Wrapping up the week has never felt better. This weekend, Sydney/Eora is pulling out all the stops with one-off events, festivals that only come around once a year and final shows that you simply can't miss.
From an exclusive wine tasting where you can sip on fine vintages to a market where you can discover a vintage gem, Urban List has scoured high and low for the best ways to round out the week.
Here are the best things to do in Sydney this weekend.
DiVino Premier European Wine Course
Bistro Rex, 50/58 Macleay Street, Potts Point | Saturday 27 April 12pm–4pm
Image credit: Bistro Rex | Instagram
Whether you’re an avid wine lover or a curious dabbler, DiVino is hosting its esteemed European Wine Tasting Course at Parisian spot Bistro Rex to expand your knowledge of French and Italian wines. By the end of the four-hour course, you’ll know about selecting, pairing and enjoying European wines, and learn the art of sabrage—opening a champagne bottle with a knife!
Tickets are $280pp and include a six-course long lunch designed by Bistro Rex’s culinary team paired with 11 top-shelf wines.
Buddha’s Birthday Festival
Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour | Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April, 10am–8pm
Image credit: Darling Harbour | Facebook
Step into the weekend with a two-day festival filled with mindfulness, multicultural performances and mouthwatering treats celebrating Buddha’s Birthday. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere featuring traditional performances and rich cultural experiences like purification ceremonies and baby blessings, or immerse yourself in delicious vegetarian dishes, handmade crafts and eco-friendly activities.
Find your inner zen with guided meditations and mindfulness workshops. With a strong focus on wellbeing and sustainability, Buddha's Birthday Festival will share positive vibes and set the tone for a mindful May.
Final Shows: Carmen
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House | Until Saturday 27 April
Image credit: The Australian Ballet | Daniel Boud
This weekend is your last chance to catch The Australian Ballet’s award-winning production of Carmen, brought to life by Johan Inger’s choreography. First performed in 2015, the production reimagines George Bizet’s classical opera based on the 1845 novella by French writer Prosper Mérimée into an intense modern drama.
Powerful solo and ensemble performances capture the raw energy and passion of southern Spain in this performance that is both visually and emotionally captivating. Tickets start at $131.
Inner West Hop Harvest Fest
Various Locations | Until Sunday 28 April
Image credit: Batch Brewing Company | Facebook
Inner West Hop Harvest Fest has got something big brewing this weekend. Ten Inner West breweries including Batch Brewing Company, Philter Brewing and Wildflower Brewing have crafted fresh one-off beers to honour the most flavourful ingredient in the brewing process: hops. The small green flowers are used by brewers to craft deliciously smooth and bitter beers and introduce unique flavours.
You'll receive a passport to stamp while sampling your way through all of the ten beers, and can claim a limited edition T-shirt designed by illustrator and mural artist Sindy Sinn when you collect them all.
Cedar & Salt Sauna Pop-Up
Q Station, 1 North Head Scenic Drive, Manly | Until Sunday 28 April
Image credit: Cedar & Salt | Supplied
The next must-try in the health, wellness and recovery space is traditional Finnish-style saunas, and Cedar & Salt has popped their 10-person, roving wood-fired sauna in one of Sydney's most stunning locations. With a mission to keep sauna "wild" and integrate nature, the open ocean views from their current location at Q Station are simply unbeatable, and an epic way to start the day or shake off any stress.
Sessions are 45 minutes long and $35pp, giving you time to jump in for 15–20 minutes, refresh with a dip at Quarantine Beach, and get back in to finish with another sauna sesh. Weekday sessions run between 8.15am and sunset, and weekends between sunrise and sunset. Learn more and book a sauna session on the website.
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Suitcase Rummage
The Goods Line, Ultimo | Sunday 28 April, 11am–4pm
Image credit: Suitcase Rummage | Instagram
Vintage lovers and savvy shoppers, get ready to rummage and score an absolute steal at Sydney’s Suitcase Rummage, which brings suitcases filled with goodies to The Goods Line. From second-hand clothes and rare vintage finds to artworks, books, jewellery and more, everything and anything is possible to find at this mini market.
