winter hangout.
The Coach Tabby Shop
410 Oxford Street, Paddington | Friday 23 May–Sunday 1 June, 11am–6pm
Image credit: Coach | Supplied
To celebrate the iconic Tabby bag, Coach is hosting an immersive pop-up in Paddington. New styles from the Spring 2025 collection will be available to purchase and personalise with bag charms, straps, complimentary hangtags and hand-painted designs by local artists.
The Coach Coffee Shop will be slinging coffee, matcha and soda daily, along with Coach-inspired sweet treats from Tokyo Lamington. There’ll also be a photobooth to snap a pic with your new Tabby and DJ sets throughout the pop-up, including Australian techno artist KSMBA. Tickets are free, but bookings are recommended. Book online.
Inner West Country Fest
Various locations | Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May
Image credit: Inner West Ale Trail | Website
A mega three-weekender Country festival is blazing through the Inner West Ale Trail with live music, standout eats, and free, walk-in-friendly events.
This Saturday, there's a huge laneway shindig happening at Wayward Brewing from 12pm 'til late. There'll be live country bands like Charley Castle and J.J Geary’s Johnny Cash tribute, a one-off Texan BBQ menu, a free sausage sizzle for kids, corn hole, darts competitions and a photo booth.
On Sunday, Future Brewing is hosting a country cookout with renowned chef Mitch Orr (previously at Kiln) and Jo ‘Chewba’ Siahaan (aka Best BBQ Ever). Check out the full program here.
Chuck & Son’s First Birthday
Unit 3E-3F/1–7 Unwins Bridge Road, St Peters | Sunday 25 May, 12pm–9pm
Image credit: Chuck & Son's Brewing Co. | Supplied
Family-owned brewery, Chuck & Son’s Brewing Co. is shouting free beer tastings for their first birthday, with new brews to try every hour. Held at The Tap Room, the lineup spans Chuck’s premium craft range from their Lo-Cal Lager at noon to the West Coast Heritage IPA at 9pm. There’ll be live music, plus face painting and craft activities for kids.
From Friday 6 June, The Tap Room is also launching a brand new late-night supper club. Chuck’s Supper Club will transform the venue into an intimate lounge bar with roaming bar carts, tasty snacks and live music from Jazz musicians and DJs on Fridays and Saturdays from 8.30pm to 12am.
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Sydney Swans Watch Party
The Bat & Ball Hotel, 495 Cleveland Street, Redfern | Sunday 25 May, from 3pm
Image credit: The Bat & Ball Hotel | Tristan Viney
A huge Sydney Swans watch party is hitting Bat & Ball in collaboration with Maple Social Club. This Sunday, every screen will be taken over by the Swans vs Melbourne game, kicking off at 3pm. To cheer on the red and whites, there’ll be $10 Doom Juice chilled reds and crimson cocktails, plus a bunch of beer specials and DJ sets after the final siren around 7pm. The party is free to attend, RSVP online.
Gin & Jazz At The Apollo
44 Macleay Street, Potts Point | Sunday 25 May, 12pm–4pm
Image credit: The Apollo | Supplied
Greek Potts Point icon The Apollo is hosting Gin & Jazz sessions on the last Sunday of every month from May through September, transforming the dining room into a moody jazz lounge with smooth sounds from Soundcliff Jazz Trio and Arthur Washington & Band.
For the full experience, opt for the $95pp set menu, starting with a complimentary pink martini crafted with Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin, salted strawberry, bay leaf, and Oscar extra dry vermouth, followed by sizzling saganaki cheese, oven-baked lamb shoulder and more. Book online.
GLOW At Sydney Zoo
Sydney Zoo, 700 Great Western Highway, Eastern Creek | Until Saturday 31 May, 5.30pm–10pm
Image credit: Sydney Zoo | Supplied
A major after-dark light festival is taking over Sydney Zoo with over 200 animal lanterns and immersive installations. On the colourful GLOW Light Walk, you’ll stroll inside a huge crocodile’s jaws, wander beneath glowing butterflies, and squeeze through a giant octopus’ tentacles, which kids can slide down.
For fun rides and free activities, check out the GLOW Zone. There are flying chairs, a Ferris wheel, dodgem cars, a massive playable piano and more. Then tuck into a food truck feed and drinks from the GLOW Bar.
You can buy tickets online or at the gate. Online prices are $10 cheaper, starting at $34.99 for adults, $24.99 for children (3–15 years), and free for infants (0-2 years). Book online here.
Heaven
The Loading Dock Theatre, Qtopia Sydney, 301 Forbes Street, Darlinghurst | Until Saturday 31 May
Following sell-out seasons in Dublin, New York, Edinburgh and London, Eugene O'Brien's award-winning Heaven is set to follow suit in its Australian premiere season. A repressed queer desire in husband Mal threatens to unravel an already shaky marriage, and the return of 'the one who got away' prompts a soul-searching struggle for wife Mairead.
Director Kate Gaul says of this complicated portrayal, "I was struck not only by its compassion and laugh-out-loud humour but the dignity with which it presents the lives of people over a certain age…it’s an edge-of-your-seat adventure as the wine and Guinness starts flowing". Tickets are on sale online.
Pleasure Hour
Pleasure Club, 6 Wilson Street, Newtown | Wednesdays–Sundays, 5pm–7pm
Image credit: Pleasure Club | Ethan Smart
To mark one year of late-night tipples, Newtown basement cocktail bar Pleasure Club is pleasing the people with a month-long happy hour starring $2 Sydney rock oysters, $6 gildas, and $12 Grey Goose martinis, plus live entertainment every Wednesday to Sunday from 6pm.
There’s also $12 prawn cocktail sliders dressed in rosé sauce and an elevated sausage sanga for $21, which goes down a treat with $6 beers, $9 mocktails, $10 glasses of wine. Or, try the $15 signature 'Floating in Space' cocktail, blending Grey Goose vodka, Aperol, rosé, strawberry, lychee, white chocolate, and ginger. Check out the full Pleasure Hour menu and book online here.
Grumpy Donuts Night Shift
379B Princes Highway, St Peters | Fridays and Saturdays, 5pm–9pm
Image credit: Grumpy Donuts | Supplied
Ever wanted to build your own donut? Well, now you can at Grumpy Donuts' St Peters venue. Every Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 9pm, you can grab a Night Shift DIY donut fix from $8.50. Pick between vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon, caramel, strawberry and maple donut flavours, then add one of 30 different fillings and two toppings with extras from 50 cents.
Fillings include Nutella, peanut butter, berry jam, passionfruit curd, and marshmallow fluff, with toppings like crushed waffle cones, fresh fruits, white choc drizzles, brownie bites, cookie pieces, a cereal of the week, soft serve, and premium bacon—don’t knock it ‘til you try it.
MJ The Musical
Sydney Lyric Theatre, 55 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont | Until Sunday 22 June
Image credit: Sydney Lyric Theatre | Website
Legendary king of pop, Michael Jackson, is brought back to life in the four-time Tony Award-winning MJ The Musical. After mesmerising audiences on Broadway the musical finally arrives at Sydney Lyric Theatre, where MJ’s moves and vocals are flawlessly captured by theatre star Roman Banks in an incredible depiction of the 1992 Dangerous World tour on and off-stage.
Packed with hits like Thriller, Smooth Criminal and Billie Jean—plus plenty of moonwalking and hehes—the musical feels like attending an actual Michael Jackson concert. With tickets starting from $70, you just can’t beat it. Book online here.
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Main image credit: Destination NSW | Keith McInnes
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