Have stuff of your own to sell? Register as a stall holder for $30, then pack your bags and head out for a day of haggling or swapping items with other sellers. It's the perfect way to make a quick buck or make space in your wardrobe in a sustainable way.
Hounds @ The Gladdy
115 Regent Street, Chippendale | Sunday 28 April, 12pm–3pm
Have a hound at home hankering for an outing? The Lord Gladstone Hotel is putting on the pawfect dogs day out for a special cause, raising funds to assist ex-racing greyhounds through Hounds in Homes Greyhound Rescue.
Bring your pup to the pub for a sausage sizzle where dogs eat free, and indulge in a cold beer with a pay-what-you-feel karma keg from Young Henrys. Plus, score some great prizes from Young Henrys, Petbarn and food and drink vouchers. The pupless population can still expect plenty of pats and a good old time surrounded by playful pups while supporting this special purpose.
Glenfiddich X Jordan Gogos Pop-Up Bar
200 George Street, Sydney CBD | Select dates until Wednesday 8 May
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Image credit: Glenfiddich | Supplied
Join Aussie multidisciplinary artist Jordan Gogos and the world's most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, Glenfiddich, for a pop-up bar experience raising funds for social enterprise Art Aid.
The team from CBD bar Dean & Nancy on 22 will be shaking up whisky cocktails in the space filled with textile art, immersive works, sculptural furniture, and never-before-exhibited pieces in Gogos' largest immersive art installation to date. Selected pieces will be for sale with 50% of profits (and $10 from every Glenfiddich cocktail and event ticket sold) donated to Art Aid and its charities.
Events include the Glenfiddich Trailblazer Party every Friday at 5pm ($20pp including a cocktail on arrival) with live DJs, and weekly masterclasses with Glenfiddich's flagship collection or Grand Series ($30pp including four whisky tastings and snacks). The one-night-only Creative Collaborations event on Thursday 2 May will host Jordan Gogos speaking on how he approaches collaborations across art, furniture and fashion, and what we can expect from his 2024 Australian Fashion Week show ($140pp including an engraved bottle of Glenfiddich 12YO personalised on-site and an exclusive Jordan Gogos x Glenfiddich 12YO key ring). See your opportunities to visit here.
Sydney Comedy Festival
Various Locations | Until Sunday 19 May
Image credit: Sydney Comedy Festival | Instagram
Lap up the laughs at the Sydney Comedy Festival with a lineup of hilarious local and international comedians bound to get you giggling. This weekend you can catch Aaron Chen from Thank God You’re Here, Ray O’Leary from Have You Been Paying Attention?, an adults-only magic show, and a yo' mamma battle, where comedians go head to head with their so-incredibly-bad-that-they're-good yo' mamma jokes.
On Saturday and Sunday nights, grab seats at the Factory Theatre for under $22 to watch the freshest new comedy acts off the block, like award-winning comedian Hannah Camilleri or viral TikToker Sez, in a musical act like no other. For a family-friendly day out, head to Sydney Spiegeltent to witness Circus The Show, a blend of comedy, acrobatics and world-class illusions. Head to the website to see this weekend's lineup and grab tickets.
Sonic Neon
Luna Park Sydney, | Until Sunday 12 May
Image credit: Sonic Neon | Supplied
Housed inside the historic Crystal Palace at Luna Park Sydney, Sonic Neon is a sound and light experience sharing an immersive rave atmosphere—and it's a must-do experience for all ages.
Eight distinct zones are packed with over 26,000 lights, laser, mirrors, a pulsating soundtrack, tactile materials and never-before-seen technology in Australia, for a a 150-metre journey culminating in an infinity mirror room with over 6,000 hanging lights and a 3-D video experience. Sonic Neon fills the 1935-built Crystal Palace with a groundbreaking experience that blends the site's history with contemporary wonder, and tickets start from $29 per person, or $99 for two adults and two children.
Cherry Bomb
Goros, 84–86 Mary Street, Surry Hills | Until Saturday 18 May
Image credit: Goros | Supplied
It's cherry blossom season at Surry Hills' Goros, where they're hosting Cherry Bomb: a sakura celebration with Bombay Sapphire complete with a festive menu and special events running for six weeks, and a pink takeover of the space with cherry blossoms, carp fish kites, and neon photo moments.
On the Cherry Bomb menu there's pink sushi, ice cream sando desserts, martinis and Cherry Pop cocktails with pearls, and a 90-minute all-you-can-eat skewer package with bottomless saké spritzes for $89pp. Don't miss the epic closing night celebration on 18 May—and there's always the free, private karaoke rooms.
Ramses & The Gold Of The Pharaohs
The Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Darlinghurst | Until Sunday 19 May
Image credit: Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs | Supplied
After showing in Paris, Houston, and San Francisco, the incredible Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs exhibition is headed to Sydney. The blockbuster exhibition will feature the actual sarcophagus of Ramses II—one of the most impressive royal coffins from ancient Egypt ever to be discovered—plus 181 priceless artefacts including animal mummies, jewellery, spectacular royal masks, and exquisite amulets, making it the largest cultural exhibition to visit Sydney in over a decade. Buy tickets here.
Yo-Chi X Pistachio Papi
Various locations | Until Sunday 26 May
Insanely popular frozen yoghurt shops Yo-Chi are collaborating with Aussie-made pistachio spread Pistachio Papi to bring their vibrant green goodness to topping bars across Australia.
The creamy, nutty 100% Italian pistachio spread is available to drizzle on your froyo or acai bowls, and pairs perfectly with Yo-Chi's flavours like strawberry and signature tart yoghurt. And, yes, there's still Nutella so you can create a perfectly indulgent nutty combo. Pistachio Papi is available in all Yo-Chi stores until Sunday 26 May (or until stock runs out).
Maho Magic Bar
Pyrmont Bay Park, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont | Until Sunday 16 June
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Image credit: Maho Magic Bar | Kate Prendergast
Prepare to be wowed as master magicians and sleight-of-hand specialists perform exclusive magic shows at your table at the Maho Magic Bar. This neon-soaked pop-up experience will transport you to Tokyo as you witness modern and mischievous spins on traditional Japanese magic tricks.
Magicians include Kaori Kitazawa bringing kawaii charm to her tricks and Shirayuri serving up hipster-style magic to Australia after performing in Hollywood and Las Vegas. Indulge in flaming cocktails, saketinis and yuzu margaritas or savour traditional spirits straight like sake, shochu and umeshu. Selling out shows last year, Maho Magic Bar is only on for a limited time.
Dale Frank: Growers And Showers
NAS Galleries, 156 Forbes Street, Darlinghurst | Until Saturday 1 June
Image credit: National Art School | Supplied
Check out the expanded painting practice of one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists, Dale Frank, at this significant exhibition of over 40 large-scale works he developed since the '70s. It's his first solo institutional exhibition in over 20 years.
The vivacious collection includes various mediums and unexpected surfaces from poured epoxy-glass on metallic Perspex to CDs, human hair wigs, shattered glass and air vent ducts, showcasing his experimental approach to artmaking. Sculpture, sound and performance round out the experience to create immersive experiences to capture Frank's maximalism. Dale Frank: growers and showers is free to visit at the National Art School, 11am–5pm daily.
Biennale Of Sydney
Various locations | Until Monday 10 June
Image credit: Biennale of Sydney | Daniel Boud
The completely free cultural kaleidoscope that is the Biennale of Sydney makes a grand return for its 24th time with Ten Thousand Suns featuring works from 96 leading artists from 50 countries spread over six spaces including the Art Gallery of NSW, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chau Chak Wing Museum, and the recently refurbished White Bay Power Station.
The Biennale is the largest contemporary art event in Australia, making it an unmissable event for art aficionados—and it's all completely free to experience. Check out the full program of artworks or programmed events like after-dark sessions, tours, performances and workshops to plan your experience.
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Main image credit: Cedar & Salt | Supplied
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